Wakizashi info

[Mike Murphy]

Hi Ladies & Gentlemen,I just acquired this wakisasi and would like to get help on its possible age and value. Previous owner said it was a bring back by her father from Korea. Has a doe behind a stag and maple leaves on a delicate tsuba. Blade is 20” long, unsigned tang. Blade has a little pitting and is very sharp, top of blade is peaked. Scabbard has a detent that I believe

held an insert that had the makers signature. Includes the scabbard sash cord not shown because this sight won’t let me add any more pictures. Can’t make out what the figures are under the handle wrapping. 
i believe this is an Edo period piece or maybe earlier would appreciate any info I can get on it. 
Mike


I

[Mike Murphy]

More pictures 

[Rawa]

Still show us entire blade with tang even if it is mumei.

No seppa and habaki goes through nakago ana?

[Geraint]

Dear Mike.

 

So far what we can see is that this is indeed a wakizashi, unfortunately now missing one or two pieces.  The detent you speak of is I take it the slot on one side of the saya/scabbard.  This would normally house a small knife with a decorated metal hilt called a kozuka.  You seem to be lacking the two washers or seppa that fit on either side of the tsuba and with regard to Marcin's point about the habaki sticking through the tsuba it is just possible that you have fitted it the wrong way around?  Below is an image of a typical wakizashi with all its parts just for your reference.  Please do add photographs of the entire blade and the nakago/tang which will help us tell you more.

 

All the best.

 

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Mike,

Here you will find a brochure on care and cleaning: https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/

You would be doing yourself a big favor if you read it at least once through. Do not try to fix anything; amateur repairs often damage both the sword and its value. If you'd like to call and ask a bunch of questions all at once, my number is 218-340-1001 central time, and I won't ask you to sell me your sword.

Cheers, Grey

[Mike Murphy]

Thanks for the info guys. Looks like it is missing the sepias and the Fuchi. The tanka is shown not quite all the way on. Would have to tap it to go all the way on and would like to leave it as is. 

[Mike Murphy]

[RichardP]

Hi Mike!  Is the habaki on backwards?

[jsv]

Menuki might be ox herder from Ogata Korins painting.

 

[Mike Murphy]

JSV, your right, it’s a buffalo herder. 
 

To Richard P. 
i have tried turning the habaki around and doesn’t come close to fitting

[Mike Murphy]

Also guys, I have not found any sageos (sash) of this type and how to wrap it on. 

[Geraint]

Dear Mike.

 

The habaki is definitely on the wrong way around.  If you slip the two pieces together and try then it should fit and provide a shoulder for the tsuba.  If it really wont fit then it might not be the one for the sword as these parts are made very specifically for each blade.

 

All the best.

[Rhizosphere]

Nice tsuba.

[Mike Murphy]

Is this the correct fitting sequence for this double habaki & tsuba because if it is, it is the wrong one for this sword. It doesn’t leave enough room for the handle to go on. 

[Mike Murphy]

Also the 2 pieces of the habaki don’t look like they mesh all the way together. Does that indicate the wrong tsuba for this habaki.  
Looks like a hodgepodge of parts. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hi Mike, well you've just about exhausted all the wrong ways to put it together so looks like some assistance is in order. Two piece Habaki fit like so and sit above the Tsuba: 

 

 

[Mike Murphy]

If that’s the case then the tsuba just flops around on the tang. The slot in the tsuba is bigger than the tang size. 

[Mike Murphy]

Also as stated previously in any configuration of the habaki the handle will not fit on far enough 

[John C]

Mike:

The tsuba should be sandwiched between seppa (round washers), which you seem to be missing. This may be causing everything not to line up correctly. 

 

John C.

[Bugyotsuji]

Besides the two seppa washers, you also seem to be missing the fuchi rim fitment for the tsuba end of the tsuka haft. See ‘metal sleeve fuchi’ in the illustration above.

[Brian]

Habaki does NOT go through the tsuba. From the front it's habaki --> seppa (easy enough to source or make) then tsuba, then seppa, then fuchi that sits on the tsuka. You need to take everything apart and get everything complete before refitting.
The tsuba isn't the right one for this blade, but can be made to fit by using copper inserts hammered into the nakago ana. Or find another tsuba.