AS25708 Tanto: Mumei (Hasebe) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering number:AS25708

Tanto: Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Mumei (Hasebe)
無銘(長谷部)

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This piece is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among works attributed to Mumei (Hasebe).
Habaki: Single-layer silver.
Blade Length: 29.9 cm (11.77 in)
Curvature: None
Mekugi Hole: 4 (3 filled)
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.76 cm (1.09 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.55 cm (0.22 in)
Sword Weight: 220 g
Era: Nanbokucho period, around 1345 (Jōwa era)
Shape: A well-shaped tanto with standard width and thickness.
A mitsu-mune tanto with a hitatsura hamon.
Jigane: Well-forged ko-itame hada with visible utsuri.
Sunagashi and kinsuji appear finely throughout.
Hamon: Made in ko-nie deki, with a hitatsura hamon.
Gunome midare appears on both sides of the blade with tobiyaki inside.
Inside the blade, sunagashi and kinsuji are active.

Features: Hasebe Kunishige was a swordsmith active during the Nanbokucho period, around 1345 (Jōwa era).
This blade has a wide nakago with a mitsu-mune structure and is thought to have some relation to his predecessors, Akihiro and Hiromitsu.
The hitatsura hamon seen in this blade is a unique feature produced only by a small number of swordsmiths.

Koshirae: Aikuchi-style mounting
Fuchikashira / Kojiri: Deep carving of lions and peonies.
Signature: Shomei-saku
Saya: Glossy black lacquer saya with gold maki-e design of peonies and lions.
Menuki: High-relief carving of lions with gold iroe.
Kozuka & small knife: Iron ground with high-relief carving of lions and peonies.
Includes small knife.

Aoi Art’s Comment:
This is a Mumei Hasebe piece with a mitsu-mune, wide body and almost no curvature.
A well-made blade with a hitatsura hamon.
The koshirae is also excellently crafted.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata