This is an outstanding wakazashi from the shinshinto period . The blade is signed “Banryushi Nagahiro” and dated.  He worked from 1818-1864 and is from IYO Provence.  He was the son of Nagatsugu and he was a student of the well known “Hamabe Toshizane”. The sugata is shobu-zukiri. There is a sugu-ha yakidashi and It is in a very nice pristine polish.  The overall sugata of this sword has a nice sori and the hamon is loaded with activity.  The hamon contains an abundance of beautiful activity of ashi , yo and sunagashi with a thick nioi-guchi, and the hamon is in a  gunome / choji midare style . There is a round tobyaki which we believe is to represent the bsun or moon. Ji-nie and chikei can be found and is well made.  The hada has a tightly forged itame / mokume mix and covered in ji-nie. There are wisps of temper here and there floating above the hamon.  This blade comes with mountings.  The furniture of the koshirae are made of shakudo with a tiger and bamboo motif. There are gold highlights and in good condition. The Tsuba is copper with a mimi of shakudo also with a tiger and bamboo.The fuchi and kashira are also a tiger and bamboo. The menuki are of gold tigers. The Sageo is black and the Ito is gold over a  rayskin and the saya lacquer is finished in a unique striation of red, black with gold striping.. There is a shirasaya for the sword as well as a tsunagi for the koshirae. Note the kodzuka of Shoki . The blade is ubu and signed but has some damage .  It would be recommended to submit this  for shinsa at some point.  This signature appears to be a good signature and not fake, plus it’s not a smith that would generally be faked.   The kissaki is a longish with a  ko-maru boshi .  The saya is very unique and in good condition.  The habaki is silver foiled with gold washed seppa.  This sword is a wonderful package with a beautiful blade and needs no work.  The blades in mint condition

Note on the signature of the sword:
It took me a little time to be sure what this signature translates to.  first because it’s a bit rusty making it difficult to read the signature second because of the writing styel.  After deciphering the signature it’s clear that this sword was made by “Banryushi Nagahiro”.  His full signature on a long sword or a katana is ”Yoshu Matsuyama Ju Miyoshi Banryushi Nagahiro”.  This particular sword as in many wakizashi, the signature is abbreviated.  Many Smith’s to do this because of the size of the nakago.  This smith is clearly listed in Hawley’s Japanese swordsmith book (NAG 185).  Is works are dated from Bunsei 1818-1864.  There is only one Smith that signed this way.  The date also matches the time period when he worked.  Although it is a little obscured also because of rust. It’s dated “Bunsei Ju (?) Ni Gatsu Hi”, Bunsei started in 1818.  Date reads 10 years into Bunsei  (this kanji is not legible) ends with “one day in Febuary”. Although some signatures are very hard to decipher because of the condition of the nakago, it’s clear that this is signed and dated by Banryushi Nagahiro.