Kantei

NH-0432 Rank 108

Sadonokami Kunitomi Motoyoshi

Shintō katana from Nagato province signed Sadonokami Kunitomi Motoyoshi (around the Kan'ei era), with an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate and a complete koshirae shown in the photographs.

Shintō (1596-1780)Kan'ei era (1624–1644)NagatoNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana signed Sadonokami Kunitomi Motoyoshi (佐渡守國冨元喜作), a smith of Nagato province whom the original seller places around the Kan'ei era (c. 1624) as a swordsmith retained by the Chōshū domain; according to the same listing, he first signed as Kunitomi and later adopted the title Sado no Kami. Shintō blade with a nagasa of 66.6 cm and a sori of 0.9 cm, in shinogi-zukuri with a bōhi on both sides; the photographs show a restrained hamon and a medium-sized kissaki. The nakago appears unaltered, with a single mekugi-ana, yasurime and tip preserved, and the signature clearly legible on the omote. It comes with a complete koshirae: iron tsuba with a lozenge motif, tsuka with brown ito over same, metal fuchi-kashira and menuki, black-lacquered saya with a clouded decoration, metal kurikata and kojiri, and sageo; the original seller neither describes nor dates it. The blade holds an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate, legible in the photographs.

Strong points

  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate, legible in the photograph of the origami
  • Clear signature 佐渡守國冨元喜作 on the nakago; smith retained by the Chōshū domain according to the original seller
  • Nakago that appears unaltered, with a single mekugi-ana
  • Complete koshirae (tsuba, tsuka, lacquered saya and sageo), photographed in detail
  • Bōhi on both sides of the blade

Points to bear in mind

  • The original seller makes no statement about the condition of the blade
  • Mounting neither dated nor described by the original seller; it is documented only by the photographs
  • No engraved date: approximate dating by era, according to the original seller and the certificate

Score breakdown

52.5/100

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 20 of 22 Tang intact according to the photographs
  3. Mounting -2 of 18 Mounting documented only in the photographs
  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 9.5 of 10 Rank 8 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest