Kantei

NH-0396 Rank 38

Kiyoshige

Katana signed by Sekishū Masuda-jū Kiyoshige and dated Kyōwa 2 (1802), with an ubu nakago, NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate and a black-lacquered koshirae with crest-bearing fittings.

Shintō (1596-1780)8th month of Kyōwa 2 (1802)ShimaneNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana signed by Sekishū Masuda-jū Kiyoshige (石州益田住清繁), a smith from Iwami province (Sekishū, today Shimane), and dated the 8th month of Kyōwa 2 (1802), in the shinshintō period. According to the original seller, Kiyoshige, born Yoshii Hachizaemon, first signed Kiyoshige (清重) and, after moving to Edo in 1795 and studying under Tegarayama Masashige, changed his signature to 清繁. The blade has a nagasa of 70.4 cm and a sori of 1.0 cm; the photographs show an undulating gunome hamon in dense nioi and an intact bōshi. The nakago is ubu, with a single mekugi-ana, the signature on the omote and the date on the ura, and keeps its patina. It comes with a shirasaya and a koshirae with a black-lacquered saya, an iron tsuba with pierced chrysanthemums, a fuchi-kashira bearing the Goka ni Karabana crest and dragon menuki with gold inlay, which the original seller describes without dating. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate issued on 23 August 2024 (no. 1023282), visible in the photographs. The original seller notes a few light black rust spots on the blade.

Strong points

  • Signed and dated: Sekishū Masuda-jū Kiyoshige saku, 8th month of Kyōwa 2 (1802)
  • Ubu nakago with a single mekugi-ana; signature and date fully preserved
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate (2024), photographed
  • Complete koshirae: iron tsuba with chrysanthemums, crest-bearing fuchi-kashira, gold-inlaid dragon menuki
  • Pupil of Tegarayama Masashige, according to the original seller

Points to bear in mind

  • The original seller notes a few light black rust spots on the blade, visible in the photographs
  • The mounting is described but not dated; the saya lacquer looks flawless in the photographs and may have been refinished
  • The original listing describes the mounting but does not expressly name it among the items included; worth confirming

Score breakdown

65.4/100

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 20 of 22 Tang intact according to the photographs
  3. Mounting 1 of 18 Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin · with a family crest (mon) · restored: relacquered or new saya
  4. Declared condition 13 of 20 Minor flaws declared
  5. Blade 8 of 8 70.4 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 0 of 4 No shirasaya: one will have to be made
  7. Price 5.4 of 10 Rank 64 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest