AS22685 Katana:Bizen-no-kuni Jū Osafune Kiyomitsu(NBTHK Hozon Token)(NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token)

Ordering number: AS22685
Katana: In Shirasaya with Koshirae(NBTHK Hozon Token)(NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token)

Inscription(Mei): Bizen-no-kuni Jū Osafune Kiyomitsu
備前国住長船清光

In our company, we classify swords as Saijō-saku (highest quality), Jōjōsaku (high quality), Jō-saku (good quality), and Futsū-saku (ordinary quality) based on the craftsmanship of the swordsmith. This piece is ranked as Jō-saku, indicating it is of good quality.

Polished
Habaki: Silver rock Habaki
Blade Length: 72.3 centimeters (28.46 inches)
Curvature: 1.5 centimeters (0.59 inches)
Peg Hole: 3
Width at the Base: 3.15 centimeters (1.24 inches)
Width at the Tip: 2.7 centimeters (1.06 inches)
Thickness: 0.69 centimeters (0.27 inches)
Sword Weight: 855 grams
Era: Muromachi period, around the Eiroku era (1558-1570)
Shape: The blade is wide, slightly thick at the ridge, with a moderate curvature and an elongated kissaki (point).
Blade Surface Pattern: It displays a finely grained ko-itamehada (small wood grain pattern) with visible ji-nie (fine grain of the steel) and areas of nie-utsuri (shadow-like effects). The hamon (temper pattern) is a mixture of midare (irregular waves) and gunome (half-circles), turning into bōshi (temper pattern at the tip) in a small rounded pattern.

Characteristics: While there are some minor scratches, the blade exhibits typical characteristics of Kiyomitsu.

Mountings:
Tsuba (Handguard): A round iron tsuba with fan-shaped cutouts and gold-colored decoration.
Fuchikashira (Pommel Cap): High-relief building and plant motifs on a red copper ground, with gold-colored enamel.
Saya (Scabbard): Black lacquer scabbard.
Menuki (Hilt Ornaments): A high-relief carving of a turtle on a red copper base, decorated with gold-colored enamel.

From Aoi Art: Despite some minor scratches, this sword is of ample length and a sturdy piece.

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