AS23475　Tanto:Mishina Hirofusa Saku(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Tanto: Shirasaya with Koshirae(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature: Mishina Hirofusa Saku
三品広房作

Shinshinto: Good Workmanship: Ise Province: First Generation
We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works by Mishina Hirofusa.
Habaki: Single-layered plain copper
Blade Length: 21.2 cm (8.35 in)
Curvature: 0 cm (0.00 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.48 cm (0.98 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.80 cm (0.31 in)
Sword Weight: 170 g
Era: Late Edo period, around the Kaei era (1848-1855)
Shape: A tanto with thick kasane.
On the omote side, it features carvings of a ken and dokko.
On the ura side, it has double grooves (futatsu-suji-hi) and a Sanskrit character.
Jigane: Ko-itame hada, densely forged and appearing plain.
Hamon: Nie-deki, straight hamon with a slightly deep temper line.

Features: Mishina Hirofusa was a swordsmith from Ise Province.
This blade was likely made as a yoroi-doshi (armor-piercing tanto), with its thick kasane.
The nioiguchi is soft, and the blade has a straight hamon with a slight notare (undulation).

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Hami-dashi style tsuba engraved with patterns
Menuki: Silver base with chrysanthemum motif
Fuchi: Horn
Kashira: Wooden, inlaid with butterflies and insects in raden (mother-of-pearl inlay)
Kozuka: Wooden, decorated with cicadas and other insects in raden
Kogai: Wooden, decorated with cicadas and other insects in raden
Saya: Black stone-textured saya decorated with dragonflies, butterflies, and other insects in raden

NBTHK Hozon Token Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata