My first wakizashi

[Garand]

Hey everyone, nice to meet you all. This is my first post here and I'm looking forward to learning from the group. 

 

Just wanted to get some opinions on my wakizashi which I purchased from Tozando in Kyoto. It unfortunately does not have NBTHK certification, but is a beautiful blade that immediately caught my attention.

 

Can anyone tell me about the signature?

 

Pictures are here.

 

 

[eternal_newbie]

Welcome to the board.

 

Your wakizashi is signed Kanesumi 兼住

 

There were many smiths who signed with these characters in Mino province (present-day Gifu prefecture), from the Koto period all the way up to the 1970s. Based on the structure of the hamon, I would guess it is one of the smiths from the later half of that range.

[Rivkin]

I would be inclined to consider the dates around Tensho. Nakago is in good condition, but we don't see too many higaki yasurime in shinto even for mino, the signature is a bit koto with nijimei closer to the mune and a bit more cursive-shallow and its nijimei... 

Tensho matches sugata - very beefy powerful, no taper, uniform curvature.

[Garand]

Thanks for the details, both. 

 

Rivkin, you've proven how much lingo I need to learn around here. 

[2devnul]

Kani No Tsune Hamon? One way or another I love it, my type of temper line. After proper polish it would look awesome. 

I bet that Tozando in Kyoto provided you with sword description. Why asking here? 

[Bazza]

Not higaki yasurime, rather its inverted/reverse takanoha.

BaZZa.

[Rivkin]

6 hours ago, Bazza said:

Not higaki yasurime, rather its inverted/reverse takanoha.

BaZZa.

I looked close at the photos and I think you are right.