Antique Japanese Ko-wakizashi, unsigned (mumei) — a powerful hira-zukuri Shintō blade with a dramatic tōran-midare hamon

A broad, imposing early-to-mid-Edo (Shintō) short wakizashi whose "billowing-wave" temper line crashes like surf — in shirasaya with a copper habaki

An unsigned (mumei) ko-wakizashi (short wakizashi) with a powerful, striking form, thought to have been forged in the early-to-mid Edo period (the Shintō era). Its hira-zukuri figure is strong and radiates a distinctive presence and intensity in the hand. Combining practicality with beauty of appreciation, it conveys to the present day the appearance of a blade a samurai of the day would have kept close — as a self-defense weapon carried in the breast, or as a fitting that displayed his rank.

Workmanship and condition

The polish fully draws out the beauty of the blade, and it is in excellent condition. The jigane is a finely and densely packed itame, mixed here and there with mokume so that the grain stands (hadadachi), covered with fine ji-nie for a flavorful texture. The temper line is based on a large, dynamically surging notare — like rolling breakers pressing in — mixed with a complex gunome, taking on the vivid aspect of a tōran (billowing-wave) pattern that suggests the very instant the wave-crests shatter. Along the temper edge, coarse, moist nie gather in clusters (mura), glowing as bright and clear as a mirror when they catch the light. Within the hamon, sunagashi and kinsuji-like activity runs in every direction like a violent torrent, its dramatic expression deeply captivating to the viewer.

Form

A hira-zukuri figure of ample width, bearing about 1 cm of curvature. The combination of the broad blade characteristic of hira-zukuri with a moderate, beautiful curve forms a very powerful, imposing presence despite its short (ko-wakizashi) length.

The mounting (shirasaya)

The blade is housed in a plain, flavorful wood-grain shirasaya. It is fitted with a single-piece copper (dō ichimai) habaki, whose calm, aged patina further enhances the sturdy, robust charm of the blade.

A hira-zukuri blade of overwhelming presence, set off by a vivid tōran temper line like a raging sea — a piece that transmits the finest swordsmithing skill and intensity of the early-to-mid Edo period. We warmly recommend it as a supreme sword for appreciation.

Specifications

• Type: Ko-wakizashi (小脇差), hira-zukuri; unsigned (mumei); Shintō era (early-to-mid Edo)
• Jigane: Densely packed itame mixed with mokume, standing grain, with ji-nie
• Hamon: Tōran-midare (billowing wave) on a large notare base with gunome; coarse, moist nie in clusters, with sunagashi and kinsuji within
• Length of edge (nagasa): 36.6 cm (approx. 14.41 in / approx. 1 shaku 2 sun 1 bu)
• Curvature (sori): 1.0 cm (approx. 0.39 in)
• Width at base (motohaba): 29.8 mm (approx. 1.17 in)
• Thickness at base (motokasane): 7.1 mm (approx. 0.28 in)
• Peg holes (mekugi-ana): 2
• Weight (blade only): 340 g
• Condition: Finely polished; very good, healthy condition
• Mounting: Shirasaya, with a single-piece copper (dō ichimai) habaki
• Registration No.: Chiba No. 055094 (千葉 第055094号)