Original 18th Century Edo Period Japanese Wakizashi Short Sword with Handmade Blade and Lacquered Scabbard 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.

This example dates from the Edo period (江戸時代, Edo jidai) or Tokugawa period (徳川時代, Tokugawa jidai) of Japanese history. This is the period between 1603 and 1867, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country’s 300 regional daimyo. As it is on the longer side and has katana geometry, it may be termed an “O-Wakizashi”, or Long Wakizashi.

This example has most likely been remounted several times, as was common for Japanese blades. This has made the file marks (yasurimi) on the tang faint, and given it a lovely patina. There are two holes (mekugi-ana) in the tang, so the cutting edge may have been somewhat longer previously. As there is no maker name on the tang, this blade is considered 無名 (mumei), or “anonymous”.

The blade has the following period correct features:
– Folded steel blade (fold lines are evident on the spine and body of the blade)
– holes in the tang are punched and not drilled
– blade has a temper line (hamon), which is easily visible.
– Blade wounds (kizu) or lamination artifacts are present on the blade. Both ware (lamination lines) and fukure (carbon pits) are visible.

The blade of this example is 21 3/8 inches long, and the polish on the blade is fair, overall showing cleaning and use since the last time it was fully polished. Overall length of this wakizashi is 29 1/2 inches. The hamon (temper line) is still visible, and is of the NOTARE (wave) type, with a lot of activity. Nie Crystals are visible, and there is Nioi cloudiness visible with lamination lines. The tang (nakago) is of the futsu 普通 (regular) style, with a Kuri-Jiri (symmetrical rounded) nakago-jiri.

The body of the blade shows faint ITAME (Wood grain) Hada (grain), and the boshi (tip temper line) is of the KOMARU (small turnback) type, with the yokote very faint. There are blade wounds including ware (lamination splits) and fukure (Carbon pits). We also see some possible SHINTETSU areas, where the core steel may be exposed. The sword has a copper Habaki (blade collar), which is typical of the Edo period.

The tsuba (cross guard) is made of iron and is of the Maru Gata (round) shape, inlaid with some embossed brass designs. There is a Kozuka Hitsu-ana for a Kogatana knife on one side, and there are two seppa (spacers) around the tsuba. The fuchi (collar) for the tsuka (handle) is iron, as is the Kashira (End Cap), and both have some brass inlaid designs. There are two bronze horse menuki present. The stingray (Sa-Me) grip with complete Ito (cloth binding) shows light wear, but is still in good condition.

The sword comes in a a well fitting gloss black lacquer wooden scabbard (saya), which has a cutout for a kogatana knife, which is unfortunately absent. The scabbard is in very good condition, with very little missing finish, and no splitting along the seams. It has a kurikata (knob) where the sageo (sword cord) would be attached, which shows past repairs.

A nice Edo Period O-wakizashi, complete with scabbard and ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 21 3/8“
Overall length: 29 1/2“
Scabbard Length: 22 7/8″

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.