AS24804 Tanto: Musashi Fuchu Ju Yasuoki Saku(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Tanto: in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature:
Musashi Fuchu Ju Yasuoki Saku 武蔵府中住靖興作
Forged upon request by Mr. Kaimai Tetsurou on an auspicious day in February in 1970.
昭和四十五年二月吉日 応開米哲郎氏需鍛之

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 the works of Yasuoki.

Habaki: Single-layered silver
Blade Length: 27.9 cm (10.98 in)
Curvature: 0.3 cm (0.12 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.87 cm (1.13 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.6 cm (0.24 in)
Sword Weight: 230 g
Era: Modern
Shape: A well-made tanto with a wide mihaba and relatively thick kasane.
Jigane: Well-forged ko-itame hada, forming a beautiful jigane.
Hamon: Suguha style with frequent ko-ashi and fine kinsuji. The boshi is small with a deep return.

Features:　Yasuoki, whose real name was Shimazaki Nao’oki, was a swordsmith born in 1916. During the war, he worked at the Nihon Tanrenkai located within the grounds of Yasukuni Shrine, and after the war, he continued forging swords and received numerous awards.
He created many works modeled after Koto (old swords), and his craftsmanship is excellent.
This piece is a rare tanto and is very well made.

NBTHK Hozon Token Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata