AS25260 Katana:Mumei (Unsigned), attributed to Den Ayano-Koji (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature: Mumei (Unsigned), attributed to Den Ayano-Koji
無銘　（伝 綾小路）

Sayagaki: Sayagaki by Mr. Tanobe
Yamashiro Kuni Ayano-Koji
However, unsigned (Mumei)
The Jitetsu and Hamon display characteristics of Sadatoshi, Sadayoshi, and related smiths
A fine piece
Blade length is 2 shaku 2 sun 4 bu and some
Written in the long month of the year of Kanoe-Tora (possibly 1830), by Tanzan (Tanobe)

Habaki: Single-layer silver
Blade Length: 77.1 cm (30.35 in)
Curvature: 2.8 cm (1.10 in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.0 cm (1.18 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.65 cm (0.65 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.72 cm (0.28 in)
Era: Mid Kamakura period, around Hōji era (1247)
Shape: A fine tachi style with standard width and thickness, and a deep curvature.
Jigane: Small itame hada mixed with mokume hada, with ji-nie, forming the refined steel typical of Yamashiro.
Hamon: Nie-based gunome-midare mixed with chōji-midare, featuring abundant ashi and yo inside the ha, forming a double hamon.
The blade evokes a refined and classical atmosphere with fine kinsuji activity.

Features: The Ayano-Koji school, descended from Sadatoshi and including smiths like Sadayoshi, was active around the Hōji era in the mid-Kamakura period.
They resided in Ayano-Koji on Shijo Street in Kyoto and the head smith used the Buddhist name Ryōabe-ya.
This blade has a prominent cut in the middle section (homare-kizu), suggesting the intensity of past battle.
The complex inner activities within the ha resemble those of Ko-Bizen works.
The double hamon and upper activity above the hamon support the attribution to Ayano-Koji.
The shape is stately, exhibiting dignity and presence.

NBTHK Hozon Token
Aoi-Art estimation Paper
whole Oshigata