Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed Bishu Osafune Harumitsu Dated Keicho 1599 Utsuri

Description

Japanese Sword Wakizashi Signed Bishu Osafune Harumitsu Saku Dated Keicho 1599.
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Sue Bizen
Bishu Osafune Harumitsu Saku
. One of the last few smiths of the Bizen tradition due to iron sands being destroyed by the great flood of the Yoshii river in 1591. Partially considered the beginning of the Shinto era. Smith can still be considered part of the late koto or Sue-bizen school.
Sword has an ubu (unaltered) nakago with original signature and date. Signed Bishu Osafune Harumitsu, in Keicho 3 (1599). Signature is of same time period of the nakago. Nakago doesn’t look messed with. Kurijiri nakago, single nakago Ana. Kiri file marks. In old shirasaya. Has some kanji on butt of tsuka. Nice habaki, gold wash, almost looks like has a hint of rose gold color.
Blade is in good polish. The Hamon is chu suguha midare, 3/8 inches wide with all kinds of stuff going on. Bright and even. Has hotsure, kinsuji, ashi, even slight nijuba in places. Has a clear bo- utsuri, indicative of sue bizen. The Boshi is clear and bright. Looks to have a Sansaku boshi. No cracks, small ware in the shinogi ji. Small nicks to cutting edge, but may have been left in to preserve niku when polished.
Looks to have umegane in the shinogi ji. Umegane are repairs to flaws that might have opened up in the blade. However, umegane repairs were substantial undertakings, umegane are metal fillings or plugs put in place of the damage area. They were expensive then and not even done now. Looks like someone really valued this sword to have spent the money to have the ji repaired/saved. People are afraid of them when polished since they can fall out, since polishing loosens the plug. This blade wont require another polish, so don’t need to worry. However this is a really well done one. Enjoy it for what it is, barely noticeable.
Enjoy while your quarantined. I have. Was planning to send to nbthk for paper but due to the times, let someone else enjoy it!
Dimensions:
Length: 17 3/4 inches
Overall Length: 27 inch in shirasaya
Thickness: 3/16 inch
Width: 1 1/16 inches
Shipped/insured with USPS Priority Mail.