AS25025 Katana:Mumei (Attributed to Tegai Kanetoshi)(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Mumei (Attributed to Tegai Kanetoshi)
無銘(手掻包俊)

Chu-koto:
We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku for an unsigned piece attributed to Tegai Kanetoshi.
Habaki: Plain copper with gold plating
Blade Length: 64.5 cm (25.39 in)
Curvature: 1.5 cm (0.59 in)
Mekugi Holes: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.76 cm (1.09 in)
Width at Tip: 1.64 cm (0.65 in)
Thickness of Rim (Kasane): 0.55 cm (0.22 in)
Sword Weight: 485 g
Era: Nanbokucho period, around Eitoku era, 1381 (644 years ago)
Shape:The blade is suriage mumei (shortened and unsigned), with a carved dragon motif on the omote side of the tang and a soken (straight sword) carving on the ura.
Jigane:Masame-hada is clearly present with active utsuri, forming a dense and refined steel surface.
Hamon:Ko-nie deki in suguha style with futatsudori-ba (double line), featuring kui-chigai (offset temper line).
The boshi (tip) is tangarekuru and ends in a yakizume.

Features: According to the Token Taikan, this sword is attributed to Tegai Kanetoshi from the Nanbokucho period.
The combination of masame and itame with vivid utsuri activity, and the boshi finished in yakizume, strongly indicates the Tegai school of Yamato tradition.
Currently bears a Tokubetsu Hozon certificate.
The tang features a deeply carved dragon, likely a kenmaki-ryu (dragon wrapped around a sword).

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Mokko-shaped iron tsuba with a carved design of gourds, partially colored with gold.
Menuki: Carved design of butterflies.
Fuchikashira: Iron base with butterfly motif carvings.
Kojiri: Decorated with a butterfly design.
Saya (Scabbard): Black ishime-ji (stone-textured) finish.

Aoi Art’s Comment: An extremely refined piece that evokes the clarity and quality of the Yamato Tegai school.
The jigane is especially excellent.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata