A BIZEN KO-WAKIZASHI

A BIZEN KO-WAKIZASHI
MUROMACHI PERIOD, BEARING A DATE OF EIKYO 2 (1430), INSCRIBED BISHU OSAFUNE YASUMITSU

Configuration (sugata): of flat, wedge section (hira-zukuri) with shallow peaked back (iori-mune); length (nagasa): 1 shaku, 1 sun, 1 bu (33.5cm.); carving (horimono): maru-dome katana ni tsure hi on both sides (traces of the secondary hi visible).
Forging pattern (jihada): wood grain (itame) with jinie.
Tempering pattern (hamon): a wide suguba springing from the hamachi and intermixed with clove tempering (choji) highlighted with numerous 'legs' (ashi) in nioi.
Point (boshi): a pointed brush (hakikake) with medium kaeri.
Tang (nakago). Shape (keitai): Bizen, ubu and with a moist, brown patina; file marks (yasurime): slanted (katte-sagari); end (nakagojiri): rounded (kuri-jiri); holes (mekugi-ana): two; signature (katanamei): Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu; date (jidai): Eikyo 2-nen 8-gatsu hi (a day in the 8th month of Eikyo 2 (1430)).

Shirasaya.

Cloth storage bag.