Mei: Bishu Osafune Norimitsu
Nagasa (Length): 19 3/4"
Construction: Shinogi-zukuri
Mune: Iori-Mune
Nakago: Ubu
Yasurime: Kiri
Horimono: Bo-hi
Kitae: Mokume
Hamon: Midare
Boshi: Ko maru
Norimitsu was from from Osafune. The Nirimitsu line worked from
about 1300 to1600. The first generation Bizen Norimitsu was a student of
Nagamitsu. He worked from around Kagen period to Genkô. At the end of the
Kamakura piriod and thru the Nambokuchô period the quality of Japanese sword
suffered. But , Bizen Norimitsu blades were among the best made.
Norimitsu mad many special order swords. Norimitsu produced a very
beautiful utsuri. The second Bizen Norimitsu was called Gorozaemon. He
was probably the best of the Bizen Norimitsu. There appears to be no direct
relation to the first. He was a student of Sanenori, and worked in the Ôei
period. The Norimitsu line continued thru the Muromachi period and were well
known smiths.