AS24052 Wakizashi:Bishu Osafune Yoshimitsu (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Wakizashi in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature: Bishu Osafune Yoshimitsu
Bunan 6 Nen 2 Gatsu (February, 1449)
備州長船賀光
文安六年二月(以下切)

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 works by Bishu Osafune Yoshimitsu.
Habaki: Single-layered plain copper base with gold and shibuichi coloring.
Blade Length: 58.8 cm (23.15 in)
Curvature: 2.0 cm (0.79 in)
Mekugi Hole: 4
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.55 cm (1.00 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.62 cm (0.64 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.40 cm (0.16 in)
Era: Early Muromachi period, 1449
Shape: A slightly slender blade with deep curvature and elegant form. A groove is carved on both sides.
Jigane: A mixture of small itame and small mokume hada with ji-nie and faint utsuri appearing.
Hamon: A choji-midare in nie-deki style with mixed gunome-midare.
The ashi are well defined, and the boshi turns back in a pointed manner with irregularities.

Features: Osafune Yoshimitsu is considered to be from the school of Kanemitsu and said to be the younger brother of Morimitsu.
He produced works with a similar style, and the lineage continued through second and third generations.
Although this piece has some minor forging flaws, it bears a date inscription on the reverse and evokes a strong sense of its era.
It is a beautifully shaped wakizashi, nearly the length of a full-sized katana.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Iron openwork tsuba
Fuchikashira: Iron base with fish design
Saya (Scabbard): Black ishime-ji (stone-textured) saya
Menuki: Design of plum blossoms in plain copper

NBTHK Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata