FUYUHIRO WAKIZASHI

A massive wakizashi signed Wakasa no Kami Fuyuhiro / Nara Nara-Ken Oji Cho / Ueda Yoshinojo Shoji (Ueda Yoshinojo owns [it]). Shinogizukure, iroi mune, shallow sori, okissaki. Hawatare: 1 shaku 9 sun 8 bu (60 cm. 23.62"). Motohaba: 3.02 cm. Sakihaba: 2.43 cm. Kasane: 5.3 mm. Notare midare hamon, gunome, ha nie, sunagashi, kinsuji nado. Very bright habuchi. The jigane is a moist itame, with hints of nie bo utsure here and there. It seems unlikely that a wakizashi of these dimensions would be other than the primary sword. In fresh polish, shirasaya, and copper habaki. This was professionaly polished in the United States and has never been submitted to shinsa. My best guess is that this the Fuyuhiro from around Tensho (1573 - 1592). $7,500

With thanks to Ted Tenold and Dr. T: The surname Ueda is rather common, but "Yoshinojo" is a very old-fashion first name for a samurai. So I believe that he was a person of samurai lineage residing in Nara. What is very interesting about this Shoji mei is that is was clearly inscribed after the Meiji Restoration because it says "Nara-Ken Oji-Cho" using the modern names for the prefecture and city, instead of "Yamato no Kuni, Oji-Mura" as they used to be called during the Edo period. Since the tagane marks look very clear and fresh, my guess is that it was inscribed in Taisho or even Showa era before or during WWII when the owner of this sword possibly had it remounted in a gunto koshirae to take it to the war with him. In any case, if the Fuyuhiro mei is shoshin, the Shoji mei was added much later.