Kantei

NH-0045 Rank 128

Minamoto Masayoshi

Katana signed by Minamoto Masayoshi, active in Edo around the Kyōwa era, 69.5 cm long, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon and a brass koshirae described piece by piece.

Shinshintō (1781-1876)Kyōwa era (1801–04)EdoNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

A blade signed by Minamoto Masayoshi, whose civil name was Hosokawa Masayoshi, active in Edo around the Kyōwa era (1801-1804). It measures 69.5 cm nagasa with 1.5 cm sori, a comfortable working length. The signature carries no date and the tang has two mekugi-ana; the originating seller does not say whether it retains its original length. The blade holds an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate. The mounting, by contrast, is described piece by piece: a mokkō brass tsuba carved with paulownia and floral motifs, fuchi-kashira also in brass with running water and lotus flowers, and a saya lacquered in vermilion, an uncommon colour for the ensemble. No shirasaya is included. The originating seller says nothing about the condition of the blade or its polish, points worth raising before deciding.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
  • Koshirae described piece by piece: mokkō brass tsuba with paulownia, fuchi-kashira with running water and lotus flowers
  • Saya lacquered in vermilion, an uncommon colour for a katana mounting
  • 69.5 cm nagasa, a practical length
  • Signed blade, the signature legible on the tang

Points to bear in mind

  • The tang has two mekugi-ana
  • The signature carries no date
  • No shirasaya included
  • The originating seller states nothing about the polish: worth asking before deciding

Score breakdown

45/100

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 6 of 22 Shortened tang (suriage)
  3. Mounting 0 of 18 Modern mounting
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 8 of 8 69.5 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 0 of 4 No shirasaya: one will have to be made
  7. Price 10 of 10 Rank 1 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest