Kantei

NH-0052 Rank 62

Chōunsai Tsunatoshi

Shinshintō blade from Edo, signed and dated 1846 by one of the leading names of the period, mounted in a koshirae with an unusually shaped iron tsuba. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon.

Shinshintō (1781-1876)1846EdoNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana by Chōunsai Tsunatoshi, one of the leading names of the shinshintō period, active in Edo. The blade is signed and dated 1846, so it carries the date cut by the smith himself. It measures 71.2 cm nagasa with 2 cm sori, a pronounced curvature for a blade of its period. It is sold mounted in a koshirae with an unusually shaped iron tsuba with a raised rim, fuchi-kashira bearing phoenixes, flower-cart menuki and a black-lacquered saya. The original listing includes a complete oshigata of the blade, useful for reading the tang and the temper before seeing it in person. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers are included.

Strong points

  • Signed and dated 1846
  • Chōunsai Tsunatoshi, among the leading names of the shinshintō period
  • Koshirae with an unusually shaped iron tsuba with raised rim, phoenix fuchi-kashira, flower-cart menuki and black-lacquered saya
  • Complete oshigata of the blade included
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Points to bear in mind

  • Neither the number of mekugi-ana nor the condition of the tang is stated
  • The mounting is not dated
  • No shirasaya is included
  • The original seller does not describe the state of preservation or the age of the polish

Score breakdown

61.6/100

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 18 of 18 Signed and with an engraved date
  2. Tang 20 of 22 Tang intact according to the photographs
  3. Mounting 0 of 18 Modern mounting
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 8 of 8 71.2 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 0 of 4 No shirasaya: one will have to be made
  7. Price 4.6 of 10 Rank 75 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest