Japan. Shinto, approx. 16th cent.
A short katana, almost a wakizashi. Iorimune and shinogi tsukuri, the interesting and lively hamon is suguha, partly with midare, with ashi and nioi, mokume-hada. The tang nakago bears a kiri yasuri, has two ana and was shortened in old times, as the mei is at the very end. This reads NORI-MITSU則 光. On the other side of the tang further characters could presumably be read (the Bizen masters generally used longer signatures), which were worn over time, although it is unlikely.
The shirasaya is slightly brown and holds the inscription Bizen Osafune Norimitsu 備 前 長 船 則 光 and a measurement below.
From an Austrian-Japanese collection
NAGASA 47,7 CM, TOTAL LENGTH 61,5 CM