Kantei

NH-0080 Rank 138

Tsunahiro

Katana signed by the first Tsunahiro of Sagami, late Muromachi period, with horimono on both sides, Tokubetsu Hozon paper and a black-lacquered uchigatana koshirae.

Kotō (up to 1596)Tenbun era (1532–1555)SagamiNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana signed 'Sōshū jū Tsunahiro', attributed by the original seller to the first-generation Tsunahiro, a Kamakura smith active in the Tenbun era (1532–1555) in the service of the Hōjō of Odawara and rated Yoki Wazamono. The blade measures 75.23 cm nagasa with 2.27 cm sori; according to the seller it originally exceeded 78 cm and was shortened (suriage), keeping the signature on the lower part of the nakago, which shows two mekugi-ana. It carries horimono on both sides: bō-hi with bonji and sanko-tsuka-ken on the omote, bō-hi with bonji and gomabashi on the ura. The seller describes an itame jihada with mokume and nagare, thick chikei and nie-utsuri, and a suguha hamon with ko-gunome, kinsen, sunagashi and yubashiri; the photographs show a well-polished blade with crisp carvings. With a gold-foiled double habaki and NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper. The uchigatana koshirae with black roiro-lacquered saya, which the seller places as a modern-era work by a connoisseur in the Tenshō style, mounts a black-same tsuka wrapped in smoked leather, brass menuki with a catfish motif, an iron tsuba without hitsu-ana and a horn kashira.

Strong points

  • Signature 'Sōshū jū Tsunahiro', attributed to the founder of the line, smith to the Hōjō of Odawara
  • Horimono on both sides: bō-hi, bonji, sanko-tsuka-ken and gomabashi
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken paper declared by the original seller
  • Complete uchigatana koshirae in black roiro lacquer, in the taste of Tenshō mountings
  • Late-Muromachi Sagami blade with deep sori and wide mihaba

Points to bear in mind

  • Shortened blade (suriage) with two mekugi-ana; according to the seller the original length exceeded 78 cm
  • The mounting is, according to the original seller, a modern-era work by a connoisseur, not contemporary with the blade
  • The NBTHK paper does not appear in the photographs
  • The seller makes no statement about the blade's condition

Score breakdown

36.8/100

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 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 75.2 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 0 of 4 No shirasaya: one will have to be made
  7. Price 1.8 of 10 Rank 114 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest