Japanese Edo Period Naginata Spear

The naginata is one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades (nihonto) in the form of a pole weapon.

Naginata were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei (warrior monks).

The Edo period is the period between 1603 and 1868 in the when Japanese society was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional Daimyo.

The blade is made in the unokubi-zukuri pattern with no grain. The hamon is not visible anymore due to its age and extensive polishing.

The blade is unsigned.

The tang is made in the futsu pattern with the tang tip shaped in the kiri pattern.

The habaki (ferrule) is made of brass and the blade’s fuller is red painted

The naginata’s fittings are made of black painter brass.

The wooden handle is red lacquered at the top and black on its lower end. The top red lacquer was mixed with sawdust, in order to prevent slipping.

~ Dimensions ~

The blade length is 15.5 inches (39.3 cm), without the tang. The overall length of the naginata is 78 inches (198 cm). It weighs 1.25 kg.

~ Condition ~

The blade has some amount of pitting and some nicks on the edge. Part of the original lacquer is worn.

The brass fittings are still fine with the expected signs of wear for its age.

The black end of the wooden handle was probably re-lacquered at one point in time.

ref. GS424532F