Intended to be a close range alternative to the larger and more famous Katana, Wakizashis were a crucial part of the battle kit of a Samurai, making up half of the sword pair known as the Daisho. This Antique 19th Century Japanese Gimei Signed Hand Made Cutdown Wakazashi 18” Blade Samurai Short Sword is in Good Condition, missing the guard and handle fittings, and with the blade having almost certainly been shortened from a longer length, as evidenced by the heavy scratching at each side of the blade tip, and the menuki hole in the tang having been redrilled, some sharpening to the blade edge, some cleaning, scratching, pitting, and patina at each side of the blade, some notable scuffing and patina at the lower left side of the blade near the ricasso (Habaki), and with some overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the sword is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it’s known as a “Gimei”, as though signed by the famous swordsmith Taikei Naotane on the left side of the properly worn tang, it was actually produced by an unknown Japanese swordsmith of the late Tokugawa or early Meiji period, and then surreptitiously signed with the master’s name to increase the blade’s value. The sword also boasts a date signature on the right side of the tang, dating it to August of 1820, although it was almost certainly produced later on in the 19th Century. It measures 23.5” long overall, features a bright 18” blade with a faint, thin hamon along the edge, and was likely shortened to match late Tokugawa or Meiji era prohibitions against long sword lengths. It bears the Gimei smith signature on the left side of the tang reading “Taikei Naotane ????” with Naotane’s ko stamp, carries the date signature on the right side of the tang reading “Bunsei Ninen Hachigatsu Hi ???????”, or “A day in August, 1820”, and is a fine example of a rare, original Antique 19th Century Japanese Gimei Signed Hand Made Cutdown Wakazashi 18” Blade Samurai Short Sword. No scabbard included.