An Eikyo-Bizen tachi in mounts
By Sukemitsu, (first half 15th century)
Sugata (configuration): honzukuri, iori mune, torii zori, okisaki, wide kasane
Kitae (forging pattern): itame mixed with mokume of jinie with chike and uchinoke
Hamon (tempering pattern): suguha changing to a choji midare at the koshi with nie, nioi, utsuri, ashi and tsunagashi
Boshi (tip): komaru
Nakago (tang): osuriage with three holes and later file marks signed Bishu Osafune Sukemitsu and dated Bun’an gannen nigatsu hi (a day in the second month of 1444)
Horimono (carving): Buddhist ken and bonji on the omote; hatahoko on the ura
Habaki (collar): one-piece, gold foil
Nagasa (length from tip to beginning of tang): 27 7/8in (70.8cm)
Motohaba (width at start of tempered edge): 1 1/4in (3.2cm)
Sakihaba (width before tip): 7/8in (2.2cm)
In shirasaya (wood storage scabbard)

18th-century efu dachi goshirae
comprising a gold lacquer saya decorated with the family crest of the Kano family in gold hiramakie, the tachi hardware gilt-bronze carved with scrolling vines and Kano family crests in sunken relief, deer skin hangers, the tsuka wrapped with ray skin and mounted with gilt-bronze Kano family crest menuki and rice bale kanamono, the mekugi gilt metal with a Kano family crest head

With Hozon Token (Sword worthy of preserving) certificate no. 368566 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (The Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), dated 2004.8.9.

With Tokubetsu Hozon Tosogu (Sword fitting especially worthy of preserving) certificate no. 228509 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (The Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword), dated 2008.5.2. (2).
FOOTNOTES
Provenance: Kano Hisanori, Ise

The elegant court mounting for this sword is decorated en suite with the Buddhist wheel (rinpo), the heraldic crest of the Kano, the Daimyo family of Ise province. Kano Hisanori (1751-1811) became the third Daimyo of the province in 1772.