AS24806 Tachi:Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu Dated: August, 1440 (Eikyo 12)(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token)

Ordering number:AS24806

Tachi: Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token) (NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token)

Signature: Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu
Dated: August, 1440 (Eikyo 12)
備州長船康光
永享十二年八月日

Chu-Koto: Great Cutting Ability (O-Wazamono), Jyo Saku, Bizen
We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This sword is ranked as Jyojyo Saku among the works of Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu.
Habaki: Single-layer gold foil Habaki
Blade Length: 72.1 cm (28.39 in)
Curvature: 2.4 cm (0.94 in)
Mekugi Holes: 3
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.14 cm (1.24 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.96 cm (0.77 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.84 cm (0.33 in)
Sword Weight: 800 g
Era: Around 1440 (Eikyo period)
Shape: A wide blade with thick Kasane and deep curvature. A Bo-hi (groove) is carved.
Jigane: The steel is very tightly forged, resulting in an excellent quality Jigane with Utsuri.
Hamon: A continuous pattern of small gunome-midare. There are slightly cloudy areas, but the Hamon remains intact and is an excellent work. The Boshi is irregular.

Features: Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu is considered one of the representative swordsmiths of the Muromachi period, along with Morimitsu and Yasumitsu.
This piece is dated August 1440. At that time, long swords such as this were extremely rare for Morimitsu and Yasumitsu, who mainly produced shorter wakizashi.
This long sword features an older tachi-mei signature style, preserving the characteristics of that era.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Iron tsuba with dragons and clouds in gold inlay.
Fuchikashira: Made of shakudo with high-relief carving of dragons and clouds, with gold iroe. Signature: Mino Ju Koko
Saya (Scabbard): Lacquered in an unusual style.
Kojiri: Carved in high relief with wave motifs on shakudo base.
Menuki: Made of shakudo with high-relief carving of dragons, decorated with gold iroe.

Aoi Art’s Comment:For a tachi of this era, it is quite long and features a deeply curved shape—an impressive piece.

Historical Background:During this period, one-handed swords were common, and such long blades were rare.
Smiths like Morimitsu and Yasumitsu produced these kinds of works.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Token
Aoi Art estimation paper
Whole Oshigata