AS25106 Katana: faint inscription of Yasumitsu (Osafune Yasumitsu )(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Sokomei(faint signature): Yasumitsu (Osafune Yasumitsu )

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyo Saku among works attributed to Osafune Yasumitsu.

Habaki: copper plate colored in silver
Blade Length: 67.8 cm (26.69 in)
Curvature: 2.1 cm (0.83 in)
Mekugi Hole: 3
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.79 cm (1.10 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.56 cm (0.61 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.69 cm (0.27 in)
Sword Weight: 555 g
Era: the early Muromachi period around Ouei around 1400
Shape: slightly wide and deeply carved blade with Ubu-nakago
Jigane: Itame with clear grain pattern with Utsuri
Hamon: Suguha and Ko-gunome with Ashi, Yo, Sunagashi and Kinsuji. Boshi is rounded.

Features:　Osafune Yasumitsu is regarded, alongside Morimitsu, as one of the two leading swordsmiths of Ouei Bizen, which is Osafune school in the early Muromachi period.
“Sokomei” refers to a state in which only faint traces of the signature remain on the tang, and this blade is registered as mumei (unsigned).
This particular work is unusually long for a blade by Yasumitsu, making it a rare example. Its workmanship is excellent, and it is regrettable that the signature has only partially survived.

NBTHK Hozon Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper
Whole Oshigat