This katana is signed “Bishū Osafune Norimitsu” and dated August, Bunmei 12 (1480). Measuring 65.7 cm with a graceful 2.4 cm sori, it displays an elegant Muromachi silhouette with a gradual taper toward the point. The blade features a gentle notare hamon in nioi and has been carefully polished over the centuries, giving it a slightly slender profile while preserving its classical character and over 500 years of history.
Norimitsu was one of the prominent swordsmiths of the renowned Osafune School in Bizen Province, a tradition celebrated for producing some of Japan’s finest blades during the Muromachi period. Signed and dated works from the Bunmei era are highly regarded for their historical significance and refined craftsmanship.
The sword is mounted in Type 98 guntō koshirae with a leather-covered scabbard, typical of field-service mounts. The remounting of traditionally forged blades into military fittings was common during the wartime period, reflecting continued functional use.