NH-0004 Rank 6
Hōki no Kami Jūdai-mago Fujiwara Nobutaka
伯耆守十代孫藤原信高
Shinshintō blade from Owari, signed and dated in the second month of Meiji 2 (1869), with a broad ō-kissaki, an ubu tang and a black ishime-lacquered koshirae. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon.
Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi
Photographs
Photographs by the seller at origin.
Description
Katana of the Owari tradition (present-day Aichi), signed “Hōki no Kami jūdai-mago Fujiwara Nobutaka”, that is, tenth-generation descendant of Hōki no Kami Nobutaka. The tang also carries the date of the second month of Meiji 2 (1869), so the blade is both signed and dated by its maker. It measures 70.5 cm of nagasa with 1.2 cm of sori and ends in a broad ō-kissaki; the motohaba is 3.22 cm and the blade loses little width towards the point, which makes for a substantial piece in hand. The original seller describes the tang as ubu with a single mekugi-ana, and the blade as polished a few years ago, free of hagire and pitting. It comes mounted in an uchigatana koshirae with a black ishime-lacquered saya that the original seller regards as contemporary with the blade; the same and the tsuka-ito of the hilt were redone last year in the same tone. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers are included. No shirasaya is offered.
Strong points
- Signed and dated in the second month of Meiji 2 (1869)
- Ubu tang with a single mekugi-ana, according to the original seller
- Broad ō-kissaki on a 70.5 cm nagasa
- Uchigatana koshirae with black ishime-lacquered saya, stated to be contemporary with the blade
- Polished a few years ago, free of hagire and pitting, according to the original seller
- NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers
Points to bear in mind
- The fittings are unsigned and unpapered: the dating of the mounting rests on the original seller's word
- The same and tsuka-ito of the hilt are a recent restoration, not the original wrap
- The blade keeps considerable body towards the point and feels heavy in hand
- A late work, forged already in the Meiji era, and without a shirasaya for storage
Score breakdown
75/100
The score shares out 100 points: Signature and date 18 · Tang 22 · Mounting 18 · Declared condition 20 · Blade 8 · Shirasaya 4 · Price 10. It is computed from the record, not from an opinion. The mounting starts from what is known of its period, adds what vouches for it (its own NBTHK paper, a signed fitting, a crest) and subtracts what has been restored (saya, ito, same, habaki or sageo).
- Signature and date 18 of 18 Signed and with an engraved date
- Tang 22 of 22 Tang intact according to the seller at origin
- Mounting 1 of 18 Period mounting · restored: rewrapped ito, washed same and new sageo
- Declared condition 17 of 20 Sound condition according to the seller at origin
- Blade 8 of 8 70.5 cm: within the usable range
- Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
- Price 5 of 10 Rank 70 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest