Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK 54th Juyo Paper)

Signature : mumei (unsigned) (attributed as Aoe.)

The blade was polished.
Blade length : 62.3 cm or 24.52 inches.
Sori : 1.0 cm or 0.39 inches.
Mekugi : 1
Width at the hamachi : 2.83 cm or 1.11 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 1.99 cm or 0.78 inches.
Kasane : 0.68 cm or 0.26 inches.
Era : Late Kamakura to Nanbokucho period.
Shape : The blade is oosuriage mumei(cut syourtened) with longer kissaki.
Jitetsu : koitame hada and komokume hada mixed with jinie attach and chirimenhada (crepe) jigane.Utsuri appear on the Ji.
Hamon : Konie deki suguha with many ashi scatter in Ha and Yo work.

Special feature : Aoe school started from Heian period to Nanbokucho period at Bicchu province which produced nice iron bot Bizen and Bicchu neighbor country. Generally Aoe not Koaoe school means from late Kamakura period to Nanbokucho period.
Bizen school is well known Choji midare Ichimonji style, but Aoe school is gentle feeling like Suguha hamon mainly. Expert sword collectors like elegant Aoe school.
This sword is fantastic Jigane with Utsuri and clear and bright hamon. According to the Juyo Token paper, the blade is typical Nanbokucho Aoe school and Jigane and also Hamon are healthy and good condition.

NBTHK 54th Juyo Paper.
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.