Wakizashi Muromachi

Sukesada 祐定 Yazaemon 八左衛門 Wakizashi 脇差 (short Katana) Chūmon-uchi 注文打ち “special order sword” with Shirasaya and Koshirae for high-ranking staff clothing with Kozuka and Kogatana.

Blade:
Nagasa: 45,1 cm. 
Motohaba: 2,8 cm. 
Sakihaba: 1,8 cm.
Motogasane: 0,65 cm. 
Sakigasane: 0,45 cm.
Sori: 1,5 cm.
Age: Muromachi 室町時代,Muromachi jidai, also known as the Muromachi era, the Ashikaga era, or the Ashikaga period-
Nakago Mei (Signature):
Front: 備州長船祐定 = Bishuu (Bishū) Osafune Sukesada
Reverse: 八左ヱ門 = Yazaemon
In the pictures you can see the details of the Hamon typical of this swordsmith.

Quality grade level of this sword:

In the commonly four degree levels that are usually considered among the forgers of this School, this Wakizashi would correspond to the highest degree, the fourth.

Bizen Osafune fourth level: Special order swords, top quality:
Chūmon-uchi (注文打ち), literally “special order sword”, signed with the personal name of the maker like in this piece that the one swordsmiths signs on the back (Nakago reverse) with his personal name: Yazaemon (八左ヱ門).
To avoid confusion, due to the usual traditional custom of changing names, it is important to note that the Yazaemon (八左ヱ門) first name was Hachizaemon (八左衛門).

Wakizashi blade condition:

Very good, some very slight points and also some slight lines, all unimportant, with fairly recent polishing, very well done, surely by a Togishi master in Japan, clearly showing the excellent Hamon and the Fairy. Perfect edge.

Concerning swordsmith forger and School:

Bishū (尾州) is the name for Owari Province also another name for Kibi Province and a collective name for Bizen (備前) Province, Bitchū Province, and Bingo Province.

Bitchū Province (備中国, Bitchū no kuni) was a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of western Honshū, in what is today western Okayama Prefecture. It was sometimes called Bishū (備州), with Bizen (備前) and Bingo Provinces; those three provinces were settled in the late 7th Century, dividing former Kibi Province. Bitchu bordered Hōki, Mimasaka, Bizen, and Bingo Provinces. The ancient capital and temples were built around Sōja. For much of the Muromachi Period, the province was dominated by the Hosokawa clan, who resided in Shikoku and allowed the province a degree of independence. By the Sengoku Period, other clans fought over Bitchu, and Oda Nobunaga and Mōri Terumoto were fighting in the province when Oda died, leading to a division of the province. After 1600

Osafune, a village in the archaic province Bizen, has been a mecca of Japanese swordmaking since the late Heian period (794-1185). The area was known at one time as “the land of a thousand smiths” as the region was abundant with the important raw materials of Japanese swords: iron sand for make the primigenius material to Japanese swords forging steel called Tamahagane (玉鋼).

Sukesada was a successful swordsmith along with Kiyomitsu during the late Muromachi era

History of Bizen Osafune School and Sukesada:
It is said that Osafune school was founded by Mitsutada (光忠), who was active during the mid-Kamakura period. Bizen Osafune school was the biggest one of all other schools in Bizen province, and they received many orders from feudal lords or renowned Samurai. They were called Osafunemono and beloved by Samurai warriors.
BIZEN is located near the Chugoku Mountains, where iron sands, one of the essential materials for making Japanese swords, were abundant. Furthermore, BIZEN swordsmiths had close access to Yoshi River, where they could find water and charcoal. This geological location contributed to the swordsmiths forging high-quality refined blades. We presume BIZEN was quite active in sword-forging from ancient times. It is said that BIZEN DEN was created by groups of swordsmiths there during the late Heian era (Late 12th century ). These ancient swordsmiths in Bizen province are called Ko-Bizen (Old Bizen) swordsmiths. By inheriting the sword forging techniques from Ko-Bizen swordsmiths, the Bizen Osafune school flourished from the mid-Kamakura period.

Sukesada (祐定) was a maker's name used by a group of smiths active in the village of Osafune in Bizen. It was, together with Mino, one of the two main production centers for swords at the time. The main style that was produced was the uchigatana, optimized for single-handed use, replaced the long tachi. The uchigatana is the predecessor of the later katana, which had a longer grip that could also be used with two hands.

The Muromachi period was a period of intense civil war in Japan where most workshops had to produce large quantities of mass-produced swords for the war effort. Naturally, quality suffered and the period is not generally not known for its high-quality swords.

Mountings and fittings Wakizashi blade:

Shirasaya 白鞘 :

Wood: Honoki (Hinoki 檜 Japanese Cypress) traditional work

Koshirae 拵え:

Fine antique Koshirae for high-ranking staff clothing.
The Koshirae is typical of that worn with the clothing of characters of at least a certain high level. The short swords (Wakizashi 脇差, "called side inserted sword") accompanied as a complement and indication of rank of the owner suit indoors since the long Katana was commonly left outside in ceremonies, meetings or simple visits:

Tsuka:
Wood: Honoki (Hinoki 檜 Japanese Cypress)
Fuchi/Kashira and Menuki couple: Shakudo with Gold Dragon.
Menuki couple: Shakudo work with Gold
Tsuba:
A great fine rare bronze work with traditional patina.
Habaki 鎺: Solid Silver.
Saya:
Wood: Honoki (Hinoki 檜 Japanese Cypress)
Sageo: Black natural Silk
Kojiri: black lacquered

Kodogu Koshirae estimated age: Edo period 江戸時代, Edo jidai also called Tokugawa period 徳川時代

Kozuka 小柄 (Kogatana 小型な handle):

Excellent work with Gold inlay. High relief depicted the carp fish 鯉 symbol of strength and perseverance a great Samurai symbolism on the Bushido.

Kogatana 小型な:

Forged and tempered Tamahagane. Kogatana 小刀 "small sword" signed but due to the many polishings over the years it cannot be practically read, it is attributed to Fujiwara Masatsune 政常.

Tsunagi (wooden Wakizashi replica blade):

Tsunagi is the replica of the Wakizashi blade in wood (Hinoki 檜 Japanese Cypress) to allow the Koshirae to be mounting and displayed when the original steel blade is in its Shirasaya.

Bukuro 袋 (Sword bag also called because the fonetical translation "Fukuro") for Shirasaya mounting:
High quality double purple silk fabric.

Bukuro 袋 (Sword bag also called because the fonetical translation "Fukuro") for Koshirae mounting:
It is a old craft work quality fabric. It is preserved in quite good condition with smooth natural color inner lining.

Koshirae condition:
The Koshirae of this Katana remains in its original and good condition.
It is a very old Koshirae that, as usual, will have been restored several times the last one probably in the Showa period. It shows slight signs, but its general condition is quite good as can be seen in the pictures with appropiate fit. It is rare to find unrestored ancient Koshirae, surely it has been used until very recent times in typical Japanese traditional meetings and exhibitions of Samurai families descendants

Original Japanese documentation:

Sealed laminated copy of Prefectural Kyoiku-inkai Japanese official documentation (paper previously called Daimyo). Registration Card In order to legally own a sword in Japan it has to be registered in accordance with the Ju-to-ho 銃刀法

Kyoiku-inkai - the document card that testifies to the sword ownership.

Daimyo Registered: This sword was registered in current sword registration system started in Japan in modern era. Such swords, which were registered in a few years after the system started, are known among collectors as "Daimyo" (feudal lord) registration swords as it was Daimyo or other Daimyo-like wealthy families who owned many precious swords and were asked by the Japanese government to register their swords in the early stage of the newly introduced registration system to familiarize it to the society but it is not the official name of course what is Kyoiku-inkai (Prefectural Registration Card)

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Ref.: Wakizashi 129

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