Well, I threw the dice.

[Hector]

As some here know, I've been looking for a sword and I'm one of the overly optimistic (as in 'dumb') fools who trawl Yahoo auctions.

As I learned more by asking lots of questions, I decided to look for a blade I really liked the look of aesthetically and could afford to take a hit on financially if I messed up.

I did as much research as I could based on the seller's images and dubious sales spiel, took my chances and ended up winning an auction about an hour ago.

(Two members here kindly helped me to translate a difficult phrase which gave me the final nudge.)

 

It's a mumei wakizashi - the worst choice possible if you ever want to sell, Iknow. It supposedly has a sayagaki by Kanzan Sato but I accept that is probably fake. This reads "Yamashiro Province, Sanjō Resident Yoshikuni 

Hitatsura Wakizashi One Shaku Two Sun Seven Bu Five Rin" - the latter part of which accurately duplicates what is on the torokusho at least.

Talking of the torokusho, I was pretty confused when I couldn't see any prefecture name on it because I know I will have to re-register it. However, after doing some more online research, it's apparently because it's dated Showa 26 or 1951 and early licenses didn't give the prefecture name. 

As to Yoshikuni (if it even is his work), this was all I could find out about this smith.

Yoshikuni 義国, 1624, Yamashiro.

Mei:

Sanjo Horikawa ju Fujiwara Yoshikuni

三条堀川住藤原義国, 

Yamashiro Sanjo Horikawa Yoshikuni

山城三条堀川義国, 

Horikawa ju Yoshikuni

堀河住義国, 

Bungo (no) Kami Tachibana Yoshikuni

豊後守橘義国. 

Student of Mishina Kinmichi and Horikawa Dewa Daijo Kunimichi. 
 

Why did I risk it? The hamon, pure and simple. As long as that is not a drunken polisher's ode to hadori I'll be happy. I really don't care about the sayagaki's authenticity or who actually made it - I lucked out on the price (suspicious in itself) and just hope it looks half as decent in hand as in the auction photos (attached).

 

Wish me luck. 

 

Best,

Hector

 

 

Edited December 21, 2025 by Hector

[Bugyotsuji]

Why not!?!?! 
 

Oh, and it says 廣島　Hiroshima on the old registration card.

[Hector]

2 minutes ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Why not!?!?! 
 

Oh, and it says 廣島　Hiroshima on the old registration card.

Well spotted!!! 😀

[ROKUJURO]

Quite nice blade Hector! I like the shape!

I would not exactly call it HITATSURA, but nevertheless an attractive HAMON with TOBIYAKI and ICHIMAI BOSHI as far as I can see.

[eternal_newbie]

Assuming there's no fatal flaws and the price was decent, there's far worse you could do for a first sword.

 

Wishing you luck!

[Lexvdjagt]

The blade looks wonderful. I would get it sent to Shinsa to get their opinion on it. Or just enjoy it as is, there is much to learn from the hamon!

[Jussi Ekholm]

Congratulations of the purchase. As I wrote in the other thread I think the Kanzan sayagaki can very well be plausible.

 

As a reference here is a sword from Jūyō 21 by this smith. Of course with searching you can find other examples as well. And then see how and why the attribution to this smith might have been made. Or just end up scratching your head like happens to me often 

[Hector]

1 hour ago, Jussi Ekholm said:

Congratulations of the purchase. As I wrote in the other thread I think the Kanzan sayagaki can very well be plausible.

 

As a reference here is a sword from Jūyō 21 by this smith. Of course with searching you can find other examples as well. And then see how and why the attribution to this smith might have been made. Or just end up scratching your head like happens to me often 

Thank you Jussi!

I only just logged back on and saw your comments (and the other very encouraging remarks above😊).

 

Now I'm a little blown away to be honest; so the sayagaki could be legitimate and, if it and the blade match, then the smith is actually well known? 😳

Wow - that is entirely unexpected!

 

 

[Matsunoki]

I’d have bought it. Love these wild looking hirazukuri wakizashi, something rather “lethal and menacing” about them. 

[Hector]

Quick update; it arrived this morning and I'm extremely happy with it!

 

Cons first:

It is in very old polish with some tiny and insignificant 'spider web' rust spots in places.

The hada is also cloudy for the same reason.

 

There is a small fukure on one side but it's certainly not a dealbreaker and I could see it in the seller's photos - so not a surprise.

 

Pros:

It is massive! It's one of the most intimidating blades I've ever held in hand. As Colin said above, “lethal and menacing” sums it up perfectly.

 

Apart from the forementioned old polish and tiny kizu, it's in extremely good condition with no hagire, chips, bends or other damage.

 

The hamon is just as stunning in real life; at first glance, it appears to be nioi based with patches of tight nie but I'll have to put it under a good light source and look at in depth.

 

The Kanzan sayagaki seems genuine and matches the blade's dimensions (I think - I'll be asking for your opinions on both its authenticity and correct translation).

 

Photos to follow later.

 

Best,

Hector 

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

I think one bit difficult thing to grasp is that Japanese experts often identify unsigned work towards a specific maker. I am not a huge fan of that but after being in the hobby for so long I have learned to live with it.

 

It gets often very difficult when the smiths are rare to find. Sometimes it is relatively easy to find say 25+ signed items by the smith and do some comparisons etc. I do have massive reference library at home (Although I do focus on old swords) and of course Internet in use too. However in my books I can only find that 1 Jūyō example in few books and then this from online as verified item with quick search: https://ginza.choshuya.co.jp/sale/gj/r6/012/14_yoshikuni.php When it is difficult to find reference items it always makes me wonder how the experts can arrive to the attributions they give. Of course they have seen and handled thousands and thousands of swords and have the expertise. To me it would look attribution to Horikawa school in general would be totally plausible one. Well I think the Japanese experts don't give out such a broad and general attribution, and it will always be much more specific. In this case towards Horikawa Yoshikuni.

 

However I think you got nice and big hirazukuri wakizashi. Please post more pictures when you have time, of the blade and sayagaki too (would be nice to see the date of it).

[eternal_newbie]

1 hour ago, Jussi Ekholm said:

I am not a huge fan of that but after being in the hobby for so long I have learned to live with it.

Oftentimes they aren't a fan of it either but to a certain extent it's a matter of public expectation:

 

[Yukimitsu, Norishige and Masamune:] these three master swordsmiths rank almost equally in terms of historical placement, status, and background nourishing them, and the three different attributions are actually pointing to the identical conclusion under the different nominations.

 

Frankly, it would be most desirable that conclusions such as “either Yukimitsu, Masamune, or Norishige” could be accepted; but in this world such an indecisive judgment would never gain the public acceptance and satisfaction. Thus, the naming of an exclusive maker was forced to meet the public expectation, which is almost asking for the impossible.

 

— Sato Kanzan

[Jake6500]

I've never purchased a blade through auction but use Yahoo auctions frequently for Tosogu. You can occasionally find some really nice, fairly high quality fittings on there (though it's a bit dead around the New Year) and if you're really lucky you might even be able to pick one up for a low price... Like the fuchigashira in my profile picture!

 

I don't know how much you paid but assuming the price wasn't too high, it seems like a nice purchase to me.

 

You mentioned the blade is large and I like choppers... Do you have the dimensions of it? Length and weight?

Edited January 4 by Jake6500