Tegai Kanenaga Wakizashi

Mid-Muromachi Period (Kanshō Era, 1460–1466)

This wakizashi is attributed to Tegai Kanenaga, a swordsmith of the Tegai school of the Yamato tradition.

The Tegai school was one of the principal traditions of Yamato Province, centered around the great Buddhist temples of Nara.
Yamato swords are especially respected for their disciplined workmanship, refined steel, and practical elegance developed in close association with warrior-monk culture and early battlefield use.

Works of the Tegai school are known for their clear masame-hada, restrained suguha hamon, and dignified overall appearance rather than flamboyant activity.
These qualities are expressed beautifully in this blade.

This piece was likely made during the Kanshō era of the mid-Muromachi period, around 1460 CE.
The Kanshō era falls immediately before the Ōnin War (1467–1477), the great conflict that would lead Japan into the age of widespread civil war later known as the Sengoku period.

As such, this blade belongs to the final years before that upheaval — a time when the classical traditions of the old schools still remained strongly preserved.

Although the blade has been suriage (shortened), it retains an elegant curvature and a remarkably balanced feeling in the hand characteristic of this period.

The tang bears a kinpun-mei attribution together with the kaō of the Hon’ami family.
Unlike kinzōgan-mei, which is inlaid directly into the tang, kinpun-mei is created by writing characters in gold powder over lacquer. Historically, this was one of the methods used by the Hon’ami family to record important attributions and appraisals.

Because many Yamato blades were heavily used and repeatedly adjusted over centuries, examples surviving with original signatures are comparatively rare.
For this reason, historical attributions such as this carry important documentary significance.

The blade itself displays very fine masame-hada, one of the defining characteristics of Yamato workmanship.
The suguha hamon is quiet and refined, creating an impression of restraint and sophistication rather than excessive decoration.

The boshi enters straight and returns in a compact komaru form.
The jigane is healthy and well preserved, and no major flaws are observed.

Its current polish is also in very good condition, allowing the sword to be appreciated immediately without requiring further restoration work.

Habaki

The blade is fitted with a suaka copper habaki.

Rather than being covered with gold or silver foil, it remains plain copper, allowing the natural color and patina of the metal to harmonize quietly with the blade itself.
Older Japanese swords were often mounted in this understated manner, and the simple character of this habaki suits the atmosphere of the sword very well.

The fit to the blade is precise and secure, showing careful workmanship.

Shirasaya

This wakizashi is housed in a finely made shirasaya crafted from high-quality wood with tight straight grain.

The fit is stable and properly made, with no looseness.
As with traditionally made shirasaya, slight seasonal openings may occur due to the natural expansion and contraction of the wood. This is considered normal and correct, and the shirasaya should never be forced closed.

The overall quality of the shirasaya is excellent and suitable for long-term preservation.

Impression

This is not a flamboyant sword.
Its appeal lies instead in the quiet sophistication associated with the Yamato tradition — refined masame-hada, controlled suguha, balanced curvature, and the dignified atmosphere developed through centuries of preservation.

A highly respectable Muromachi-period wakizashi with historical attribution, healthy condition, and strong appreciation value for collectors of Yamato work.