Help with Bizen Osafune Norimitsu wakizashi, dated Bunki 4 (1504)

[csmku]

Hello all,

This is my father's sword, and I'm hoping to learn more about it. I had a letter from several years ago (from someone named Arch Stanton, dated 2011) that identified it as follows:

• Mei on one side of nakago: Bishu Osafune Norimitsu
• Mei on other side: dated Bunki 4 (1504)
• Classified as a wakizashi

Measurements: nagasa (blade length) approximately 22¼", overall length with handle about 26".

The sword is currently mounted in what looks like a leather-covered military-style saya (see photos), suggesting it may have been remounted for WWII service at some point, though the blade itself is much older.

I'd love any help with:

1. Confirming or refining the reading of the mei (photos of the nakago attached)
2. Which generation of Norimitsu this might be, given the date
3. Any insight into the koshirae/military mount — era, type, anything notable
4. General thoughts on next steps if I wanted formal NBTHK papers down the road

Photos attached: full sword, nakago , tsuba/fuchi/habaki close-ups, and the saya.

I'd really appreciate any expertise. Thank you!

[ROKUJURO]

Carrie,

please NEVER touch a bare blade with your hands/fingers!

[John C]

Carrie:

The road to possible papers would be two-fold. The first step would be to have the sword polished. As it is now, they would not try to evaluate it because the hamon cannot be fully seen. That would be about 1,800 to 2,200 as a guesstimate and probably take at least one year on the waiting list. Then the sword would need to be submitted to a NTHK shinsa at a participating sword show. I'm not sure how many times they have shinsa during a given year, however it is not many. And after all that, it might fail to get papers if the sword is gimei (fake signature).

So while it is possible to have the sword professionally evaluated and papered, it is a slow and expensive process. Just something to consider.

 

John C.

[klee]

The nakgo and mei looks promising.

 

Would be great if we could see the full close up condition of the blade.

 

There were many Norimitsu smiths during the muromachi and they all made good blades. The best of them were active in the 1400s and this one ( if genuine ) would be either the 6th or 7th gemeration.

 

The 6th generation Norimitsu was a skilled smith and rated Jo Saku.

 

Would love to see this blade s journey and how it turns up. Best wishes 

Edited Monday at 01:07 AM by klee

[Rivkin]

The signature has sort of correct appearance, but reading it on lazy photographs taken at random angle instead of nakago lying flat down... hm... It feels authentic though.

 

[2devnul]

Hi,

 

14 hours ago, csmku said:

Bishu Osafune Norimitsu

That is a big name/lineage of smiths. 

 

14 hours ago, csmku said:

Any insight into the koshirae/military mount — era, type, anything notable

That 'koshirae' has nothing to do with Japan. Yes, Habaki looks good, Tsuba and Fuchi on the other hand looks like modern replicas, maybe even not originating from Japan. The rest is something like home-made (that leather wrapping) mounts. 

 

14 hours ago, csmku said:

Confirming or refining the reading of the mei (photos of the nakago attached)

Better/proper pictures with full measurements might help. But with current polish it might be difficult to judge Hamon/Hada. You can give it a shot by publishing more/better pictures. There are some guides here on forum about what/how to take photos. 

 

13 hours ago, ROKUJURO said:

please NEVER touch a bare blade with your hands/fingers!

Of course you can touch the blade, just make sure to clean it afterwards

 

PS. From what I see on pictures, Nakago and Sugata\Sori looks promising (Bizen). 

[ROKUJURO]

8 minutes ago, 2devnul said:

.....Of course you can touch the blade, just make sure to clean it afterwards .... 

Technically, you are correct. In the real sword world, you simply don't do it. It is considered bad manners, and a person who does this is thought to lack basic sword handling and etiquette knowledge.

If you do it in a Japanese sword shop, you are asked to leave.

[2devnul]

15 minutes ago, ROKUJURO said:

It is considered bad manners, and a person who does this is thought to lack basic sword handling and etiquette knowledge.

You are correct, again