N90957(T5526)
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Tanto signed YOSHIMITSU with) Black-Lacquered Natane-Nuri Saya Aikuchi Tantō Koshirae

Koto latter half of Muromachi period (Eisho-era/ca 1504-) Tosa
Length of cutting edge 21.7cm No curvature Width of base 18.9mm Thickness at base 9.8mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate

with) Black-Lacquered Natane-Nuri Saya Aikuchi Tantō Koshirae



Blade construction : Hira-zukuri with Mitsu-mune. Of handy moderate dimensions, this tanto has exceptionally thick Kasane at the base, remaining remarkably thick toward the tip, giving the blade a richly substantial profile. The Fukura is somewhat less swelling, and the overall form is characteristic of an Yoroi-doshi, a thrusting dagger designed with piercing armor in mind. (Enlarged photograph of the blade)
Jitetsu (Forging Grain) : The steel has a slightly bluish tone. The Itame-hada is interspersed with Mokume, becoming somewhat prominent in texture, while toward both the Ha and Mune it flows into areas tending toward Masame-hada.
Hamon (Temper) : After a very short Yakidashi at base, a large Gunome-koshi-ba is formed, followed by a bit of stronger side Ko-nie-deki Chū-suguha interspersed with small irregularities, Nezumi-ashi, and areas where the edge of the temper pattern becomes slightly frayed of Hotsure.
Bōshi (Temper of Tip) : On the omote, the boshi tends toward Yakizume whereas on the ura, it returns in a large rounded turn ō-maru.
Nakago (Tang) : Ubu, with one Mekugi-ana. The Nakago is relatively long, with the Ha-side shaved down so that the Nakago tapers toward the tip and terminates in a Kuri-jiri. It bears Kiri-yasurime, while the mune side is slightly rounded and also shows Kiri-yasurime. Below the Mekugi-ana is executed two-character signature, “YOSHIMITSU” 吉光.

The Tosa YOSHIMITSU lineage is said to have originated in the latter part of the Kamakura period, around the Tokuji era (from 1306). A smith named Yoshimitsu, known as Gorōzaemon-no-jō 五郎左衛門尉吉光, of the Tegai school of Yamato Province, is said to have migrated to Kamohara in Nagaoka County (now Okoucho, Kamohara Nangoku-city), Tosa Province.
The lineage continued throughout the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, with the second generation active around the Ryakuō era (from 1338), the third around the Kōan era (from 1361), the fourth around the Ōei era (from 1394), the fifth around the Kōshō era (from 1455), the sixth around the Bunmei era (from 1469), and the seventh around the Eishō era (from 1504).
Although Tachi and Katana by this lineage are exceedingly rare, one occasionally encounters Tantō of moderate dimensions. These blades are often characterized by an exceptionally thick Kasane, giving the cross-section a distinctly triangular profile, together with a virtually straight blade and a reduced Fukura. Such construction is typical of the so-called Yoroi-dōshi or armor piercers, designed primarily with thrusting purpose in mind.
The subject Tantō is the work of Magosaemon Yoshimitsu 孫左衛門吉光, active around the Eishō era (1504-). It is an exceptionally substantial and powerfully built blade, with an unusually thick volume. The reralively long Nakago, carefully shaped for a secure and natural fit in palm, tapers toward the Nakago-heel. Its overall form reflects a practical conception, intended to serve as an attached companion blade (Sōe-zashi) to the Katana.

Accompanied by:
Black-Lacquered Natane-Nuri Saya Aikuchi Tantō Koshirae
(Front view of the complete koshirae) ·(Reverse view of the complete koshirae) · (Photographs of the fittings)
  • Menuki: Scattered paulownia-crested Kasa Menuki
  • Kozuka: Scattered paulownia crest design
Maru-ni-Yotsume-hishi-mon crest gold foiled Habaki, prteserved in Shirasaya
reference:
Honma Kunzan and Ishii Masakuni, Nihontō Meikan, Yūzankaku, 1975