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 early 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 the blade length is close to that of a Katana, and the blade is the "Shinogi-Zukuri" shape, some would term this an "Ō-Wakizashi". It is now in a leather covered scabbard with a hanger ring attached, which means that it was almost certainly pressed into service during WWII, as these are the typical fittings they would use.

The blade from this example has most likely been remounted several times, as was common for Japanese blades that are several hundred years old. Age and wear have made the YASURIME (鑢目 - file marks) on the tang faint, and given it a lovely patina, with some areas of oxidation. There still is some of the tagane-makura (raised area around the mei) present, and the tagane (chisel marks) faint, however the MEI signature is still relatively easy to read. The blade is signed 肥前國 住人 藤原 忠吉 , read as HIZEN KUNI JUNIN FUJIWARA TADAYOSHI. This translates to “Made by Fujiwara Tadayoshi in Hizen Province”. “Fujiwara” is an honorific, so this was made by the smith bearing the name “Tadahiro”, which is a lineage in the Hizen school of swordmaking.

However, close inspection shows that the 前 (ZEN) character used on this blade is incorrect: Tadayoshi, like many members of the Hizen school, used a modified version of this character. This would have the lower right have a single stroke with a sideways stroke, instead of the standard. The blade is also signed on the wrong side, not typical for this smith. We have compared signatures (OSHIGATA) from known examples of this smith's work, and it is definitely not a match.

This is known as “false attribution”, or GIMEI (偽銘 - false name). This is an attempt to enhance the value of lesser smiths or unsigned MUMEI (無銘- anonymous) blades, and the more famous the smith, the more likely a signature is to be false. There were multiple successors to the Tadayoshi name in the Hizen school, ranging from the late 16th to early 19th Centuries, and gimei swords are very likely to be made during the working life of the smith. It is definitely a traditionally made blade, and the shape is consistent with those made during the late 17th Century, near the Kanbun (寛文) Era (1661-1673). Definitely some great possibilities 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)
- hole (mekugi-ana) in the tang is punched and not drilled
- Vibrant visible temper line ("hamon") running full length of blade cutting edge, including on the tip (boshi).
- Hada or Grain is visible throughout the blade surface.
- Ware Kizu (blade wounds) from lamination artifacts, only possible on handmade blades.

Polish is slightly degraded, with some staining and past oxidation. No major rust though. Edge is still sharp with no real edge dents or bends except for the very tip of the blade.

Offered in very good condition, the blade of this example measures 21 ⅜ inches long and looks to only have seen light use since the last polish, though it has suffered some oxidation staining from lack of cleaning. We have left these intact to avoid further damaging the polish. The aspects of the blade are easy to see in many areas, even in poor light, allowing it to be fully appreciated as is. The edge is still VERY sharp in areas, so it should be handled with care. There are some tiny edge dents and nicks on the blade, and a tiny dent at the very tip, all 1mm or less in depth. The blade tang (nakago) is of the futsu 普通 (regular) style, with a Iriyamagata (asymetrically pointed) nakago-jiri (tang tip). Overall length of this wakizashi is 31 inches.

The HAMON (刃文) temper line is fully visible in the light, and is a very attractive NOTARE MIDARE (湾れ乱れ - irregular wave like) shape. It has a very nice "stacked wave" motif, and the top is partly detached on some iterations. Definitely a lovely hamon! Along the transition there are clear NIE crystals visible, with cloudy areas of NIOI in the body of the hamon. There is also a lot of internal activity and visible crystallization, something not usually seen on more modern blades. The blade has a proper geometric KISSAKI (tip), and the YOKOTE (横手 - transition to the tip) is still relatively clear. The BOSHI (帽子 - tip temper line) is still mostly visible, and looks to be of the KO-MARU (小丸 - small circle turnback) shape.

The body of the blade has clear hada (grain), which is of the MASAME (柾目 - Straight) pattern. We can see some blade wounds (傷 - KIZU) such as WARE (割れ- lamination lines) and very small FUKURE (脹れ - Carbon pits). These are only possible on true traditionally made blades. With the long delay for traditional togishi polishing, blades like this that are ready to appreciate out of the box are definitely in demand.

The TSUBA (cross guard) is made of well-patinated iron and is of the iconic MOKKO GATA (quince) shape, showing some lovely embossed designs on both sides, which look to be fish and water motifs. It almost looks like some type of sea serpent on both sides. There is a single HITSU-ANA cutout for the KOZUKA handle of a KOGATANA knife, though there is non included in this set of fittings. There are two metal seppa around the tsuba, along with a leather pad, which definitely keeps the cross guard relatively secure. The sword has an very nice two part copper Habaki (blade collar), which is typical of the Edo period.

The FUCHI (collar) for the TSUKA (handle) is what looks to be unadorned black brass, while the KASHIRA (End Cap) looks to be made from horn, or possibly very close grained wood. The stingray (Sa-Me) grip is in very good condition, with a lovely dark brown ITO grip wrapping, which holds the end cap in place. It is in really good condition, showing very light use, and may have been re-wrapped during the WWII period. There are two matching bronze menuki present, which look to be snails, and are very well executed. The handle is held in place by a single securing peg, which is most likely a replacement. Really a nice handle!

The Scabbard (saya) on this example is wood covered with a leather field cover, often seen on older swords refit for use during WWII, as they required far less materials and production time. In this case the existing scabbard was used, and it looks to have been a plain example with a black urushi lacquer finish, fitted with solid brass SAYAJIRI, which looks to be 19th century. The leather still retains the original brown finish well, and had a clamp style galvanized steel hanger ring fitting attached, with a steel hanger ring. The lacing at the top of the field cover is still intact.

A very nice Edo Period O-wakizashi with a Falsely attributed blade, reissued for use during WWII. Definitely some great history to this sword, with lots of potential for research. Ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 21 ⅜"
Blade Shape: Shinogi-Zukuri (鎬造)
Overall length: 31“
Scabbard Length: 25 ¾"

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.