Ko-Gassan Wakizashi

[Okan]

Hello all, 

 

I recently acquired a Gassan wakizashi (Hozon - Gassan) and would like to learn more about it. I would greatly appreciate your insight into identifying the period and any additional details you may notice.

 

Thank you, and my apologies in advance for the photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ROKUJURO]

Very beautiful, but sadly, I cannot contribute to the history or data.

[Rivkin]

Nice! I would think fully developed, periodic, profound ayasugi hada is basically post 1490, with o kissaki this one I would say might approach Tensho. 

[Dereks]

That hada looks beautiful!

[eternal_newbie]

9 hours ago, Rivkin said:

Nice! I would think fully developed, periodic, profound ayasugi hada is basically post 1490, with o kissaki this one I would say might approach Tensho. 

 

Agreed; earlier Gassan work tends to have a more naturalistic ayasugi pattern (similar to how the Kanemoto sanbonsugi gets less even and regimented as you work backwards through the generations to the shodai).

Edit: some examples of early ko-Gassan ayasugi - 

https://web.archive.org/web/20071213011622/http://www.nihonto.ca/ko-gassan/jigane-l.jpg

https://nihontoantiques.com/project/name-sword-fss-693/

https://www.aoijapan.net/tanto-gassan/

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-gassan/

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/45265-nbthk-papered-ko-gassan-katana-with-kijimono-nakago/