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JAPNESE WWII SAMURAI WAKISASHI SWORD - #18
The Wakisashi sword was the companion of the Katana. They were meant to be worn together. The Wakisashi was
the smaller of the two swords. It was designed for close combat in confined areas such as a room in a house.
It was ideal for situations where wielding the Katana would not be practical.
Both swords were created during the Momoyama period in Japanese history.
The sword featured here is a WWII Japanese Army Wakisashi. With a combination of civilian and military fittings.
It is possible that these were put together after the war. Wooden construction scabbard with red lacquer. The
tsuba is of flat metal construction. As plain as they get.
The handle is coming unwrapped. The menuki are missing. The end of the handle is missing. There are small
vestiges of the Shark or Ray skin that was placed under the handle wrappings. The flat spring that
locks the blade to the scabbard is also missing. The overall condition of the sword is poor.
This is a view of the sword and scabbard together. The blade is not in the best condition. It shows surface rust
and some pitting. This is a classical example of a blade that has not been handled properly. it is not possible
to determine if the damage was caused during the war or sometime after. Many GI's lacked the understanding of the
value of the sword and used it as a lawn tool.
The Hamon (edge of the blade) would normally have a design. Indicating the school who produced the blade. The
sample shown here does not have any traces of the Hamon. Excessive wear has erased it.
The wooden scabbard has come apart in two sections. This is the way in which the scabbard was originally
assambled. each component of the sword would be manufactured by a different craftsman. The person who
forged the blade would not likely be the person who created the scabbard, Menuki, or other parts.
The samurai sword has risen to be one of the most sought after military antiques in the market.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for Samurai swords.
Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point
out clearly defined points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my Samurai Sword worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the swords is
reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of the edge weapons in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality
military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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This Samurai Sword may be currently reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other Japanese Samurai swords, you can do so by going to our
Japanese Samurai Swords Price Guide
identification guide. Where we cover Samurai swords from all periods.
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Click on the sword for additional details !
