SWORD, JAPANESE, DAITO, HANDACHI,

W1970.923a-b

Signed. Black Over Red Mottled Lacquer Scabbard
Blade Type: DAITO
Mei: BIZEN KUNI JU OSAFUNE HA-RUMITSU SAKU/EIROKU JU NEN HACHI GATSU HI
Nagasa: 69.3 cm
Sori: 1.3 cm, koshi
Sugata: shinogi tsukuri, iori mune
Nakago: 17.5 cm, two mekugi ana, suriage chu
Kissaki: chu
Hada: Unclear due to abrasion, some masane
Hamon: midare of gonome, pointed gonome
Horimono: Omote: Koshi bo-hi ni tsure hi, kakudome, Bonji. Ura: Gomabashi and rendai.
Date: August 1567

The name Harumitsu was used by many sword-smiths from Osafune, in Bizen Province. This katana blade is representative of the Sengoku Jidai period. The blade has been shortened by approximately 5 cm and the engraving appears to have been added at the time of this modification. The signature reads: ‘Harumitsu, resident of Osafune village of Bizen Province, made (this)’.

Koshirae
Type: HANDACHI
Saya: black over red mottled lacquer over wood. Gilt copper kuchi gane and ishi dzuki, nanako background with chrysanthemum design
Tsuka: white same bound with dark green silk
Fuchi/kabuto gane: gilt copper chrysanthemums on nanako background
Tsuka ai : gilt drsagons
Tsuba: patinated copper, of moko shape. Edge nanako background with wisteria overlay, centre ishime background with assorted flower overlay, all highlighted with gold; the reverse is equally ornate. Mino Goto style. Dimensions: 7.5 x 8.2 x 0.5 cm.

Overall length: 98.0 cm

Date: 18th-19th century

Ref; TROTTER George, Japanese Swords and Fittings in the Western Australian Museum, Western Australian Museum, Perth 1989, No2. ,
page 10

Department:

History Department

Collection

History Collection

Collection Item Data

Accession Number:	W1970.923a-b
Accession Date:	18 Apr 1967

Material

Lacquer/Wood	b - scabbard

Skin	a - sword

Copper/Metal	a - sword

Copper/Metal	a - sword

Gold/Metal	a - sword

Copper/Metal	b - scabbard

Gilt	a - sword

Measurement

length	980mm

length	693mm	nagasa

length	175mm	nakago [ tang that fits into the hilt]

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Western Australian Museum Collections https://museum.wa.gov.au/online-collections/content/W1970.923a-b
Accessed 9 Aug 2024

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