Original 15th – 16th Century Japanese Handmade Wakizashi Short Sword by KANEMOTO with Scabbard & Wooden Capture Tag Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Wakizashi (脇差 “side inserted / companion sword”) is a general term for a sword with an edge between one and two shaku long (30 cm and 60 cm), predominantly made after 1600. Generally it is the short blade that accompanies a katana in the traditional samurai daisho pairing of swords, but may be worn by classes other than the samurai as a single blade, also worn edge up as the katana. Here we have a wonderful example in great polish, with a very nice lacquered scabbard.

We had this sword examined, and we believe this example dates from the Muromachi period (室町時代 Muromachi jidai) of 1336 to 1573, during the later circa 1550. This is part of the period of Japanese swordmaking known as Kotō (古刀”old swords”), the the type of swords that later smiths treated as the goal they needed to achieve. The fittings may be of later manufacture, but are still centuries old. Most likely this sword was brought back just after WWII, as many swords were turned in as required by the Allied forces. There is a wooden capture tag attached to the crossguard, which mentions Miyagi Prefecture, Tome County, Yoshida Village, with the rest characters we do not recognize.

This example has definitely been remounted several times, as was common for Japanese blades that are several hundred years old. Age and wear have made the file marks (yasurimi) on the tang faint, and given it a lovely patina. This has however also made the mei, or signature on the blade harder to read, and removed the tagane (chisel marks) and tagane-makura (raised area around the mei). As best we can tell, the blade is signed 関 住 兼 元 – SEKI JU KANEMOTO, which could be one of several different smiths. There were many well-regarded smiths in Seki, Mino province that used this name. Definitely a good opportunity for further research!

The blade has the following period correct features:

– Folded steel blade (fold lines are evident on the spine and body of the blade)
– Holes (mekugi-ana) in the tang are punched and not drilled
– Visible temper line (“hamon”) running full length of blade cutting edge.
– Hada or Grain is visible throughout the blade surface.
– Blade wounds (kizu) or lamination artifacts are present on the blade. Both ware (lamination lines) and fukure (carbon pits) are visible.

Offered in very nice condition, the polish on the blade of this example is somewhat degraded, and shows it has seen a lot of use since the last traditional polish. There are some areas of scuffing and light oxidation, and overall the aspects of the blade are hard to see due to this. The blade length is approximately 14 3/4″ and overall length 21 1/2″. It has a futsu 普通 (regular) Nakago with an Haagari (asymmetrical rounded) nakago-jiri (tang tip). The blade shape is HIRA-ZUKURI, which means that it does not have a SHINOGI (Blade ridge). This is a shape used on shorter Wakizashi as well as many Tanto knives. Some would term this is a Ko-Wakizashi as it is shorter, and very much resembles a long tanto.

The blade does still have a faintly visible hamon, which can be viewed in light reflection, which is a very interesting combination of GUNOME (zig zag) and HAKO (box) shapes. There are blade wounds including ware (lamination splits) and fukure (carbon pits or blisters) visible on the surface of the blade. The sword has a copper Habaki (blade collar), which is typical of very old blades.

The tsuba (cross guard) is made of iron and is of the Kaku Gata (square) shape, with a raised border around the edge. It has Hitsu-ana (accessory holes) for both the Kozuka (kogatana handle) and kogai (hair ornament), however there are none with this set of fittings, so it is probably from an earlier setting. This theoretically would allow the accessories to be taken out without unsheathing the sword. There are two seppa around the tsuba, with cutouts matching the hitsu-ana on the tsuba.

The fuchi (collar) for the tsuka (handle) and the Kashira (End Cap), are both also made of iron, with a lovely gold inlaid stripe on the collar. There are two brass menuki grip ornaments present, which both look to be cherry or plum blossom flower designs. The stingray skin (Sa-Me) grip definitely shows wear, and the panels of skin have shrunk over time. The grip wrapping (Ito) looks to be made from plant fibers, and is woven in a very interesting design. There is a single wooden securing peg (mekugi) still present, which looks to be original.

The sword comes in a black enamel lacquer wooden scabbard (saya), which shows great age, with flaking and deterioration of the finish. It has a kurikata (knob) one one side for attachment of a sageo (sword cord), though there is no present. There is cracking off the scabbard throat, and it matches the age of the handle well.

A very nice Muromachi Period wakizashi by a well-known smith with some very interesting fittings (koshirae) and a capture tag. Ready to cherish and display!

Specifications (Wakizashi):
Blade Length: 14 3/4″
Blade Shape: Hira-Zukuri
Overall length: 21 1/2“
Scabbard Length: 18 3/4“

It has been over one thousand years ago that the art of making swords appeared in Japan. The swordsmiths of the time may not have known it but they were creating a legendary sword. The Samurai sword has seen combat in many battlefields. From the early days of the Samurai warrior to the fierce battles in the South Pacific during WWII.

Each hand-made Japanese blade (日本刀 – Nihonto) is unique because it is forged from multiple pieces of folded steel stock. A tremendous amount of work is dedicated to creating these pieces. They were an instrument of war as much as a beautiful artifact to adorn a room.

The traditional Japanese blade and mountings have grown to be one of the most highly desired military antiques.