This Shinto period wakizashi is a used Japanese short sword with a blade of 19 7/8 inches showing a midare, or irregular, hamon along the edge. The nakago is bright and carries grind marks. The sword is fully mounted and comes with its saya. The handle wrap is improvised: the supplier notes the tsuka is bound in shoe laces.

This is a project blade for a Utah collector who wants a period sword and is willing to have the handle rewrapped properly. The irregular hamon is the feature to look at first, since that is where the temper pattern shows, and the bright nakago with its grind marks should be weighed when judging the piece. Everything needed to display it is here, saya included, and the shoe-lace wrap can be replaced with a proper ito by a restorer when you are ready.

Key features

• Blade length 19 7/8 inches
• Midare hamon
• Nakago bright with grind marks
• Tsuka wrapped in shoe laces
• Mounted, saya included

This short sword ships straight to your door in Utah with no dealer transfer required.