A Wakizashi | Signed Tsuda Echizen no kami Sukehiro | Edo period, 17th century

The Property of a Gentleman

A Wakizashi 

Signed Tsuda Echizen no kami Sukehiro 

Edo period, 17^th century 

Sugata [configuration]: Shinogi-zukuri, very shallow sori 

Kitae [forging pattern]: Very tight jihada, itame and mokume

Hamon [tempering pattern]: Irregular gunome in nie, almost reaching the shinogi, with yakidashi

Boshi [tip]: Ko-maru, with a long kaeri

Nakago [tang]: Iriyamagata, kesho-yasuri, with one mekugi-ana, signed Tsuda Echizen no kami Sukehiro

Habaki [collar]: Copper-gilt

Koshirae [mount]: Black lacquer saya, the shakudo nanako fuchi-kashira inlaid with gold and silver inlays, each decorated with karashishi and peonies, the fuchi signed Efu ju Masashige, the kozuka with a spiny lobster (ise ebi) 

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 53.2 cm., 21 in. 

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2.1 cm., ¾ in. 

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 3.1 cm., 1¼ in. 

The koshirae: 71 cm., 28 in.