This Wakizashi, attributed to the smith Fuyuhiro, presents a piece of feudal Japan's martial history. It has been skillfully transformed from a Naginata—a pole sword revered for its rich history and esteem among samurai—into a Wakizashi, a versatile sidearm.

Specifications:

Mumei
Attribued to Fuyuhiro
Period : Muromachi

Blade Length: 36.2 cm
Base Width (Motohaba): 2.9 cm
Tip Width (Sakihaba): 2.5 cm
Base Thickness (Motokasane): 0.7 cm
Tip Thickness (Sakikasane): 0.5 cm
Blade Weight: 339 g

Certificate : NBTHK Hozon Token

Features:

The blade showcases a Gunome Midare pattern, indicative of skilled craftsmanship, with the presence of Nie and a lively Sunagashi (sand streaming pattern). The steel features a fine Ko-Mokume grain with Ji-Nie, demonstrating a well-forged piece with a visible landscape on the steel.

Historical Context:

Fuyuhiro's lineage is rooted in the Muromachi period, with the swordsmith's family moving to Wakasa province, known today as Wakayama. Fuyuhiro was the son of Soshu Hirotsugu, and his craft was held in high regard, forging blades in both Sagami and Wakasa. The Fuyuhiro name spanned 17 generations, and during the tumultuous Sengoku period, swords from this line were in high demand by high-ranking samurai and lords. This blade, likely created in the heart of the era, may well have been carried by a prominent warrior into battle.

This Wakizashi carries the weight of its past—a weapon forged in the fires of war and repurposed for the side of a samurai. With a history as deep as its Hamon, this blade represents the enduring legacy of the Fuyuhiro family's craftsmanship and the martial valor of the period.