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Antique Japanese Wakizashi with Horimono, Signed

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:400.00 USD
Antique Japanese Wakizashi with Horimono, Signed
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Antique Japanese Wakizashi with Horimono, Signed. A shinogi-zukuri-shaped Koto period wakizashi, slightly machi-o-kuri, with two mekugi-anas, one filled with lead. Two-character signature reads "Kunimitsu". Itame hada grain, nioi-deki irregular gunome hamon with sunagashi, chu-kissaki with kaen brushed flame boshi and short turn back. Some scattered mune yaki temper down the back spine, mainly on one side. Blade has kanji horimono, which is a Buddhist chant on one side, and double sohi grooves in the shinogi on the reverse. Blade measures 48.7cm or 19-1/8" in length. Gold foil over copper habaki. Mounted in a wooden shirasaya resting scabbard. Condition is very good, the blade with a clear hada, lots of activity in the hamon, but a few areas where the hamon is a bit weak. Nice state of polish, showing small areas of loose hada, common in older blades. The horimono may have been added at a later date to hide some folding stress cracks in the ji. The nakago has a dark smooth brown/black patina, light pitting, and old file mark lines on one side. The lead plug in one hole has a whitish oxidized surface. The habaki has numerous small dings and light scratches. The shirasaya is dark with minor dings and depressions, and some stains, from tape applied at one time. In thin purple shirasaya bag. Est.: $700-$900.