Y9802(W2783)
+Shipping

Wakizashi signed Bishu Osafune TSUNEIE In the 2nd month Bunmei 6th with)Black Ro-iro lacquered scabbard Wakizashi Koshirae

Koto middle Muromachi period (Bunmei 6th/1474) Bizen
Length of cutting edge 54.2cm Curvature 1.7cm Width of base 27.9mm Width of Yokote 17.8mm Thickness of base 7.2mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate

with)Black Ro-iro lacquered scabbard Wakizashi Koshirae


Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Moderate Mihaba and thick in Kasane, Koshi-zori curve and Saki-zori upper pointed curve as well. There is well-harmonized degree of tapering from base to a middle tip so called Chu-Kissaki. The shape is created in valor style in middle Muromachi period.(click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Carving (Horimono): Bo-hi groove with square end in front and parallel double Futasuji-hi grooves in round end appear on the other side above Habaki collar
Forging(Hada): Forging is finer Mokume hada with an indication of sparkling 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 is based on tassel shape Choji-midare and angled Gunome in a bit on stronger side fine Nie granules. The abundant quenching activities such as Ashi, YOU, short lines of Sunagash appear along quenching boundary area that gives off vividly bright light.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of Boshi forms undulating irregular Midare-komi then sharpened up medium circle turns back.
Tang(Nakago): The tang is UBU original holding slight curve to form moderate waist-point curve of Koshi-zori. Two peg Mekugina punches. Yasurime is slanting left Sujikai.Ha-agari Kurijiri round bottom heel. The back ridge is a bit contoured where Sujikai file-mark appears. The Katana-style inscription signature in six character Bishu Osafune TSUNEIE 備州長船経家 appears in lower the Nakago, located in Mune-side and the other side is chiseled the date of year In the 2nd month Bunmei 6th (1474).
The meticulously crafted piece of Bishu Osafune TSUNEIE 備州長船経家 with the date of year 1474 Bunmei 6th. The founder TSUNEIE 経家 is said to be the son of Hatakeda Moriiye 畠田守家, who lived around the Shōō period of the Kamakura era (1288–1292), and the second generation is believed to be the son of Mitsuhisa 光久, a smith of the Osafune school, during the Nanboku-chō period. The earliest extant dated works are from the early Muromachi period, starting with a work from the second year of Ouei (1395), and the main period of activity for the third generation was around the Eikyō era (1429–). Following that, the fourth generation produced dated works from the Hōtoku to Chōkyō periods (1449–88), and the fifth generation worked around the Bunmei period (1469–), with several generations using the same name TSUNEIE 経家 continuing until around the Eishō period (1504).

TSUNEIE 経家 from the Ouei and Eikyō periods, along with smiths such as MORIMITSU 盛光, YASUMITSU 康光 and IESUKE 家助, left behind works modeled after the great Kamakura-period masters of the Fukuoka ICHIMONJI 福岡一文字 and Osafune MITSUTADA 光忠 and NAGAMITSU 長光. The sword signed with the two-character inscription "TUNEIE"経家 passed down through the Maeda family and the Kaga Daishōji branch (designated an Important Art Object), displays a "Chōji-midare" (clove outline) that follows the Ichimonji tradition. Another sword from "TUNEIE"経家, a Tachi with the inscription "Bishu Osafune TSUNEIE, dated Bun'an 2 (1445)," 備州長船経家 文安二年二月日 preserved at the Kitaguchi Hongū Fuji Sengen Shrine (designated an Important Cultural Property), shows a "Suguha" (straight temper line) with small irregularities, resembling the works of the Aoe school. These masterpieces exemplify his outstanding craftsmanship.

The subject work is thick in Kasane and slightly curved towards the tip, designed for one-handed use. The blade exhibits a fine-grained, clear steel with a tight "ko-mokume" (small wood-grain pattern) structure, and the "Chōji" temper pattern resembles the ancient Ichimonji school. The meticulously crafted blade, inscribed with the year Bunmei 6 (1474) on the back, boasts as long as 550 years' good taste of patina with the clear and well-preserved inscription demonstrates TSUNEIE's 経家 superb craftsmanship.

The koshirae mountings, adorned with chrysanthemum-themed fittings, reflect the attire of a high-ranking Samurai.
with) Black Ro-iro lacquered scabbard Koshirae mount (images of the entire koshirae and close-ups of the fittings)

  • Full set of fittings (fuchi, kashira, koi-kuchi, kuchi-kanagu, kuri-kata, kojiri): Chrysanthemum on waves design, Shakudo ground, Takabori high-relief carving, with gold Iroe inlay, unsigned.
  • Tsuba: Chrysanthemum on waves design, Shakudo ground, Takabori high-relief carving, with gold Iroe inlay, unsigned.
  • Menuki: Gunbai (military fan) design, Shakudo, carved in the round Katabori with Iroe inlay.
  • Tsuka: White ray skin, wrapped in black silk cord in a Hishi-maki lozenge pattern.


Silver layer Habaki, preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mouting
reference data: Osafune town, Osafune-cho History, Ōtsuka Kogeisha, October 31, 1998