* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Bizen tradition (Soden Bizen)Kotō (Old Swords)
Osafune Nagashige
長船長重
Description
Lineage
Osafune Nagashige was a swordsmith of Osafune in Bizen Province, active from the late Kamakura to the early Nanboku-cho period, traditionally regarded as the elder brother of Nagayoshi. He is counted among the representative smiths of "Soden Bizen", the Bizen style that absorbed Soshu influence, alongside Kanemitsu.
Career
Dated works are known from Kenmu 1 (1334) to Teiwa 5 (1349). A tradition also describes him as a pupil of Masamune.
Style
The jigane is itame mixed well with mokume, covered in fine, dense ji-nie with delicate chikei and a faint midare-utsuri. The hamon shows kinsuji and sunagashi repeatedly and intensely, with a bright, clear nioiguchi. His hardening is said to be stronger than that of his younger brother Nagayoshi.