Kantei

NH-0030 Rank 71

Awataguchi Ōmi no Kami Tadatsuna

Second generation Tadatsuna, the smith known as Ikkanshi, on a Kanbun-era blade with an ubu tang and a single mekugi-ana. With koshirae and shirasaya. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon.

Shintō (1596-1780)Kanbun era (1661–73)OsakaNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana by the second generation of Awataguchi Ōmi no Kami Tadatsuna, the smith known as Ikkanshi and one of the great names of Osaka. The blade belongs to the Kanbun era (1661-1673) and measures 71.0 cm nagasa with 1.3 cm sori; the motohaba is 2.97 cm. The original seller points out a useful detail of the signature: when Tadatsuna carves no horimono he signs “Ōmi no Kami Tadatsuna” rather than “Ikkanshi”, which is the case on this tang, so the blade bears no carving. The temper is a gunome-chōji with ashi reaching well into the edge. The tang is ubu and retains a single mekugi-ana. It is sold with koshirae and shirasaya, and with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers.

Strong points

  • Second generation Tadatsuna, known as Ikkanshi: one of the leading Osaka smiths
  • Ubu tang with a single mekugi-ana
  • Gunome-chōji with ashi well into the edge
  • Sold with koshirae and shirasaya
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
  • A signature without the art name Ikkanshi corresponds, according to the original seller, to blades carrying no horimono

Points to bear in mind

  • The signature carries no date
  • The mounting is neither described nor dated
  • Motohaba of 2.97 cm: a narrow blade at the base
  • The original seller does not describe the state of preservation or the age of the polish

Score breakdown

59.8/100

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 0 of 18 Modern mounting
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 8 of 8 71 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
  7. Price 4.8 of 10 Rank 73 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest