K64198(W5014) Ko-Wakizashi signed Bishu Osafune YASUMITSU In the 10 th month, Ouei 23
with)Black lacquered Waist notches Ko'kizami Gold pearl of inlay Fue-maki style stripes scabbard Chi'sa-katana style Koshirae
NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon)
Koto early Muromachi period (Ouei 23/1416) Bizen
Length of cutting edge 32.2cm Almost no curvature Width of base 25.5cm Thickness of base 5.5mm
Blade construction: Hira-zukuri Ko-wakizashi, Iori-mune in low and pronounced Fukura, Length of cutting edge is long in proportion to the Mihaba width and almost no curvature which is assumed that this geometry in early Muromachi was due to new preferences in swordsmanship as supplement usage for a long Tachi.(click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging is conspicuous Mokume burl mixing with Itame-hada. The surface shows moistened beauty of jet-black luster of Chikei along Mokume and Itame hada against fine sparkling mottled Utsuri reflection in full of an archaic beauty with a sense of austerity and antiquity..
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is uniform Ko-Nie hard metal granules base, Undulating Notare with slanted small Gunome and clove outline Choji in different angles. Boundary line glows softly with brilliant fine Ko-Nie and the interior is filled with dense mist of Nioi where works with foot of "Ashi", floating quenching of "YOU" and abundant streaming lines of "Sunagashi".
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of Boshi is sharpened-up in Togari then turns back shortly in good manner.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is in UBU original that is short in proportion to the length. Kurijiri (double-bevelled) heel shape. One peg hole. Katte-sagari (slanting left) filemarks. Back ridge of Nakago is flat with Katte-sagari mark. The signature in front starts with place of work Bishu-Osafune 備州長船 then smith name YASUMITSU 康光. The other side is inscribed the date of year In the 10 th month, Ouei 23 (1416) 應永廿三年十月日.

Ouei era in early Muromachi period after the period of Northern and Southern Dynasties Nanbokucho, some master-hand artisans appeared to look up dignified style workmanship in times of peace in Kamakura period.

First generation YASUMITSU 康光 whose eldest brother was MOROMITSU 師光 and second elder borther MORIMITSU 盛光 - those 3 brothers reportedly were sons of TOMOMITSU 倫光, or a grand son of KANEMTSU 兼光 in legitimate Osafune maker. Their workmanship was to meet with requirement either from Imperial Court or superior Samurai class in these peace days to revive modeling ancient idiom Kamakura style but creating unique style against the culture of the Muromachi period..
YASUMITSU 康光, MORIMITSU 盛光 and MOROMITSU 師光 those 3 brothers are called Ouei-Bizen Geniuses or Bizen Trio of Experts. The subject YASUMITSU 康光 rates high "Above Superior Made (Jou-jō-saku)" as one of the most distinguished makers among these Trio of Experts and designated as a National Important Cultural Properties in the Tachi signed Bishu Osafune YASUMITSU In the 2nd month Ouei 24th 備州長船康光/応永廿二二年二月日.

Here is a legitimate masterpiece of Sun-no-bi style wakizashi by the 1st generation YASUMITSU 康光 with a prefix the name of Uemon-no-jo 右衛門尉. His workmanship shares into two different styles, one models flamboyant idiom of Ichimon-ji like this example whereas the other imitates simple quiet beauty of AOE style.
Among whole Osafune workmanship, such noticeable Mokume-hada so called Ouei-moku is highly admired as one of the most archaic beauty unlike the other Osafune works in later ages.The Shinogi-zukuri wakizashi in particular gradually replaced the Hira-zukuri Ko-wakizashi like this typical work.

with) Black lacquered Waist notches Ko'kizami Gold pearl of inlay Fue-maki style stripes scabbard Chi'sa-katana style Koshirae
(click HERE for entire Koshirae / HERE for each fitting)
  • All metal fittings (Fuchi/kashira, Koikuchi, Kurikata, Ura-kawara, Kojiri) : Wave design, silver ground Sukibori, Kebori carving, unsigned
  • Tsuba : Wave design, silver ground, Sukibori carving, unsigned
  • Kozuka : Wave design, silver ground, Sukibori carving, signed as Goto Mitsutaka (seal) 後藤光孝(花押)
  • Kougai : Wave design, silver ground, Sukibori carving, unsigned
  • Menuki : Tachibana crest design, silver ground, Katabori carving
  • Tsuka : White rayskin wrap, Nando gray indigo-blue Hoso-ito silk cord warp
Gold foiled single layer Habaki collar, preserved in a Shira-saya plain wood mounting
Good old polish/Condition scale: excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)

reference data : Osafune-cho, Osafune-cho-shi, Otsuka Kougeisha, 1998
 
Wakizashi signed Bishu Osafune MORIMITSU In the 10 th month,Ouei 18
Wakizashi signed Bishu Osafune MORIMITSU In the 10 th month,Ouei 18
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