Description: Overall Length of Blade:19.63 " Cutting Edge of Blade: 15.25" Blade Shape: Shinogi-zukuri Temper: Gonome with Kinsuji Grain Pattern of Blade: itame Tang Shape: Ubu with Kengyo, nakago. Scabbard (saya): black, textured lacquer saya with horn kurigata Tsuba: hand-forged tsukashi, signed Nishikawa Yamamoto Handle (Nakago): black, silk ito with some fraying, with brass menuki portraying fruit clusters Fuchi: made of iron with inlaid shakudo and copper portraying tree trunk and fire gilded bamboo leaves Kashira: made of iron depicting inlaid shakudo water birds and fire gilded bamboo leaves Habaki: fire gilded over copper, with cat scratch pattern Seppa: gold washed copper.

History: Although identical to a wakizashi, the shape of this sword indicates that it is a boys sword called a genpuku, which was given to a Samurai boy at the age of 13. Wakizashi have been in use as far back as the 15th or 16th century. The wakizashi was used as a backup or auxiliary sword; it was also used for close quarters fighting, to behead a defeated opponent and sometimes to commit seppuku, a ritual suicide. The wakizashi was one of several short swords available for use by samurai including the yoroi toshi, the chisa-katana and the tanto. The term wakizashi did not originally specify swords of any official blade length and was an abbreviation of "wakizashi no katana" ("sword thrust at one's side"); the term was applied to companion swords of all sizes. It was not until the Edo period in 1638 when the rulers of Japan tried to regulate the types of swords and the social groups which were allowed to wear them that the lengths of katana and wakizashi were officially set.

Provenance: N/A

Dimensions: Weight (Pounds & Ounces) = 2.5 | Height(in) = 24 | Width(in) = 4 | Depth(in) = 4

Size of Artwork(in): 22.25 x 2.25 x 2.25"

Artist Name: unsigned

Medium: Brass, Steel, Cloth, Wood

Circa: Circa 1600"s (early Edo period)

Blade: no fatal flaws, shows signs of cutting bushes (needs cleaning) otherwise quite sound Rusting of the guard, looseness to the wrapping around the grip - which has some losses to the skin. The blade has small areas of light rust, scratches and discoloration.