Wakizashi: Mumei attributed as Bishu Osafune Norimitsu 'Cutting test blade'
2017/01/24
Wakizashi in Shirasaya with Koshirae. (NBTHK Hozon paper)
Signature : Mumei (unsigned) attributed as Bishu Osafune Norimitsu.
Saidan-mei : Bunsei 8 Nen Hinoe-Tori 10 Gatu 16 nichi.
Oite Senju Karigane Otoshi Josha Ha 2 Men.
Futobuto Dotan Iga Tomoo Tamesu Kore.
Middle Koto : Chujo saku ranking : Ryo wazamono ranking : Bizen
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijo saku, Jojo saku, Jo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jo saku ranking.
The blade is polished.
Habaki : Silver double Habaki
Blade length : 48.5 cm or 19.1 inches.
Sori : 1.5 cm or 0.59 inches.
Mekugi : 1
Width at the Hamachi : 2.73 cm or 1.07 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 1.97 cm or 0.78 inches.
Kasane : 0.70 cm or 0.28 inches.
Era : Muromachi period Bunan period (around 1444~1449).
Shape : Keeping nearly original condition shape. Wide and thick blade having long Kissaki.
Jigane : Itame-hada with Mokume-hada mixed. Jinie attach on with Chikei active beautiful texture can be seen very well.
Hamon : Konie-deki Choji-Midare making a line Ashi, Yo, Sunagashi and Kinsuji work very active. Boshi turns Midarekomi style and become Kaen style near by the tip.
Special feauture : Notimitsu school was active during Nanbokucho period to later Muromachi period and said that the lineage of Nagamitsu. This blade is having characteristics very similar to Ouei-Bizen so this blade seems to be forged around early to mid Muromachi period.
This blade has no signature for swordsmith but having good brilliant Hamon.
In nakago there are Saidan-mei (cutting test engravement) mentioned as following meaning.
‘At Senju, Iga Tomoo did Karigane-Otoshi (from shoulder to shoulder) and Hutobuto Dotan-Butsu (from armpit to armpit) cutting test to the criminal bodies.’
Koshirae :
Saya : Black Ishimeji Saya.
Tsuba : Shishi-dog and peony flower carved on Suaka-Nanakoji plate with gold color.
Menuki : Ebisu and Daikoku from Japanese mythology carved on Shakudo plate with gold color.
Fuchi-kashira : Daruma (Bodhidharma) the Buddhist monk carved on Shakudo plate with gold color.
NBTHK Hozon paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.
price : JPY ¥350,000-.
