Japanese Wakizashi Sword Decorated with Horses

Purchase a Japanese Wakizashi sword decorated with images of horses, ideal for gifts and collectors, in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Manufacturer: Unknown

Country: Japan

Dating: Likely from the Edo period (1603 to 1868)

Condition: 8/10

Completeness: Sword in a koshirae mount and a small knife (kogatana).

Dear collectors and guests of the Antique Gallery website, if you are looking for a gift, particularly antique weapons, we present to you: a Japanese Wakizashi sword decorated with images of horses from the Edo period, crafted from tamahagane steel.

The blade of this Japanese sword features images of horses, showcasing the metal’s structure (itame-hada). It has a traditional shinogi-zukuri shape and is polished in the traditional manner, with a clearly defined hamon.

The tang of the sword is unsigned. The habaki is handmade and silver-plated. The handle of the sword displays an ornament of horses, with remnants of gold visible on the ornament.

Historical Note: The term “Wakizashi” translates from Japanese as “a sword inserted at the side,” referring to the practice of wearing this item thrust through the obi or belt at the side, while the larger katana was worn suspended. It is one of the traditional Japanese swords (nihonto) carried by samurai in feudal Japan.

Wakizashi blades range from 30 to 60 cm (12-24 inches) in length. Those with a length equal to that of a katana are called ō-wakizashi, while those closer in length to a tanto are referred to as ko-wakizashi. Wakizashi are not merely scaled-down versions of katana; they could be forged differently and have varying cross-sections.

Wakizashi were used as early as the 15th or 16th century. They served as a backup or auxiliary sword; they were also used in close combat to behead a defeated opponent and sometimes for seppuku. The Wakizashi was one of several short swords available for samurai use, including yoroi toshi and chisakatana. The term wakizashi originally did not specify swords of any official blade length and was an abbreviation of wakizashi no katana (“sword thrust at the side”); this term applied to companion swords of all sizes.

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