A tanto | Signed Bishu Osafune Norimitsu (Norimitsu from Osafune in Bizen Province) | Muromachi period, dated Eikyo juichinen hachigatsu hi (a day in the 8th month of 1439)

A tanto

Signed Bishu Osafune Norimitsu (Norimitsu from Osafune in Bizen Province)

Muromachi period, dated Eikyo juichinen hachigatsu hi (a day in the 8^th month of 1439)

Sugata [configuration]: hira-zukuri, iori-mune, muzori

Kitae [forging pattern]: flowing itame-hada mixed with mokume in places, jinie and chikei

Hamon [tempering pattern]: nie-based suguha

Boshi [tip]: hakikake style ko-maru boshi

Horimono [carving]: suken with coiled dragon on both sides

Nakago [tang]: ubu, kurijiri, two mekugi-ana

Habaki [collar]: double, gold on copper

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: black lacquer saya with shakudo and gilt fittings, the fuchi-kashira with three-clawed dragons amidst crashing waves, the menuki in the form of further dragons, the kozuka with further three-clawed dragon in relief and in gilt on a nanako ground, the blade signed Minamoto shi…yoshi, the circular iron tsuba with raised mimi, nawame rim, the plate with chrysanthemums

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 28.2 cm., 11⅛ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.6 cm., 1 in.

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 101945 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Showa 63 (1988).