List of Wazamono

This list of Wazamono is a list of 228 swordsmiths of katana and other weapons released in 1805 by Yamada Asaemon in the book Kaihōkenshaku (懐宝剣尺 Pocket Treasured Sword Length?).

It lists 12 Most Significant swordsmiths (最上大業物 saijō ōwazamono?, best first-rate sword), 21 Significant swordsmiths (大業物 ōwazamono?, first-rate sword), 50 Good swordsmiths (良業物 ryōwazamono?, good sharp sword), 80 regular swordsmiths (業物 wazamono?, sharp sword), and 65 with mixed level swordsmiths.

Because this list is a complete list by the samurai whose job was testing a katana, it had been and is still used as a benchmark for a katana. However, this list has also been used by those who sell fake katana. None of the great Koto Period smiths (900 to 1596 AD) were tested. These swords include blades by Sōshū Masamune, Sōshū Sadamune, Bizen Nagamitsu and Ise Muramasa, amongst others, and were considered to be too valuable as historical art objects to risk damage by testing. These blades have traditionally been considered to be amongst the finest blades ever made.

Contents

Saijō ōwazamono

Ōwazamono

Ryōwazamono

Wazamono

Mixed