AS25550 Tanto: Bishu Osafune Toshimitsu (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token / NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token)

Ordering number: AS25550

Tanto in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token / NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token) (Consignment Sale)

Signature: Bishu Osafune Toshimitsu
Date: June, 1395 (Ouei 2)
備州長船利光
応永二年六月日

Ko-Sori: Chu-Koto: Bizen. Nanbokucho period (Shitoku era).
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 Bishu Osafune Toshimitsu.
Habaki: Silver single-layered
Blade Length: 29.7 cm (11.69 in)
Curvature: 0.3 cm (0.12 in)
Mekugi Holes: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.76 cm (1.09 in)
Thickness: 0.63 cm (0.25 in)
Sword Weight: 215 g
Era: From the Nanbokucho period to the early Ouei era (late 14th century)
Shape: A tanto with wide mihaba and thick kasane.
On the omote side, a bohi with a suken and a dokko carving is present.
On the ura side, a simple bohi is carved.
A bo-utsuri appears clearly in the ji.
Jigane: Extremely fine itame hada, well-forged.
Hamon: Nie-based gunome midare is well expressed.
The boshi returns in a small circle (komaru).

Features:　Bishu Osafune Toshimitsu was a smith from the Ko-Sori Bizen school.
This tanto has a gentle temper and remains healthy throughout the blade.
It is an excellent example.
He was active from the Shitoku era of the Nanbokucho period to the early years of the Ouei era.
This piece offers many points of interest.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token
Aoi Art estimation paper ： Whole Oshigata