AS25324 Tanto: Mumei (Attributed to Osafune Kanenaga) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Tanto: Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Mumei (Attributed to Osafune Kanenaga)
無銘(長船兼長)

Sayagaki: Bizen Osafune Nagayoshi – Truly Excellent

Chu-Koto: O-Wazamono: Jyo Saku: Bizen
We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the unsigned blades attributed to Osafune Kanenaga.
Habaki: Single-layered gold foil
Blade Length: 21.9 cm (8.62 in)
Curvature: 0.1 cm (0.04 in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.08 cm (0.82 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.64 cm (0.25 in)
Sword Weight: 135 g
Era: Nanbokucho period, around Joji era (1362–1368)
Shape: A rather small tanto with well-forged thickness.
Jigane: Itame-hada is well-forged with a faint utsuri, exhibiting classic features of Soden Bizen.
Especially prominent is the Matsukawa-hada pattern visible in the jigane.
Hamon: Ko-nie deki with a vigorously undulating gunome-midare pattern, showing ashi, ha, sunagashi, and kinsuji.
Boshi: Tsukiage with a long return.

Features: This tanto displays exceptional hataraki (activity) in the blade reminiscent of Norishige, and is also considered a work by Kanena(Chogi).
It is understandable why a previous owner(Sayagaki) attributed it to Kanenaga(Chogi).
The blade features dynamic Soden-style characteristics, with kinsuji and inazuma throughout, especially intense from the monouchi to the kissaki.
A highly recommended tanto.

Koshirae: Aikuchi Koshirae
Fuchikashira: Made of horn
Saya: Black stone-textured saya decorated with family crests using blue raden (mother-of-pearl inlay)
Menuki: Shakudo base carved with family crest
Kozuka: Silver base engraved with family crest and patterns
Kogai (warikogai): Silver base engraved with family crest and patterns

Historical Background:
The Joji era (1362–1368) of the Nanbokucho period was marked by political turmoil.
During this time, Emperor Go-Kogon reigned in the Northern Court and Emperor Go-Murakami in the Southern Court, while Ashikaga Yoshiakira served as shogun of the Muromachi shogunate.
The “Joji Incident,” in which the Shiba clan (Yoshimasa and his father Takatsune) lost political power, exemplifies the intense internal conflicts within the shogunate.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata