AS24388 Katana: Bizen Kuni ju Osafune Harumitsu(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature:
Bizen Kuni ju Osafune Harumitsu 備前国住長船治光
Daiei 4 Nen 8 Gatsu Hi 大永四年八月日(August 1524)

Sayagaki:
Bizen Koku Ju Osafune Harumitsu
This blade has inscriptions of 8 character names and the year of Daiei 4.
This is a typical Uchigatana style that was popular at the time, featuring being short and forward-curved. The Koitame grain is well-forged, densely packed, and shows strong ji-nie with a rich iron texture.　Like other smiths of the period, he produced both mixed gunome-midare and suguha. This piece is crafted in a calm suguha style with excellent workmanship. The smith was the son of Jirozaemonjo Katsumitsu, the father of Harumitsu, and held the title of Jirobei no Jo.
written by Tanzan in July 2023.

Habaki: gold and silver plated double habaki
Blade Length: 66.3 cm (26.10 in)
Curvature: 1.8 cm (0.71 in)
Mekugi Hole: 3
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.14 cm (1.24 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.06 cm (0.81 in)
Thickness (Kasane): 0.76 cm (0.30 in)
Sword Weight: 690 g (1.52 lbs)
Era: Muromachi Period, 1524
Shape: wide and thick deep curved blade
Jigane: Koitame and Komokume with Jinie and faint Utsuri.
Hamon: Ko-nie base Suguha with fine ko-ashi. Boshi is like Ichimai style.

Features:
Osafune Harumitsu was a Bizen Osafune smith who was active during the late Muromachi period, from the Meiō era (1492–1528). This piece features a wide, thick blade with a deep curve, showcasing a sturdy appearance and calm Suguha.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Iron, open work carving of paulownia.
Fuchi: Shakudo, a picture of a dragonfly.
Kashira: shakudo with wave patterns.
Menuki: Design unknown.
Wari-kogatana: Shakudonanako plate with a picture of a crane.
Kozuka: iron plate with a picture of a crescent moon and a heron.

NBTHK Hozon Certificate
Aoi Art Estimation Paper: Whole Oshigata