SUE-BIZEN OSAFUNE UCHIGATANA
This is
a elegant Buke mounted Katana which
has been attributed to the Sukesada group
of smiths.
The prefix of the Mei (BIZEN no KUNI JU OSAFUNE) would put
this piece to Sue-Bizen. The 2006 NTHK Shinsa
estimated that the characteristics
of this Katana are comparable
to the style of Nagamitsu, founder of the Osafune school.
After many months of study, it is my opinion that
the workmanship in this blade is that of Nagamitsu.
The Sugata is shinogi-zukuri with iori-mune and a chu-kissaki.
The Jihada is ko-itame with thick ji-nie and utsuri appears.
The Hamon is choji-midare in nioi-deki accompanied with many ashi and sunagashi.
The Boshi runs off the edge in the kissaki.
The earlier Sue-Koto blades of circa Meio to Eisho (1492-1521) were
average length of around two shaku, one sun.
This was due to the increased pace of fighting.
Early history tells of heavy armor being used and
when sword (with Obusa-Choji or Juka-Choji) Ha and
Ikubi-Kissaki got trapped, the blade and/or tip became broken.
There was not enough tip for repair.
The Mongolian invasions influenced Hamon, Obusa-Choji and
Juka-Choji gave way to Choji-ha based on Sugu-ha or Kataochi-gunome.
Reason being blades with very wide Ha are easy to break. The Ha is
harder than the rest of the blade and if it is the majority of the sword,
it will not absorb shock and becomes easy to break.
Another consideration would be the ending point of the Hi (grooves),
this left room for repair should tip become damaged.
From the appearance of this fine sword (kissaki repair and suriage),
it is my opinion that one of the many Sukesada smiths made a katana from a tachi.
The katana was later (1560) altered/repaired into a uchigatana due to breakage of the tip.
The same Sukesada smith was able to return this piece to its samurai owner during the Sengoku wars.
Ground fighting became the norm, armor became lighter, and the
Uchigatana and Katate-uchi (quick-draw swords) became popular.
A good example would be, during the 3rd year of Eiroku (1560),
the Imagawa were defeated by Oda Nobunaga and
the Takada and Uesugi were battling at Kawanakajima.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Harima, Mimasaka and Bizen provinces were prospering
under the protection of the Akamatsu family.
Above all, Bizen province turned out a great many talented swordsmiths.
A large number of swords were made there in the late Muromachi period
not only supplying the demand of the Age of Provincial Wars in Japan but also as an
important exporting item to the Ming dynasty in China.
For further consideration in the determination of the smith for this piece, I viewed the following:
Nagamitsu Tachi, Genbei Sukesada Katana and Saijo Saku.
Biography of NAGAMITSU
A study of Bizen Muromachi.
papers by Inami Hakusui. Inami wrote the first English language book
on Nihonto (it was published during the occupation of Japan).
The book is titled NIPPON-TO: The Japanese Sword
(see my 'Books For Sale' gallery).
Hakusui papered this Katana to a Shinto Sukesada. However, based
on past and current knowledge, the prefix 'Bizen Kuni Ju Osafune'
was used only by Sue-Bizen (Koto) smiths, including Sukesada.
Nagasa is 24 1/4" inches.
This is a Shinogi-zukuri uchigatana with an Iori-mune.
The Shinogi is high and there is Funbari (tapering) to the point.
The shape is well balanced with Koshi-zori and there is a Chu-kissaki.
The Kitae is Ko-itame mixed with Mokume that is
well worked and covered in minute Ji-nie.
There is abundant ashi, sunagashi and utsuri appears.
The Hamon is small patterned Choji-midare that is
entirely Nioi based, and the Habuchi is covered in Ko-nie with much Hataraki.
Learn more about The Development of Bizen Choji.
See Bizen Choji 1 and Bizen Choji 2.
It should be pointed out that the Boshi runs off
the edge in the Kissaki due to breakage and repair prior to the 1600's.
The sword is mounted in old Buke period koshirae.
Historically, black Saya was favored by Samurai
on swords ( "duty weapon" ) during the time of war.
The tsuba is KyoSukashi.
The fuchi are excellant quality Soten work and
the menuki are higher than average quality.
The Habaki is of silver and very well-made.
Study Fujishiro pg. 599, 600, and 601.
Compare all: Sho-Shin & Dr. Tokuno study of Yozozaemon
another Yozozaemon and a third Yozozaemon.
Read about the Samurai of Bizen who wielded this sword.