Bizen Tadamitsu Katana
KK0523
SOLD
A suriage machiokure katana signed, Bishu Osafune /. Attributed to Tadamitsu. Shinogizukure, iroi mune, chu-kissaki, Deep sori, only slightly sakizori, almost toriizori. Hawatare: 2 shaku (60.60 cm / 23.86"). Motohaba: 3.04 cm. Sakihaba 2.06 cm. Kasane: 7.4 mm. Chu suguba ko-midare in nioi deki, pencil thin bright habuchi, There are very fine konie in the ha, and masa activity like extended dark kinsuji. The jigane is itame nagare with areas of mokume. here is very fine bright jinie. The jigane in the shinogiji tends to be more masa. The boshi is a sharp togare. In polish, mounted in shirasaya, with a solid silver habaki. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon. The kanteisho notes that this was previously certified on September 10, 1967, certificate #10369, then the papers updated on August 17, 1996, #36368.
I have been unable to pin this down to a specific smith. but Muromachi is replete with very skilled and titled Tadamitsu signing Bishu. My feeling is that this likely around Eisho times (1504 - 1521), like Oei (1393-1428) , was a period of revival in sword smithing. The sugata, the length, workmanship, would seem to point to that. This is a sword for the serious collector. $4,600
