AS25174 Tachi:Bizen Kuni Osafune Ju Toshimitsu Saku

Tachi: Katana in Shirasaya

Signature: Showa 41 Nen 8 Gatsu Hi(August, 1965)
Bizen Kuni Osafune Ju Toshimitsu Saku
昭和四十年八月日
備前国長船住俊光造

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This piece is ranked as Jyo Saku for Bizen Kuni Osafune Ju Toshimitsu.
Habaki: Double-layered, silver-covered
Blade Length: 63.9 cm (25.16 in)
Curvature: 1.5 cm (0.59 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.13 cm (1.23 in)
Width at Tip: 2.31 cm (0.91 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.67 cm (0.26 in)
Sword Weight: 680 grams
Era: August, 1965
Shape: The blade has a slightly wide body with a firm thickness and an extended kissaki (tip).
Jigane: Ko-Itame hada, well-forged and of fine quality.
Hamon: Almost nioi-deki with well-defined choji-midare, featuring active ashi, and the boshi shows midarekomi (irregular turn-back).

Features: Swordsmith Imaizumi Toshimitsu was born in 1898 and was designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture in 1954.
He received numerous prestigious awards, including 10 Mukanza selections, 2 Masamune Awards, 3 Tokusho (special prizes), the Director-General of the Agency for Cultural Affairs Award, the Honorary President’s Award, and the Mainichi Newspaper Award twice.
He began his career as a swordsmith in 1934 and was active as a master craftsman in modern times, receiving various accolades.
This piece is exceptionally well-made, with vivid ashi in the hamon and a boshi that enters in a beautiful midarekomi.
It is not an overly long or exaggerated piece but rather modeled after standard works of the Muromachi period, with a blade length of 63.9 cm.
It is a highly recommended work by a skilled modern swordsmith.

NBTHK Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata included