A4032(S8258)
+Shipping

katana unsigned Bizen Osafune MOTOMITSU with) Black Stone finish surface Uchigatana Koshirae

Nanbokucho period (Enbun era/aboout 650 years ago) Bizen
Length of cutting edge71.4cm Curvature2.0cm Thickness of base7.5mm Width of base29.8mm Width of Yokote23.2mm

NBTHK(The 53rd JUYO TOKEN)
(Tokubetsu Hozon Tousougu certificate)

with) Black wrinkles leather skin finishing surface sheath Higo style Uchigatana Koshirae

 

Blade construction (kengyo) : Shinogi-zuruki, Iori-mune. There is lower pointed (koshizori) curve standing firmly with large Hiraji and there is massive thickness. The entire shape is wide and heroically made leading to a extend O-Kissaki. (click HERE for high resolution of the blade photograph)
Forging pattern (kitae hada) : Kitae hada is conspicuous Mokume hada mixing in with partial entwined flowing Itame marks. The entire hiraji is covered in with fine ji-nie (hard metal granules over the surface of the blade) and midare utsuri (reflections of the irregular tempering pattern). The entire forging marks is extremely active with chikei thick Nie lines.
Tempering pattern (hamon) : Hamon is fine Nie base, small irregular pointed gunome and choji-midare (clove out-line) accelerated by slanted ashi (lines projecting into the edge) and lower of Hakiomote is tall clove outline varies in height and high pointed choji-midare which is narrow in the middle creates (kawazu-ko/a tadpole shape) outline. The entire tempering outline is covered in soft and misty Nioi. The interior of temper is frequently active with Sunagashi and Kinsen thick NIE lines.
Temper of tip (boshi) : Boshi is irregular pattern with medium circle turn back with hakikake brushing tendency with medium circle turn back.
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is O-suriage(cut down), unsigned. Kurijiri horizontal heel shape. Three Mekugi-ana peg holes.
KANEMITSU and it's genius smiths TOMOMITSU and the subject MOTOMITSU - A legitimate school of OSAFUNE in Bizen province and well known as called [SOUDEN-BIZEN]. They followed true BIZEN-school mixing in with strong SOSHU technique favour of ITAME forging pattern and NIE-based temper. This is understood that SOUDEN-BIZEN is to meet with brave warriors' requirement. The subject Katana is heroically made and shows an extravagant mokume and itame marks against midare-utsuri (irregular reflections) standing out clearly.The temper outline generally is slanted foot gunome midare with clear slanted-feet without soaked in an excellent condition. Lower part of hakiomote varies in height with tall/slanted choji-midare in which interior is active with Kinsen and Sunagashi. Among similar works of Osafune, this katana is prominent and one of the excellent conditioned OSAFUNE works over the 650 years of more.
Wrinkles leather skin finish Higo style UCHIGATANA Koshirae : comprising wrinkles black stone lacquered surface sheath, Shakudo WAVE motif Fuchi/Kashira, Copper Karakusa motif KOJIRI, Shakudo dragon menuki and Iron Edo Higo style Tsuba (Ivy/Karakusa attributed to a work of KUMAGAI) and additional Iron Higo style Tsuba with silver rim, hilt covered in white sharkskin and wrapped in dark brown lacquered leather. All these composition is true and authentically original in an excellent condition.
This Katana has been performed fresh polish by Mr. Kagami Genta using Sashikomi-Nugui technique to express natural forging and quench effect scene and succesufuly won the Doryokusho prize at the 2012 the 65th Sword Polish Competition held at NBTHK and displayed in the Sword Museum. Now the blade is nearly perfect condition for the true appreciation of natural steel taste that belonged to Osafune Soushu-Bizen school during Nanbokucho period.
Gold double foiled ROCK pattern Habaki collar, preserved in Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
Fresh the top quality polish/Condition scale: excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).