Kantei

NH-0443 Rank 105

Magoroku Kanemoto

Kotō Mino katana signed Kanemoto, attributed by the NBTHK to Magoroku Kanemoto (second generation), with Tokubetsu Hozon, full koshirae and shirasaya.

Kotō (up to 1596)Taiei era (1521–1528)MinoNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Mino-school katana signed "Kanemoto" (兼元) on the tang. According to the original seller, the NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon certificate attributes it to Magoroku Kanemoto, the celebrated second generation of the line, active in the late Muromachi period and credited with the sanbonsugi hamon. The blade measures 69.2 cm nagasa with 2.0 cm sori; the photographs show a pointed gunome hamon in nioi and an intact boshi. The tang has two mekugi-ana, visible file marks near the machi and an original end, with no sign of shortening. The photographed origami, no. 153476 and dated August 2008, reads 特別保存刀剣 in the name of Kanemoto (Magoroku). The piece comes with a shirasaya and a complete koshirae: a saya lacquered in reddish brown with ishime texture, a tsuka with green ito over same, heron menuki, fuchi-kashira with a figurative scene on nanako with gold details, and an openwork iron tsuba with pine, birds and a monkey. The original seller describes the fittings but does not date them, and notes a couple of kitae-kizu on the blade.

Strong points

  • Kanemoto signature attributed by the NBTHK to Magoroku Kanemoto (second generation)
  • Tokubetsu Hozon certificate no. 153476, legible in the photographs
  • Tang with original end and two mekugi-ana
  • Complete koshirae with openwork iron tsuba and figurative fuchi-kashira
  • Shirasaya included

Points to bear in mind

  • The original seller notes a couple of kitae-kizu on the blade
  • Mounting described but not dated by the original seller
  • The tsuka wrap looks clean and tight, possibly redone

Score breakdown

53.4/100

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 10 of 18 Signed, with no engraved date
  2. Tang 18 of 22 Tang intact according to the photographs, with 2 mekugi-ana
  3. Mounting 0 of 18 Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin · restored: rewrapped ito
  4. Declared condition 13 of 20 Minor flaws declared
  5. Blade 8 of 8 69.2 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
  7. Price 0.4 of 10 Rank 133 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest