Wakizashi of Sueseki School

[Gyakuto]

A new acquisition. A wakizashi from the Muromachi period (1333-1568), 1550 specifically. It’s hard to believe this this was made when Henry VIII son (Edward VI) was on the throne of Britain. 70cm overall, blade 41cm. It came with NBTHK certification of appraisal and provenance.

The black metal used here and there is shakudo an alloy of copper and silver and has a deep purple colour.

Ornamentation are cherry blossoms, pine branches and on the small utility knife, pine cones.

You can see the itame wood grain pattern in the steel.

The pattern on the saya is black ‘ishime’.

It’s absolutely beautiful!

 

[isshinryuronin]

A new acquisition. A wakizashi from the Muromachi period (1333-1568), 1550 specifically. It’s hard to believe this this was made when Henry VIII son (Edward VI) was on the throne of Britain. 70cm overall, blade 41cm. It came with NBTHK certification of appraisal and provenance.
View attachment 31766
View attachment 31767
The black metal used here and there is shakudo an alloy of copper and silver and has a deep purple colour.
View attachment 31768 Ornamentation are cherry blossoms, pine branches and on the small utility knife, pine cones.
View attachment 31769
You can see the itame wood grain pattern in the steel.

View attachment 31771
The pattern on the saya is black ‘ishime’.

It’s absolutely beautiful!

Incredible. Congratulations.

 

[Gyakuto]

Incredible. Congratulations.

My bank account has taken a big hit this month. It translates to about one and a half years fewer in a nursing home having my ars* wiped by a rough, angry nursing assistant. it’s worth it!

 

[isshinryuronin]

My bank account has taken a big hit this month. It translates to about one and a half years fewer in a nursing home having my ars* wiped by a rough, angry nursing assistant. it’s worth it!

I figured it must have been close to $40K, US (or more?). I thought spending over $500 for a pair of sai was extravagant, but they are beautiful and heavy-duty weapons.

 

[Gyakuto]

I figured it must have been close to $40K, US (or more?). I thought spending over $500 for a pair of sai was extravagant, but they are beautiful and heavy-duty weapons.

No children = a bit of disposable income (and less worry)!

 

[Bill Mattocks]

A new acquisition. A wakizashi from the Muromachi period (1333-1568), 1550 specifically. It’s hard to believe this this was made when Henry VIII son (Edward VI) was on the throne of Britain. 70cm overall, blade 41cm. It came with NBTHK certification of appraisal and provenance.
View attachment 31766
View attachment 31767
The black metal used here and there is shakudo an alloy of copper and silver and has a deep purple colour.
View attachment 31768 Ornamentation are cherry blossoms, pine branches and on the small utility knife, pine cones.
View attachment 31769
You can see the itame wood grain pattern in the steel.

View attachment 31771
The pattern on the saya is black ‘ishime’.

It’s absolutely beautiful!

Lovely!

 

[Gyakuto]

Sword guard

 

[Gyakuto]

Hamon (or hah-moh as they say on ‘Forged in Fire’)

You can really see the ‘itame’, wood grain pattern in the folded steel in this photo…

 

[Wing Woo Gar]

Hamon (or hah-moh as they say on ‘Forged in Fire’)

View attachment 31798

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You can really see the ‘itame’, wood grain pattern in the folded steel in this photo…
View attachment 31801

Beautiful! But how did you get it? I thought you couldn’t import. Weren’t the police just at your house?

 

[Gyakuto]

Beautiful! But how did you get it? I thought you couldn’t import. Weren’t the police just at your house?

The swords sold by this dealer have been in England since 1870. After the Meiji restoration (1868-1912) Samurai were abolished and had to give up their swords. The wealthy English over in Japan at the time simply grabbed them and brought them back to the U.K. for display and museums etc. When these families died out or the museums closed, this dealer goes along and buys them and resells them. This wakizashi did actually go back to Japan in 2006 for appraisal by the NBTHK who registers Japanese swords so it has all that documentation, which is unusual.