EU ONLY Stunning Wakizashi that could be Koto or early Edo period, this blade is a piece of significant historical and artistic value, making it an ideal centerpiece for discerning collectors. Blade Characteristics & History: Signature (Mei): 濃州住兼光 (Nōshū-jū Kanemitsu) – Forged by the renowned swordsmith Kanemitsu, a resident of the historic Mino Province (famous for the Seki tradition, modern-day Gifu Prefecture). The chiseled signature on the tang (nakago) is crisp, deep, and perfectly legible. Nonetheless, without any papers from an appraisal association, the datation and attribution are given for reference only, and it stays subject to authentication. As an exceptionally prestigious feature, the blade boasts two Horimono (traditional religious/artistic engravings carved directly into the steel). These high-end details were typically commissioned by high-ranking samurai, serving both as aesthetic mastery and spiritual invocations for protection in battle. Features two fastening holes (mekugi-ana), a valuable historical testament indicating that the blade was highly treasured and meticulously adapted into different mountings over the centuries. Official Technical Data (Confirmed by the Torokusho Certificate): Type: Wakizashi Blade Length (Nagasa): 53.9 cm (measured in a straight line from the tip kissaki to the back notch munemachi) Curvative (Sori): 1.2 cm Tang Holes (Mekugi-ana): 2 Mounting & Condition: The sword is accompanied by a Shirasaya (the traditional, all-natural magnolia wood storage scabbard). The shirasaya is the ultimate resting mount utilized by Japanese connoisseurs to protect the steel, allowing the blade to "breathe" while safeguarding it from ambient humidity and structural wear. The blade remains in very good historical condition, displaying beautifully preserved geometries and clearly defined, elegant horimono. Condition Note: Please note that there is a very small, minor chip on the cutting edge near the kissaki (tip), which is clearly visible in the detailed close-up photographs. This is a normal sign of age and historical use and does not detract from the blade's structural integrity or overall beauty.