T2627(S829)
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Tachi signed Hachiman Daibosatsu Bizen-koku-ju Uma-no-jo □TSUGU-zou The 1st month New Year In the 7th year of □□

Koto Kamakura period (Kenkyu 7th/1196, Bun'ei 7th/1270 or Kouan 7th/1284) Bizen
Length of cutting edge 90.4cm Curvature 3.4cm Width of base 31.8mm Width of Yokote 13.9mm Thickness of base 8.4mm
Length of Kissaki 21.0mm Length of Nakago 24.6cm Nakago Curvature 0.2cm

NBTHK(The 51th JUYO TOKEN) certificate

 

 

Blade construction: Extra long Tachi of Shinogi-zukuri,Iori-mune. Wide in Mihaba standing firmly on base and has a highly dignified curve near the base and the rest upper area is curved in excellent proportion. Thickness on base is rather on thicker side and high in Shibogi-suji. There is much degree of tapering from base to a middle Kissaki created in an archaic style in Kamakura period.(click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging is fine Itame-hada with an indication of Moklume-hada ware. Ji-Nie granules attaches on surface and darkish lines in different state of carbonate so called "CHIKEI" wells out. Entire Hiraji emits sparkling reflection of irregular Midare-Utsuri.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon starts at upper the Hamachi "Yaki-Otoshi", based on Suguha outline mixing of small-Gunome and tassel shape Choji-midare in a bit on stronger side fine Nie granules. The abundant quenching activities such as Ashi, YOU, short lines of Sunagashi or bright thick lines of Kinsuji appears across quenching line. Intermittent Yubashiri just above the head of Gunome/Choji outline is shimmering onto the Hiraji-surface. Hamon is created in archaic style from Kamakura period.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms straight Suguha and small circle.
Tang(Nakago): The tang is nearly original barely Machi-okuri. Greatly slanting left Ō-sujikai Yasurime. Kurijiri double bevelled slight-shaved heel. Two peg holes in which upper is an original. Tachi style inscription that starts from Shingou (the title given to a Shinto shrine) Hachiman Daibosatsu 八幡大菩薩, place of work Bizen-koku-ju 備前国住 with an Imperial official rank Uma-no-jo 右馬允 and the name of smith □TSUGU-zou "□次造". The other side is inscribed with the date of year The 1st month New Year In the 7th year of □□ "□□七年正月日".

Ever since Ko-Bizen artisans had risen in fame end Heian to early Kamakura period in Bizen province (now southeastern of Okayama pref.), remarkable numbers of master artisans who belonged to Ichimonji-school or subsequent Osafune craftsman appeared to establish Kingdom of Nihonto throughout Kamakura to Muromachi period.
The founder of Osafune MITSUTADA 光忠 was active from Rekiou 暦応 to Bun'ei 文永(1238-74) while the Mongolian Expeditions against Japan and played a chief head with his junior NAGAMITSU 長光 and KAGEMITSU 景光.
Those Tachi swords were mostly made to adopt a defensive stance form Mongolian attack or in other point of view to perform incantations for shrines and temples to protect against misfortune in an unprecedented crisis for the Nation.
The subject archaic Tachi, the first character of smith name is indecipherable and also the imperial era name is now hard for spelling out but can be a judge of the 7 th year. Therefore it is supposed that this Tachi was dated the earliest year of Kenkyu 7th(1196), Bunei 7th(1270) or Kouan 7th(1284) as the latest date of year.
This most splendid Tachi presents the geographical features of Bizen in Kamakura era upholding an original UBU shape. Impressively healthy holding wide Mihaba on base to maintain Yaki-Otoshi quenching method in ancient Kamakura style bears a close resemblance of National Treasure Meibutsu Ō-KANEHIRA 名物大包平.

The Shingou Hachiman-Daibosatsu 八幡大菩薩 plays for success in continued luck in battle also Imperial official rank Uma-no-jo 右馬允 will prove that this dignified Tachi was offering dedicated to Hachiman shrine 八幡神社. Bearing a hitting sign upper the Mune tells us historical trace 800 years even more. Awarded with the designation of 51th JUYO TOKEN.

Gold foiled Tachi style Habaki, preserved in Shira-saya plain wood mounting
reference data : 51th JUYO TOKEN ZUROKU