AS24558 Katana： Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu 備州長船康光(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu 備州長船康光
Bunan 1 nen 2 gatsu Hi 文安元年二月日　(February, 1444)

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku (superior work) for Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu (2nd Generation).

Habaki: Silver-plated double habaki
Blade Length: 65.4 cm (25.75 in)
Curvature: 1.9 cm (0.75 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.92 cm (1.15 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.04 cm (0.80 in)
Thickness of Rim (Kasane): 0.73 cm (0.29 in)
Sword Weight: 685 g
Era: the early Muromachi period, 1444

Shape:
Jigane:Beautifully forged jigane with utsuri, characteristic of works by Yasumitsu and Morimitsu.
Hamon:Nie-deki suguha-based hamon with active small ashi and small gunome-midare.
The boshi is long, turns into midare-komi and ends in hakikake style.

Features: Chūko-to | Wazamono | Jō Saku | Bizen

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Rounded shakudo tsuba carved with a plum tree.
Menuki: a design of Cormorant Fishing
Fuchikashira:
Kozuka and Kogai: Shakudo-nanako base carved with flowers

Comment from Aoi Art：In the early Muromachi period, the Bizen swordsmiths between the Oei-Bizen and Sue-Bizen eras are known as Eikyō-Bizen. Among them, Yasumitsu, along with Morimitsu, is regarded as a leading representative. This piece is beautifully forged with a well-packed jigane and is a rare example bearing a date from the Bun’an era.

Sayagaki :Honami Nissyu

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
Aoi-Art estimation pepr
whole oshigata