ANCIENT PRE 1600 BLADE**Japanese Late Muro Machi Period Bizen Den Wakizashi Short Sword Smith Signed ‘NORI SHIGE’ With Late Edo Period ‘KO JU MASA TORA’ Signed Rats & Rice Bales Iron Tsuba & Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 21652 Swords

**ANCIENT PRE 1600 BLADE**Japanese Late Muro Machi Period Bizen Den Wakizashi Short Sword Smith Signed ‘NORI SHIGE’ With Late Edo Period ‘KO JU MASA TORA’ Signed Rats & Rice Bales Iron Tsuba & Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 21652 - 21652

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 extracts of his notes he states “A Bizen Den (School) Wakizashi signed ‘NORI SHIGE’. Blade looks Late Muro Machi Period 2 possible men working in early 16th Century, one Bizen 1532-55, the other Bishu Osafune working 1521-28. A lot of old swords had simple 2 kanji signatures also right for Bizen is grooves, lots of this den did grooves in their blades. Needs professional polish to bring out grain, bright with some fine scratches & buffing marks, odd small flaw. Saya black lacquer not bad condition for its age (19th Century) couple of old repairs, missing a side knife to finish it off. Tsuba oval shape in iron depicts rats & rice bales (popular theme) signed ‘KO JU MASA TORA’ late Edo 1780’s-1800 working in the Akasaka Bu-Ko District of Tokyo in Edo (place). Tsuka has soft metal Fuchi / Kashira depicts Dragons, Late Meiji into 20th Century. Needs menuki & new binding, some old repairs. An ancient blade needing polish to bring out its workmanship. Worthy of restoration”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as 41cms. Total length 53cms. He also describes other blade characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21652

£895.00