Kantei

NH-0392 Rank 15

Miyoshi Izu no Kami Minamoto Naokuni

三好伊豆守源直國

Katana signed and dated 1798 by Miyoshi Izu no Kami Minamoto Naokuni, of the Ōsaka-shintō lineage. Ubu nakago, black-lacquered koshirae with an iron tsuba and a photographed Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken origami.

Shinshintō (1781-1876)8th month of Kansei 10 (1798)Linaje Ōsaka-shintōNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana signed by Miyoshi Izu no Kami Minamoto Naokuni and dated the eighth month of Kansei 10 (1798). According to the original seller, Naokuni trained under Sukenao and therefore belongs to the Ōsaka-shintō lineage of Sukehiro, whose second-generation pupil he was. The blade, 67.8 cm nagasa and 1.78 cm sori, is shinogi-zukuri with iori-mune, little difference between moto and saki and an extended chū-kissaki; the jigane is ko-itame with mokume and flowing masame, and the hamon a notare with gunome in ko-nie showing ashi, kinsuji and sunagashi, tightening and turning pointed towards the tip. The photographs confirm an ubu nakago with a single mekugi-ana, the signature on the omote and the date on the ura. It comes with an uchigatana koshirae: black-lacquered saya, hilt wrapped in black ito over same, iron tsuba carved with Niō figures and shibuichi koiguchi, kurikata and kojiri, together with a shirasaya and tsunagi, a gilt double habaki and an older copper habaki. The photographed NBTHK origami classifies it as Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken.

Strong points

  • Signature and full date on an ubu nakago with a single mekugi-ana, both legible in the photographs
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken origami photographed with the piece
  • Complete uchigatana koshirae, with black-lacquered saya and an iron tsuba carved with Niō figures
  • Gilt double habaki, an older copper habaki and a shirasaya with tsunagi
  • Ko-itame jigane and notare-gunome hamon in ko-nie with ashi, kinsuji and sunagashi, as described by the original seller

Points to bear in mind

  • The original seller declares an impact mark (ate-kizu) on the fukura of the kissaki; the photographs ring it in red.
  • The certificate covers the blade only: the mounting has no tōsōgu paper and no legible signature on its fittings.
  • The lacquer of the saya shows handling scratches and a small loss next to the kojiri, visible in the photographs.

Score breakdown

71.4/100

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 22 of 22 Tang intact according to the seller at origin
  3. Mounting 4 of 18 Period mounting
  4. Declared condition 8 of 20 Localised flaw declared
  5. Blade 6 of 8 67.8 cm: close to the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
  7. Price 9.4 of 10 Rank 9 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest