AS25079 Katana:Bizen Koku Ju Osafune Sukesada Saku Kore(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Ordering number:AS25079

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature: Bizen Koku Ju Osafune Sukesada Saku Kore
Dated: August, Eiroku 3 (1560)
備前国住長船祐定作之
永禄三年八月日

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This piece is ranked as Jyo Saku among works by Bizen Kuni Ju Osafune Sukesada.

Habaki: Single-layered gold-covered Habaki
Blade Length: 71.1 cm (27.99 in)
Curvature: 2.2 cm (0.87 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.95 cm (1.16 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.9 cm (0.75 in)
Thickness of Rim (Kasane): 0.79 cm (0.31 in)
Sword Weight: 795 g
Era: Late Muromachi period, Eiroku 3 (1560)
Shape: Wide blade with slightly thick kasane and deep curvature.
The kissaki is broad.
A rising dragon is carved on the omote side and a descending dragon on the ura side.
Jigane: Well-forged Itame-hada with visible utsuri.
Hamon: Made with nie, featuring gunome-midare with tobiyaki.
Small ashi appear in notare.
The boshi turns round following the curvature.

Features: Bizen Koku Ju Osafune Sukesada, along with Kiyomitsu, was one of the major swordsmiths in Bizen during the Muromachi period.
This era was marked by the Warring States period, where demand for swords increased, and many were even exported to China.
Among those, the highest quality works often included civilian names engraved.
This piece is a healthy and sound sword with an engraved date from the Eiroku era.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Circular iron tsuba with openwork carving. Believed to be from Owari.
Fuchi: Shakudo nanako-ji ground with high relief of autumn grass and insects, accented with gold inlay.
Kashira: Made of horn (with a chipped area).
Saya (Scabbard): Unique black lacquered saya with a textured surface.
Menuki: High-relief carving of chrysanthemums and fish in shakudo with gold inlay.

Aoi Art’s Comment: A carefully made work by Bizen Kuni Ju Osafune Sukesada.
The rising and descending dragons engraved on the blade give it a strong presence.
Although the carvings were added later and not original to the blade’s manufacture, they appear to have been made with great effort.

NBTHK Hozon Token Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper with whole oshigata