AS21138-Katana: Bishu Osafune Sukesada

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae.(NBTHK Hozon Token)
Signature : Bishu Osafune Sukesada 備州長船祐定
Tensho 2 Nen 8 Gatsuhi.

Explanation: This Bishu Osafune Sukesada made this sword in August. 1574.

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyo-jyo saku Jyo saku and regular
saku)
This sword belongs to Jyo saku ranking.
The blade was polished.

Habaki: copper single habaki
Blade length: 65.2 cm or 25.6 inches.
Sori :1.9cm or 0.74 inches.
Mekugi: 1
Width at the hamachi: 3.14cm or 1.23 inches.
Width at the Kissaki: 2.06 cm or 0.81 inches.
Kasane :0.64 cm or 0.25 inches.
The weight of the sword 650 grams.

Era: Muromachi period Tenshi 2nd (1574)
Shape: Wide and thick blade. Sori is deep and Kissaki is longer.
Jigane: Ko-Itame-Hada well grained. Jinie attached and Utsuri is visible.
Hamon : Niedeki Choji-Midare and Gunome-Midare mixed.

Special feature: This is one of Sukesada’s mass products. He made too many sword at this time and his sword was used around Japan and also in China.

Koshirae :
Tsuba: Rund iron Tsuba. Shishi dog landscape is engraved with open work.
Fuchikashira: Shakudo plate. Fish and chrysanthemum are engraved. with gold color inlay.
Menuki: Shakudo plate. Horse and flowers are engraved with gold color.

From Aoi Art: This is one of Sukesada’s mass product but the quality is too good and it does not
seems like the mass product.

NBTHK Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: whole Oshigata.