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Antique Japanese Wakizashi with Signed Blade

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:300.00 USD
Antique Japanese Wakizashi with Signed Blade
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[?]Live Online Auction Starts In 2026 Nov 22 @ 10:00 (UTC-08:00 : PST/AKDT)
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Antique Japanese Wakizashi with Signed Blade, 22.25" (56.5cm) long shinogi-zukuri blade, with a sanbon-suji style hamon temper line. Typical workmanship from the Mino School of sword making. The tang has been greatly shortened and a new hole made for mounting. The original signature was cut out of the old tang and inlaid into the metal of the current tang to preserve it. This is called "Gaku-mei" or framed signature, done to retain the maker's name, showing its lineage, and was performed a long time ago. The signature reads "Noshu ju Jumyo", (Resident of Noshu province, Jumyo is the smith's name). There were many Mino smiths that used that name working from the late 1300's to the mid 1800's. This sword probably dates from around 1570 to 1660. Swords with the name Jumyo on them were considered lucky as the name literally means "long life". They were frequently given as gifts to other samurai families. The blade has been remounted poorly with an older handle and a modern reproduction saya scabbard. The tang fits very loose in the handle and would need some work to tighten it up. The handle shows age, made of wood wrapped in stingray skin and wrapped with blue silk ito cord. The kashira top fitting is brass with an engraved dragonfly. The fuchi bottom fitting is made of shakudo and features gold covered Tokogawa mons around the perimeter. The menuki are gold colored leaves with a rat sitting on them. The antique tsuba guard is slightly mokko shaped, made of iron, with gold covered highlights and details of birds flying over hanging fishing nets. None of the fittings are signed. The saya scabbard is painted black with simulated clam shell decorations. Condition is good, the blade shows an old polish that has aged with numerous light finger print type rust stains, light scratches and scuffs, and a few very minor edge nicks. There are no visible flaws, cracks, or blisters in the blade. The temper line is strong and clearly defined. There is a copper habaki at the base of the blade. There is one gold foil covered copper seppa spacer next to the habaki, but the other seppa is missing. The tsuba shows a nice dark patina, wear to the applied gold decorations, and some light rust in some areas. The handle shows age and shrinkage to the ray skin, light soiling to the cord wrapping, and normal age patina to the fittings. The scabbard shows some cracking to the edge, some light dings, and scratches. The sword comes with a thin modern cotton sword bag showing some age. Also included in the lot is a book by Kanzan Sato, titled "The Japanese Sword" , 1983, 210 pages, with lots of information in English on Japanese swords. Est.: $600-900