SC0183
From a Daimyo collection and smithed by Shinto master Yasukuni.
smith information: http://www.nihonto.ca/yasukuni/
He is rated as Josaku by Fujishiro in the Shinto Hen which is the highest rating among his peers and higher than even that of the founder. He is also rated at 3.5 million yen in the Toko Jiten.
Signature and date engraved on both sides of the blade tang of this Long O-Wakizashi sword
Hamon temper lines are rarely wide and active.
The blade is in superb old polish and in excellent antique condition.
The blade is very well forged and has nice forging grains.
Koshirae decorative mountings are Tachi style and are "Issaku," which means made by the same craftsman. This Tachi Koshirae was originally made for this blade.
"Daimyo" Registration: This sword was registered in 1951, the initial year when the current sword registration system started in Japan. This initial year registration is called "Daimyo" (feudal lord) registration as it was Daimyo or other wealthy families who owned many precious swords and were asked by the government to register their swords in the initial year of 1951 to familiarize the registration system to the society.
Accordingly, there are many nice swords in the Daimyo registration swords, and much sough after by collectors.
However, many Daimyo's swords failed Shinsa due to the Japanese gifting custom of adding the signature of a big named smith onto a nice but cheaper sword to enhance its value when the sword was meant for a gift to an important person.
It comes with Shirasaya plain fitting and Tsunagi bamboo blade for the better storage of the blade and a Sword bag made of beautiful Kimono cloth.
Main Features: Mei signature: (front) (Musashi Taro YASUKUNI) (back)(Shin Jugo-mai Koubuse saku) ( forged with 15 foldings)
Yasukuni was well known and was making swords for Edo Shogun and its family members, including the 6th Tokugawa Shogun, Yoshimune, and Mito Mitsukuni (very famous as "Mito Komon"). The kanji characters engraved on the back of Nakago tang means the school and style which Yasukuni was very good in. This sword contains many features of Yasukuni's sword. Condition of the blade is mint with the fine polishment. The Koshirae is Tachi style, which was originally made for this blade which is rare to survive after so many years.
Jidai date: around Kyoho Era (1716-1735)
Sugata structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Mune: Iori-mune
Boshi head: Ko-maru, Kitae hada: Ko-itame hada
Hamon temper line: Choji irregular temper lines
Nakago tang: Ha-agari kuri-jiri, Yasuri-me: Kiri
Mekugi hole: Two, Habaki collar: Single piece silver plated copper.
Size (approximation):
Cutting Edge Length: 54.5 cm (21 1/2"), Moto-haba: 30.2 mm
Saki-haba: 20.6 mm,Moto-gasane: 8.4 mm
Saki-gasane: 4.7 mm, Sori curve: 12 mm
Kissaki point: 33.5 mm, Nakago tang length: 16 cm. Koshirae fitting: 94 cm (37"), Tsuka handle: 25 cm (9 7/8")
Weight (approximation):
Bare blade: 607 g (1.34 lb), In Koshirae mountings: 1,129 g (2.49 lb)
Condition: The blade is very well polished and is in excellent condition with some minor scratches. The Koshirae mountings and Shirasaya fitting are in very good condition with normal wears seen in items of this age. One out of three Seppa washers is made of rubber to better fit the Tsuba guard.
As this is a wakizashi, I will not be sending it for shinsa. If the mei is authenticated or not makes not much difference after taking the cost of shinsa into consideration.
Even if it is gimei (fake signature), it is part of the Japanese sword history.
It is a beautiful sword good for display and to be enjoyed.
Price : NOT FOR SALE