Kantei
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Photographs by the seller at origin.

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

The piece

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.

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

121.2 pointscurrent max. 255

  1. Certificate +50

    NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper +50

  2. Tang +25

    Tang intact according to the seller at origin +25

  3. Declared condition −20

    The original seller says nothing about the condition −20

  4. Signature and date +15

    Signed, with no engraved date +15

  5. Mounting +15

    Modern or replacement mounting +15

  6. Blade +10

    71 cm: within the usable range +10

  7. Shirasaya +5

    With a storage shirasaya +5

  8. Price +21.2

    Price: the more affordable, the more points +21.2

The score adds and subtracts points for each feature of the piece and has no ceiling: the highest in the catalogue today is 255. 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).

Nagasa
71 cm
Sori
1.3 cm
Tang
Intact (ubu)
Certificate
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
Mounting
Modern mounting
Storage shirasaya
Yes
Period
Shintō (1596-1780)
Dating
Kanbun era (1661–73)
Province
Osaka
Mekugi-ana
1
Condition
Condition not declared
Signed
Yes
With an engraved date
No

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