PROPERTY FROM A DISTINGUISHED PRIVATE COLLECTION

A Bizen tachi
Signed (Bi but illegible through corrosion) (shu but illegible through corrosion) Osafune (Toshi but illegible though corrosion ) mitsu. - identified as Bishu Osafune Toshimitsu, and dated Oei rokunen jugatsu hi ( a day in the tenth month 1399).
Sugata: [configuration]: hon-zukuri, iori-mune, deep koshi-zori curve, chu-kissaki
Kitae: [forging pattern]: o-itame nagare, broad bo-utsuri
Hamon [tempering pattern]: suguha with many variations of ko-choji midare,kinsen, sunagashi, nioi with konie
Boshi [tip]: tight togari boshi
Nakago [tang]: suriage, four mekugi-ana, file marks indistinct, kiri-jiri
Habaki [collar]: single silver clad
Nagasa [length of blade]: 72.7 cm long
Koshirae [mounting]: shirasaya, 101.5 cm

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as a Tokubetsu Hozon Token (sword especially worthy of preservation) no. 149306 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword) on 6th April 2004