Original Item: Only One Available. Wakizashi (脇差 "side inserted / companion sword") is a general term for a sword between one and two shaku long (30 cm and 60 cm). Wakizashi close to the length of a katana are called ō-wakizashi (大脇差) and wakizashi closer to tantō length are called ko-wakizashi (小脇差). 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.

We just acquired this very old and well used example at a military show.As best we can tell, it dates from the Muromachi period (室町時代 Muromachi jidai) of 1336 to 1573, most likely the earlier portion. This is part of the period of Japanese swordmaking known as Kotō (古刀"old swords"), the the type of swords that later smiths treated as the goal they needed to achieve.

This example has definitely been remounted several times, as was common for Japanese blades that are several hundred years old. There are three holes (mekugi-ana) in the tang, and it is well patinated. The YASURIME (鑢目 - file marks) on the the tang, intended to help hold the blade in the handle, have been completely worn away, and there is some rust scaling as well. We can also see from the shape of the blade near the MUNEMACHI (棟区 - notch at start of spine) that the blade was originally much thicker, and after numerous polishings has been made quite a bit thinner. It is 6.75mm just to the rear of the munemachi, which used to be part of the blade, while it is 4.82mm just 2cm past the munemachi.

The blade does have a signature or MEI (銘 - name), which reads 来國次 - RAI KUNITSUGU. The TAGANE (chisel marks) and TAGANE MAKURA (raised area around the mei) are completely gone, and the characters are faint, so this was signed a long time ago. However, this is almost certainly a “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.

Rai Minamoto Kunitsugu (来源國次) was one of the JUTTETSU, the “Ten Great Disciples” of the greatest swordsmith in Japanese history, Gorō Nyūdō Masamune (五郎入道正宗 - Priest Gorō Masamune, c. 1264–1343). Masamune did not sign any of his works, but his disciples did, and there are estimates that for the most famous smiths, 9 out of 10 works with their signature are false attributions. These were of course much more common during the working life of the smith, and as Kunitsugu passed away in 1324, this blade is almost certainly from the 14th or 15th century.

The blade is nice example, has the following period correct features:
- Folded steel blade (fold lines are evident on the spine and body of the blade)
- holes in the tang (mekugi-ana) are punched and not drilled
- blade has a faint temper line (hamon)
- Blade wounds (kizu) or lamination artifacts are present on the blade, only possible on traditionally made examples. These are mostly WARE (lamination lines), but there are also fukure (blisters or carbon pits).
- Grain (hada) is visible in the body of the blade, only possible with laminated steel blades.

The blade of this example is 12 ⅜ inches long, and the overall length of this wakizashi is 21 ¼ inches in the resting handle. Most would term this as a Ko-Wakizashi as it is shorter, and very much resembles a long tanto, especially with the HIRA ZUKURI (平造) shape, also used on tanto knives, which means it is a blade without a shinogi, or ridge typical of longer blades. 

The polish on the blade is in fair condition, and there is a lot of scuffing on the blade surface from use and improper cleaning. There are some dents and bends apparent on the edge. There is also some damage at the blade tip that looks like delamination from a straightened bend. The blade looks to be “tired”, and has been polished down to possibly what is the core steel, though due to the polish this is impossible to really tell accurately. We can see that there used to be two small BO’HI fullers on both sides, however enough material has been removed from the blade that now they are only visible on the tang, and another fuller was added on the right side at some point. This is a blade that has seen use for centuries, and it shows. 

The tang (nakago) of the blade is of the Futsu (普通 - regular) shape with a Kuri-Jiri (Rounded) nakago-jiri (tang tip). There are only remnants of the temper line visible, particularly near the HA MACHI (刃区 - notch at the beginning of the cutting edge). It looks to be a SUGUHA (直刃 -straight) shape. We can also see some WARE lamination lines and FUKURE carbon pits visible, only possible on traditionally made blades. There is also some HADA (grain) visible, but not enough to realy see the shape. This is definitely a traditionally made blade that has been around for a long, long time.

This sword is mounted in a "resting scabbard" or Shirasaya, which is intended for storing the blade when it is not in use. It is in very good condition, and looks to be mid 20th century, possibly made for a bring back during the post war years. It is varnished overall, and has matured to a lovely color. The seams are still secure, with no splitting visible, and the original pin (mekugi) is still present. There were originally two bone ferrules around the peg hole on the tsuka (handle), but only one is still present. The blade is fitted with a copper HABAKI blade collar, which has gold highlighting and is quite attractive.

A very interesting Muromachi period Ko-wakizashi with a false attribution, offered in a lovely resting scabbard. Ready to research and display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 14 ¾"
Blade Shape: "Hira Zukuri" 平造 tanto style
Overall length: 21 ¼“
Scabbard Length: 16"

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.