ANCIENT 1600 -1680’s BIZEN / BISHU DEN BLADE**Wakizashi Short Sword Smith Signed ‘Bishu Osafune Ju Suke Sada’ With C1750-1800 Iron Tsuba, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. ED 901 Sword

**ANCIENT 1600 -1680’s BIZEN / BISHU DEN BLADE**Wakizashi Short Sword Smith Signed ‘Bishu Osafune Ju Suke Sada’ With C1750-1800 Iron Tsuba, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. ED 901 - ED 901

This Wakizashi with ancient blade has been examined by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg and a copy of his assessment notes accompany the sword. In his notes he states ““A bizen/bishu den wakizashi blade looking to date to 1600 to 1680 period. Signed ‘Bishu Osafune Ju Suke Sada’ (province, village, living in, art name).The whole village of osafune was involved in sword making for a couple of hundred years and lots of tosho used the art name suke sada. Most of them made average quality blades and supplied lots of swords for local Daimyo/warlords. It is nearly impossible to single out which one made this sword. The shape/size/work & steel are consistent with a blade from this period. In good old polish showing hamon clearly with nioi/nie crystal ha Buchi. Only a couple small kizu to one side otherwise healthy condition. Saya wood with black laquer, which is damaged in places, with piece of wood missing from throat and koiguchi, black horn mouth piece missing from mouth of saya. It also needs a replacement ko-gatana (side knife). Tsuba is 79mm round iron plate, carved with large leaves & vines and grapes, unsigned, with black patina & old pitting, looks 1750 to 1800 period. Tsuka has been rebound in white ito, for an amateur bind it is ok. With 19th century iron fuchi/kashira with incised lines and gold splash highlights, menuki meiji period good quality shakudo metal with foliage and gold highlights. Has had some restoration by its previous owner, needs saya repairs to finish off”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as just under 52 cms. Total length 66.5 cms. He also translates the tang signature & describes other blade characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. ED 901

£975.00