AS22254 Katana:Bishu Osafune Tadamitsu(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Ordering number: AS22254
Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature :Bishu Osafune Tadamitsu
備州長船忠光
Chokyo 2 Nen8 Gatsu Hi
長享二年八月日

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Saijyo saku ranking.
habaki:Gold wrapped single Habaki.
The blade was polished.
Blade length:60.6cm or 23.85inches.
Sori:1.82cm or 0.71inches.
Mekugi:2
Width at the hamachi:2.6cm or 1.02inches.
Width at the Kissaki:1.6cm or 0.62inches.
Kasane:0.65cm or 0.25inches.
The weight of the sword:425grams
Era: In August of Chokyo 2(1487), in the mid Muromachi period.
Shape: The blade is slightly narrow and thin with deep Sori and longer Kissaki. Well-shaped. Nakago is short. It is a typical Katateuchi work.
Jigane: Itame and Mokume are dense and elaborate. Utsuri appears.
Hamon: Niedeki Suguha with lots of Koashi and Yo, especially near Monouchi. Boshi turns back round and ends with Yakisage.

Special feature: This swordsmith was the son of Tadamitsu Hikobei, the 1st Tadamitsu and originally called Nakagawa Hikosaburo around the Bunmei era. Later he succeeded to the name Hikobei. He made swords also in Sasshu Iiokakyo. They say that he made many good swords even without Zokumyo.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Shakudo-Nanako Tsuba. Chrysanthemum is engraved. Mei: Goto Un Un
Fuchikashira: On Shakudo plate, chrysanthemum is engraved.
Saya: Saya painted by Shu
Menuki: On Shakudo plate, hollyhock leaf is engraved.

From Aoi Art: It has great Koshirae with a set of Tsuba and Fuchikashira. Bishu Osafune Tadamitsu made many short Katateuchi swords, and this work is one of them. Jigane is splendid with Utsuri. Hamon is marvelous: Suguhadeki with Koashi and Yo especially near Monouchi, and Boshi turns back round and ends with Yakisage. Beauty of Jigane and Hamon is dignified and we can say that this is one of the best masterpieces ever. We truly recommend this nicely-made Tadamitsu work.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token paper
Aoi art estimation paper: whole Oshigata　by　Ayaka Tsuruta