Kantei

NH-0022 Rank 47

Yamashiro Daijō Kunishige

山城大掾國重

Shintō katana of the Jōkyō era, broad and heavy (853 g bare blade), with an ubu tang and a single mekugi-ana, an uchigatana koshirae in black lacquer, shirasaya and tsunagi.

Shintō (1596-1780)Jōkyō era (c. 1684)Edo-MizutaNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Yamashiro Daijō Kunishige was the brother of Ōtsuki Yogorō Kunishige; he received his title in 1645 and worked in Edo and Tsuyama as well, so that together with the second Yamashiro Daijō he forms what is known as the Edo Mizuta group. The blade measures 70.04 cm nagasa with 1.3 cm sori, 33.8 mm motohaba and 8.4 mm motokasane, and weighs 853 g bare and 1,144 g mounted: a stout construction with a moderate difference between moto and saki. The hada is ko-itame with mokume, well worked and tight; the hamon is gunome-midare over a notare base with abundant ara-nie, kinsuji and yō within the temper; the bōshi is straight with nie-suji and a rounded tip. The tang is ubu according to the originating seller, with a single mekugi-ana. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate. It comes with an uchigatana koshirae whose saya is finished in black rō-nuri lacquer, a double suaka habaki plated in silver, shirasaya and tsunagi.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon, with koshirae, shirasaya and tsunagi
  • Ubu tang with a single mekugi-ana
  • Sturdy blade: 33.8 mm motohaba and 853 g bare
  • Ko-itame hada with mokume and a gunome-midare hamon over notare, with kinsuji and yō
  • Saya in good order and koiguchi clean, with no wear from use
  • Double suaka habaki plated in silver

Points to bear in mind

  • The signature carries no date
  • The fittings have no tōsōgu papers
  • The originating seller suggests replacing the present tsuba, a sign that it is not the right one for the ensemble
  • The originating seller expressly asks that the blade not be used for tameshigiri or battō: it is offered as a study and collection piece

Score breakdown

62.9/100

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).

  1. Signature and date 10 of 18 Signed, with no engraved date
  2. Tang 22 of 22 Tang intact according to the seller at origin
  3. Mounting 1 of 18 Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin
  4. Declared condition 12 of 20 With a warning from the seller at origin
  5. Blade 8 of 8 70 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
  7. Price 5.9 of 10 Rank 57 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest