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A beautifully preserved signed koto wakazashi that has incredible workmanship and a beautiful gunome/midare hamon with utsuri. This blade is ubu and signed with a 2 character signature of Kiyomitsu. A spectacular collection of activity with  Sunagashi, Kinsuji, chikei and much more. Ji-nie and utsuri can be seen. An exquisite blend of most Bizen activity can be seen and appreciated within this blade in the old Bizen tradition. The condition of this koto piece is incredible as can be seen at the Hamachi in the pictures. A very robust Hamachi and Munemachi can be found.  It is in a very beautiful polish with a very nice set of original koshirae. The pictures not do justice to this sword.  The hamon is very nicely done with a thick nioi-guchi that flares up here and there..  It has many hataraki and ko-nie appear.  The hada is very well forged with a very slick looking color of swirling  itame with mokume.  The boshi is ko-maru with kaen like finish and longish for this size sword. This koto wakazashi is signed Kiyomitsu and also has an elegant shape and is very well balanced. The curvature is very noticible and text book Bizen.  The mounts are original to the blade and add to the overall value of this sword.  The fittings are sound and have a traditional Samurai appeal. They look and display very well.  Overall this is a fine Japanese Koto wakazashi.  The Fuchi is shakudo nanako with a gold boat. The Kashira is of horn. The menuki are a combination of a floral design with an implement  to be seen. The same has a very old patina and original to the sword.

The mounts are of good quality from tsuka to saya. The floral theme of the menuki beautifully finish the tsuka and saya with a gold sageo with a traditional brown samurai style wrap. The saya is an exquisite black lacquer with Origane. There is a star or stone like pattern kojiri . The floral motif of the menuki was often used as a theme for Asian art. Mythological subjects and auspicious symbols were sometimes used as motifs for Japanese sword furniture. Motifs could stand alone as designs unto themselves, particularly if they had seasonal or symbolic associations, but they were also used as decorative patterns surrounding or backing more pictorial motifs such as this. The habaki a beautiful older style rain pattern and finished in gold. The tsuba is iron and of open work or sukashi style fluted with a wheel like design.

This is a wonderful signed BIZEN sword for a collector who wishes to view and study the multitude of activity within a BIZEN blade! This is a rare original koshirae for this sword in the distinct samurai style.