SWORD, Short, Japanese

Blade; WAKIZASHI type. Form; SHINOGI TSUKURI, Ridge [SHINOGI]/ parallel, Ridge width [SHINOGI-JI], narrow, blade taper [FUNBARI]/ medium, back [MUNE]/ LOW IHORE.
Temper outline of the edge [HAMON]/ wide SUGUBA of NIOI, the tip [BOSHI]/ KO MARU, return [KAERI] long.The forging technique [KITAE]and grain ITAME/MASAME [ possible YAKI NAOSHI]. The tangs [UBU] shape HA-AGARI, the length 13.5cm, filemarks [YASURI-MEI] are SUGIKAI, the back [MUNE] HIRA, one hole [M EKUGI ANA] , signature is MUMEI.
Hilt; Standard cotton binding over stingray skin. FUCHI/KASHNA & MENUKI crude cast brass. Copper TSUBA of good quality, inlaid with flowers and vines.
Scabbard; leather covered wood of WWII vintage.

W1970.650
Blade
Type: SHOTO

Mei: mumei

Nagasa: 52.7 cm

Sori: 1.1 cm

Sugata: shinogi tsukuri, iori mune

Nakago: 13.5 cm, one mekugi ana, ubu

Kissaki: chu

Hada: masame/itame

Hamon: wide suguba of nioi

Date: late 16th century
This is an example of a mediocre quality blade of the late 16th or, early 17th century. It may have been retempered.
Koshirae
Type: BUKE ZUKURI

Saya: wood, brown leather cover, one brass ashi

Tsuka: same, bound with brown cotton over wood

Fuchi/kashira: plain brass
Menuki: brass, one modelled as a mon, the other as a plaque inscribed with Chinese characters

Tsuba: copper, of moko shape, with raised inlay of patinated copper flowers featuring gold inlaid stamens and tendrils. Dimensions: 5.3 x 6.0 x 0.3 cm

Overall length: 96.0 cm

Date: 19th century

Department: 

Collection

History Collection

Collection Item Data