G23831(W3217)
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Wakizashi unsigned Osafune KOZORI with) Urumi transparent brown lacquered scabbard Wakizashi koshirae

Koto Nanbokucho period (Eiwa era/circa 1375 -) Bizen
Length of cutting edge 41.2cm Curvature 1.2cm Width of base 27.4mm Thickness of base 7.5mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate

with) Urumi transparent brown lacquered scabbard Wakizashi koshirae

 

Blade construction : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune, bravely wide in Mihaba and high in Shinogi-suji ridge and shaves off volume toward the back ridge of mune. Holding wide ratio of hira-ji to shinogi-ji and scarce volume of Niku. Less degree of tapering from base to an extended Ō-kissaki, which are the major trends in the prime of Nanbokucho period.(click HERE for higher resolution image)
Carving (Horimono) : A Soe-hi groove that is chisseled half way appears in one side and the other side shows Soe-hi appears in nakago and the engraved carving Bonji of Fudo Myoo.
Forging(Hada) : Hada is remarkable Ōitame-hada mixing with Mokume-hada and partial flowing hada ware. Utsuri reflection appears along Mune side.
Temper(Hamon) : Hamon is based on fine Nie-based crystals, a bit on tight side Nioi-kuchi hardening pattern consists of smaller trapezoid Kataochi-gunome, tassel-shaped Choji or box-like Hakoba elements. The interior of temper is filled with deep Nioi crystals where short lines of Nie Sunagashi appears along boundary line.
Temper of tip(Boshi) : Boshi forms powerful undulating with Gunome of roundish elements small circle turns back deeply that connects to Muneyaki hardening pattern of back ridge.
Tang(Nakago) : Ō-suriage substantially shortened to be unsigned. Bottom is shallow Kurijiri heel. Katte-sagari (slanting left) filemarks. Two peg holes.

Here is a wakizashi in Bizen Osafune tradition, recently attributed to a work by KOZORI 小反 lineage in Nanbokucho period from 14th century.
Heroic shape with an extended Ō-kissaki in 106mm long reminds us of a naginata which used to be a short curved sword fixed to the end of a long shaft in Nanbokucho period and from a historically perspective it was substantially shortened Ō-suriage to be a wakizashi.
Sword makers who belogned to KOZORI 小反 lineage had flourlished to meet with sharp rise in demand for the Nanbokucho period while the two courts fought for fifty years. There appeared in large numbers of makers such as MORIIE 守家, HIDEMITSU 秀光, IEMORI 家守, IESHIGE 家重 and so on. Those supplemental makers played an indivisual maker or sometimes important roles of subcontracted works for the major schools such as KANEMITSU 兼光, CHOGI 長義 or their capable pupils, so that they were comparatively superior in technique to the later generations in the Warning States period from 16th C.
This wakizashi holds typical shape in Nanbokucho age, although still in an old polish status to show some whitish stains or minor scratches appears, it feels solidly heavy in hands holding healthy rich Kasane volume and wide Mihaba. Hamon of hardening boundary pattern is shining brightly and fine steel gives off whitish mist Utsuri reflection that hangs over the Hiraji.
These elements prove that this wakizashi is appropriately appraised as the genuine Osafune works in Nanbokucho period from 14th C.

Urumi transparent brown lacquered scabbard Wakizashi koshirae consists of : (click HERE for entire Koshirae mount / HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/kashira : Fuchi of wave design, Shakudo copper alloy ground, Kebori, unsigned, Kashira made of buffalo horn
  • Tsuba : KIKU flower shape, Iron ground, brass inlay of clematis/arabesque design Heianjo school, unsigned
  • Menuki : A pair of mandarin duck design, Yamagane copper ground Yobori, gold Iroe
  • Kozuka : Decorative post tokobashira design, Yamagane copper ground, takabori, Iroe inlay, signed as TOU 東雨
  • Tsuka : White rayskin wrapped Dashizame
  • Scabbard : Urumi transparent brown lacquered, Shakudo Kojiri. Lacquer surface remains an original condition and some minor scratches and old trace of crack appears

Gold foiled double layer habaki collar, preserved in a new Shira-saya plain wood mounting
Old polish/Condition scale: very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)