Kantei

NH-0410 Rank 101

Kōzuke Daijō Sukesada

Katana signed by Kōzuke Daijō Fujiwara Sukesada of the Osafune school (Bizen), dated the 8th month of Hōei 6 (1709). Nagasa 66.6 cm, untouched tang with a single mekugi-ana and a photographed NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken.

Shintō (1596-1780)8th month of Hōei 6 (1709)BizenNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana of the Osafune school, Bizen province, signed Bizen no Kuni Osafune jū Kōzuke Daijō Fujiwara Sukesada saku and dated the eighth month of Hōei 6 (1709), well into the shintō period. According to the original seller, the smith was a son of Shichibei-no-jō Sukesada, received the Kōzuke Daijō title in Kanbun 4 and led the Sukesada workshop through its busiest years. The blade measures 66.6 cm nagasa with 1.8 cm sori, 2.88 cm motohaba and 1.85 cm sakihaba; the photographs show it polished, with a medium kissaki and a clearly readable hamon, although the original seller says nothing about its condition. The nakago appears untouched, with a single mekugi-ana and the long signature accompanied by the date on the reverse. It is mounted in a koshirae with black lacquered saya, purple ito over same and an iron tsuba, with bird-and-peony fittings highlighted in gold. An NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate is photographed with the piece.

Strong points

  • Long smith signature with a full date: eighth month of Hōei 6 (1709).
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate photographed with the piece.
  • Tang untouched in the photographs, with a single mekugi-ana.
  • Representative work of Bizen shintō, from the Osafune Sukesada school.
  • Complete koshirae, with an iron tsuba and bird-and-peony fittings in gold.

Points to bear in mind

  • The original seller does not describe the condition of the blade.
  • The mounting is documented only by the photographs: the original seller neither dates nor describes it.
  • The hilt wrap, the sageo and the scabbard lacquer appear to have been redone.

Score breakdown

54.6/100

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 -6 of 18 Mounting documented only in the photographs · restored: relacquered or new saya, rewrapped ito and new sageo
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 4 of 8 66.6 cm: outside the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 0 of 4 No shirasaya: one will have to be made
  7. Price 7.6 of 10 Rank 34 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest