Wakizashi from Murimachi period? >1585AD, 430+ years old (lots of pictures)

[armyduck]

Hello everyone, happy first post to me. Well I have come to posses a wakizashi that has some seemly bold claims on the tags attached to it. They say "Sadamune Hizen >1585AD. Koto Tanto, Murimachi Period." then go on to say "Menukis made by famous Somin... gold and copper". For the record I am NOT interesting in selling, what I am interested in is the history and anyone that can point me in the right direction will get a gold star :thumbup:

Ive been told that the crystal color of the metal is blue or purple, I can't remember. Apparently that was high or some sort of good sign

Furthermore im interested in the little knife that goes inside the scabbard, there is a cutout in the guard of the hilt that allows it to be directly slid out without having to unsheath the main blade. What is the history behind that, utility, tradition, both?

Backstory: my grandfather passed away and left a multitude of japanese blades, they got split among the boys, i got several. This one seems to have the most interesting claims, unfortunately we weren't as close as I'd have liked and he isn't around to walk me through this stuff, i want to know more. He had many hobbies however so while he was a good researcher some of this stuff was a work in progress so might not have been 100% accurate..if you know what i mean. He also thought replicas can be just as cool since he was about the history so one never really knew what he meant when he wrote out tags; best guess, this is for sure, 'this is what that would have looked like and this is a replica', this is similar too X.. ect

Thanks in advance to everyone :thumbup::thumbup:

 

[kaotikross]

There are quite a few Sadamune's listed in the Index of Japanese Swordsmiths. "Hizen" was a province in Japan. That's all I know. If it's legit, it's really been through the wringer. Blade looks like steel wool was used at some point. It need restored but until one of the fellas who KNOW this stuff comes along, no idea if that'd be worth it or not.

 

[NihontoEd]

I wasn't going to reply, but since there is a gold star involved:

There were numerous smiths who used the name Sadamune. Of course the ever so famous Sadamune, student of Masamune which this is absolutely not.
Your grandfather was obviously clear on this important fact, and I just want to be sure you are as well.

In regards to the signature alone, your sword is signed nijimei or two character. The only "Hizen" Sadamune using this Sada character listed in either Hawley's or Sesko's signed "Hizen Hirato ju Sadamune".
Now that doesn't mean he absolutely never signed nijimei, but it is not listed as his normal way of signing. I did check Fujishiro's as well but he is not listed at all.

I will share my personal observations on your sword, however, be aware that they are based on a mere six photos and all of the blade photos are of poor quality. I suspect this not a Koto period sword, but more likely a Shinto sword which was altered and signed with the famous sadamune name at a later date. The shape and geometry looks wrong for the alleged period. The two mekugi ana could mean it was remounted or was cut down after developing a flaw or break or simply had the ana and mei added the a re-patination of the nakago. The one mekugi ana is way out of line which makes me speculate it may have been added later along with the mei. (This was very common, forging the mei that is). From what little I can see the blade is in poor but not disastrous condition, someone scratched it up having attempted to clean it somewhere down the line. I see no evidence of hamon or hada, but again the photos are too poor to yield much information.

Observations for the accouterments are as follows: The Tsuka was rewrapped at some point and very poorly at that. Even the same(ray skin) looks new at best.

The menuki, I can only see one clearly but would be comfortable saying they are not "Somin", perhaps he meant Somin style ?? They do not appear to be a matched set, and appear to have been pieced together.

Kozuka is either shakudo or shibuichi with a family mon or crest embellishment. The mon is a "moko" or melon design used by a number of families.

Kogatana look like a reproduction, but I could be wrong. You should have taken it out and photographed both sides.

Again, my comments are based on a few poorly shot photos, so any of the observation could be subject to change upon in hand examination.

At any rate, that is my 2 Yen worth. That and $5 will get you a coffee most places.

 

[armyduck]

Thank you both for your replies, especially yours SouthernComfort, man i had to google almost all of those terms but its opened me up to a lot of information so gold star is hereby awarded! Yes i was tracking on the different Sadamune's and that this was not from the super famous one. So this mei is a nijime of "Hizen Sadamune" but only smith that seems to match usually signed "Hizen Hirato ju Sadamune" which is raising an eyebrow leading you to believe some guy at some point hammered it in to look cool which is common. Makes sense. Your right about the mekugi ana, i just checked out the other wakizashis in the stash and see what you are saying. So you think that this was a full size sword and got cut down for whatever reason or that someone added it for shts and giggles, the chopped down sword theory makes sense to me but why would someone randomly add a hole

About the dating between Koto vs Shinto era what about the geometry tells you that? (I researched on the shino era from the japanese sword society of hawaii http://jssh.org/shinto.html#/1 great stuff)

Im having very hard time taking a picture of the blade, it is definitely very scratched, i dont see a hamon or hira(?) either. Would that be something that is a final testament of blade quality or would a proper stone polishing bring them back?

The Kogatana is shiny on one side and flat filed on the other side, unsigned. Does that seems reproduction-ish? heres some photos

(my uploading site is not keeping the photos high quality :thumbdn





Note: theres gunk on the blade that i didnt clean off on the bottom its not part of the metal

As to the menuki, these seem identical in build to me heres some better photos





With the better pictures can you get more insight on the Same(ray) it looks weird to me compared to the others in the collection


******Updated information, this sword was taken directly from Japan during the occupation so anything done or pieced together was done so by the Japanese owner circa 1940's *****

Thanks again, you rock

 

[NihontoEd]

AD,
That's the bad thing about answers, they always bring about more questions. I will try to address them as best I can.

So this mei is a nijime of "Hizen Sadamune" but only smith that seems to match usually signed "Hizen Hirato ju Sadamune"

No, this could be a nijimei of Hizen Sadamune, it could easily be another or simply be gimei. My previous answer was directed at the actual mei only, combined with the information your grandfather provided. The smith Hizen Sadamune is recorded as signing his works "Hizen Hirato ju Sadamune", which would point to a high probability that this is not Hizen Sadamune. But, keep mind the one stead fast rule is that, nothing is absolute.

Which is raising an eyebrow leading you to believe some guy at some point hammered it in to look cool which is common. Makes sense.

No, if it was added later it was to add value, not to look cool. It was common practice to forge important names on swords, especially to sell to tourists during the Meji period and later. It was also common during feudal times. Daimyo liked to present big name swords to their top generals as gifts. Swordsmiths were often instructed to make a blade and sign it with whom ever's name was en vogue. So this was a common practice. It could be that yours was done during an earlier time.

*Please note: In retrospect, I feel I should retract my previous comments regarding the sword. Looking back, I could be completely wrong and should have refrained from making any observation on the sword itself as the one full length photo is so poor that it is impossible to gain any information from it. You need to get in a sunny window, turn off the flash and get some decent photos of it. You need shots of the full length, entire nakago, close up of the end of the nakago, Kissaki (point), etc.. Also photos of the hada (grain) and Hamon(temper line) if any areas where the show can be found. As such, I will hold any further comments on the blade until you can provide adequate photos.

The Kogatana is shiny on one side and flat filed on the other side, unsigned. Does that seems reproduction-ish?

Yes, it looks to be a Tsunagi or filler blade. I won't say reproduction as the term tends to be taken as modern Chinese copy. It may have been made in Japan out of some scrap, it has either pitting or fukure on the side. What is definite, is that it is not old, not an original, nor antique. Your grandfather or someone may have bought the kozuka and that filler blade on the docks of Yokohama to put in the koshirae in order to make it complete. Who knows ???

As to the menuki, these seem identical in build to me heres some better photos

Yes, I stand corrected. They are matched set. In the previous distant photo I could not make out that it was a flower. Still not Somin work.

With the better pictures can you get more insight on the Same(ray) it looks weird to me compared to the others in the collection

It looks to be cut from the sides of the skin ie; lower quality cut. The middle of the skin where the large nodules are found is the premium cut. The rest is culled or used for patches, repair, low quality work etc..

Updated information, this sword was taken directly from Japan during the occupation so anything done or pieced together was done so by the Japanese owner circa 1940's

Yes, the tsuka was likely re-wrapped quickly and cheaply on the docks to sell to gaijin tourists who wouldn't know the difference.
Compare this photo of a well wrapped tsuka to yours. I tried to find one which was wrapped in the same general style as yours. Hopefully, you will be able to see the difference in quality.
View attachment 550890

Here is a link which may help you with terminology and more: http://yakiba.com/beginner_page.htm