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Post by aspaulding on Mar 19, 2024 2:26:18 GMT
I have received a wakizashi recently and I'm trying to determine the age of it? I have read a few articles that have helped but I was hoping for a few pointers. Does anybody have a good sites or articles that could help with the research. Here is a few photos of the wakizashi. Thanks you
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Post by larason2 on Mar 22, 2024 12:13:58 GMT
It's going to be very difficult. The original polish is almost gone, and the sword is extensively burnished. The Nakago is fairly dark, which argues for fairly old, but old could be Edo. The fittings are probably Edo period, because they made a lot of those then, and fittings older than that have rarely ever survived (and they look Edo!). If it was properly polished, you'd be able to tell more, and if it was polished it could be submitted to Shinsa, who would be able to date it and give a reasonable estimate of who made it. However, for swords like this, the polish will almost certainly cost more than it's worth, and then the cost of Shinsa would be on top of that.
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Post by aspaulding on Mar 22, 2024 14:13:38 GMT
It's going to be very difficult. The original polish is almost gone, and the sword is extensively burnished. The Nakago is fairly dark, which argues for fairly old, but old could be Edo. The fittings are probably Edo period, because they made a lot of those then, and fittings older than that have rarely ever survived (and they look Edo!). If it was properly polished, you'd be able to tell more, and if it was polished it could be submitted to Shinsa, who would be able to date it and give a reasonable estimate of who made it. However, for swords like this, the polish will almost certainly cost more than it's worth, and then the cost of Shinsa would be on top of that. I understand. I was hoping the shape of the blade and tang may help narrow down the approximate age. I know it's not worth a polish and Shinsa. For now I will enjoy it as is. Thank you for the reply.
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Post by treeslicer on Mar 22, 2024 18:50:57 GMT
I have received a wakizashi recently and I'm trying to determine the age of it? I have read a few articles that have helped but I was hoping for a few pointers. Does anybody have a good sites or articles that could help with the research. Here is a few photos of the wakizashi. Thanks you The shape suggests to me that it could be a katateuchi or kodachi (if you don't know those words, or any others I use, please go look them up on the internet), rather than a wakazashi in the strict sense. That would increase the possibility that the blade might be koto rather than shinto. Measuring only from the munemachi to the tip, how long is the blade?
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Post by aspaulding on Mar 22, 2024 19:43:54 GMT
The shape suggests to me that it could be a katateuchi or kodachi (if you don't know those words, or any others I use, please go look them up on the internet), rather than a wakazashi in the strict sense. That would increase the possibility that the blade might be koto rather than shinto. Measuring only from the munemachi to the tip, how long is the blade? Thank you for the information. The length is 16 1/2 inches.
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Post by treeslicer on Mar 23, 2024 0:32:44 GMT
The shape suggests to me that it could be a katateuchi or kodachi (if you don't know those words, or any others I use, please go look them up on the internet), rather than a wakazashi in the strict sense. That would increase the possibility that the blade might be koto rather than shinto. Measuring only from the munemachi to the tip, how long is the blade? Thank you for the information. The length is 16 1/2 inches. OK, Thanks. That's a length that wouldn't be unusual in an Edo wakizashi. Katateuchi usually run just a bit short of 2 shaku (katana length), like around 18 to 23 inches. Most I've handled have been circa 20 inches.
Given that, and the surface layer cracks (suggesting a typical shinto makuri or kobuse lamination), but allowing for the nakago rust as well as the evident polishing wear, I'd guess that the blade is early Edo, circa 1600-1650's.
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Post by aspaulding on Mar 23, 2024 2:38:44 GMT
Thank you for the information. The length is 16 1/2 inches. OK, Thanks. That's a length that wouldn't be unusual in an Edo wakizashi. Katateuchi usually run just a bit short of 2 shaku (katana length), like around 18 to 23 inches. Most I've handled have been circa 20 inches.
Given that, and the surface layer cracks (suggesting a typical shinto makuri or kobuse lamination), but allowing for the nakago rust as well as the evident polishing wear, I'd guess that the blade is early Edo, circa 1600-1650's.
Thats awesome you can do that. I have much to learn. I really appreciate you taking the time to educate me. Thank you so much.
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