Fine 16C Osafune school Bizen-den wakizashi shin gunto (Sold)

A superb bo-hi bladed shin gunto wakizashi, Osafune school Bizen-den, circa 1500 to 1600, unsigned tang.

A very impressive wakizashi in good state of polish. Osafune school Bizen-den, circa 1500 to 1600, 49.4cm blade (excludes tang), mokume hada, Sugu ha hamon, unsigned shiribari shaped nakago tang with kuri-jiri tip. The bo-hi groove used to balance the finest blades running back past the nakago-ana hole, a sure sign of the blade age and that the bo-hi was not added after the fact. The original nakago-ana drilled over and brass filled to accommodate the shin gunto mounts.

The shin gunto mounts in generally very good condition, the gilt tsuba still bright. Very little ware or wear to the blade. A very fine example of a WW2 shin gunto with a quality family blade.

Further / full sized images available upon request. Item reference code 308 (86).