Wakizashi; japanese short sword and saya (scabbard); blade has small curve; blade is a shobu zukuri shape with the ridge of the sharpened point sitting high up; unsigned blade; silver coloured habaki (metal encircling blade) with small horizontal incisions for design; tsuba depicts scene with a landscape of mountains in clouds, a tree above a thatched roof house, a bridge over a river, and a small figure; some details of the tsuba are in gold; hole in tsuba for kogatana's (small knife) handle top to rest in; fuchi (collar above tsuba) is a shallow relief design of swallows over water; samegawa (handle wrap) is rayskin; tsuka-ito is a black silk cord wrap on handle; under the tsuka-ito is a menuki charm on each side depicting a fabric bag, and a [bowl of fruits]; kojiri (end cap) has an incised design of 2 swallows over water; saya (scabbard) is a laquered wood 2 tones of brown stripes horizontal across; saya has a kogatana inside of a pocket; kogatana has a textured background with a r

Part of the History collection. 

Credit Line: Collection of Auckland Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Gift of Mr Harry S Dadley, W1852 

For more details visit <a href="http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections-research/collections/record/am_humanhistory-object-697105" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.aucklandmuseum.com/collections</a>