Bidspirit auction | Muromachi period (1336-1573) signed, 57.8

Muromachi period (1336-1573) signed, 57.8 cm, Japanese Samurai sword Wakizashi - Muromachi period (1336-1573) signed, 57.8 cm, Japanese Samurai sword Wakizashi; Swordsmith: signed with three (3) characters- not clearly. Date made: attributed to Muromachi period 1336-1573; Very sharp edge with prominent hamon feature. Overall length: 578 mm = 57.8 cm; Length of the blade (nagasa) only: 446 mm = 44.6 cm; Weight: 419 g; Sori (curvature): 18 mm; Nakago (tang): one round hole; Habaki (collar) – present; TSUKA (handle): absent SAYA (scabbard): absent Provenance: Private collection of arms in Florida, USA. Wakizashi (脇差, ”side inserted [sword]”): A general term for a sword between one and two shaku long (30 cm and 60 cm in modern measurement), predominantly made after 1600. Generally it is the short blade that accompanies a katana in the traditional samurai daisho pairing of swords, but may be worn by classes other than the samurai as a single blade, also worn edge up as the katana. The name derives from the way the sword would be stuck at one's side through the obi (sash/belt).[8] Tantō (短刀, ”short blade”): A sword with a blade shorter than 30 cm. Tantō is generally classified as a sword, but its usage is the same as that of a knife. Usually one-edged, but some were double-edged, though asymmetrical. The katana belongs to the nihontō family of swords, and is distinguished by a blade length (nagasa) of more than 2 shaku, approximately 60 cm (24 in).[9] Each Japanese sword is classified according to when the blade was made.:[10] • Jōkotō (上古刀 ”ancient swords”, until around 900 A.D.) • Kotō (古刀”old swords” from around 900–1596) • Shintō (新刀 ”new swords” 1596–1780) • Shinshintō (新々刀 ”new swords” 1781–1876) Gendaitō (現代刀 ”modern or contemporary swords” 1876– present)