This is an outstanding work by the Gendai Smith Oki Okimitsu. Okimitsu is rated at 1 million yen and jo-jo saku. The word “oki” can be read as “Sanuki” as this was the earlier pronunciation seen in older books in English such as Hawleys. As you can below in Sesko’s write-up it is correctly pronounced Oki which relates to the Oki district of Shimane prefecture.

As per the information on Okimitsu below, this is clearly the shodai’s work. This sword was made and dated 1942. The nidai did not take over as the head of the school until 1952, ten years after this sword was made.

The sword has a nagasa of over 27”, it is in excellent, flawless condition and polish and is an absolute pleasure to view with so much activity present. As mentioned above the complex gunome hamon transition to a ko-notare in the habuchi. See the last activity photo to see and understand this transition.

It comes with shirasaya and NBTHK Hozon papers.

Courtesy of Seskos, Swordsmiths A-Z:

OKIMITSU (沖光), 1st gen., Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Shimane – “Okimitsu” (沖光), real name Hara Kakutarō (原角太郎), student of Murakami Masatada (村上正忠), it is said that the part “Oki” in his name Okimitsu, a name that was given to him by his master Masatada, alludes to his place of residence which was in Nishinoshima (西ノ島) in the Oki district (隠岐) of Shimane Prefecture, he worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō, kihin no retsu (Akihide), Second Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941).

OKIMITSU (沖光), 2nd gen., Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Shimane – “Oki no Kuni-jūnin Okimitsu kore o saku” (隠岐国住人沖光作之), “Oki no Kuni-jū Okimitsu saku” (隠岐国 住沖光作), real name Hara Hiroshi (原寛), born September 19th 1928, son of Hara Kakutarō (原角太郎), he succeeded as second generation of that name in 1952 but it is unknown if his father died in that year or just handed him over the forge, maybe the former approach is more likely as Kakutarō was only 24 years old at that time.

$5500 plus S/H and any additional associated fees (pp, wire, etc.)