Kantei

NH-1011 Rank 104

Sadamori

Katana signed 定盛 (Sadamori), of the Taira Takada school of Bungo, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper, a complete koshirae and a shirasaya.

Kotō (up to 1596)Tenbun era (1532–1555)BungoNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana signed 定盛 (Sadamori), a smith of the Taira Takada school, active in Bungo province on Kyūshū. The original seller places it in the late Muromachi period, in the Tenbun era (1532–1555). The blade, in shinogi-zukuri construction, has a nagasa of 68.2 cm and a sori of 2.1 cm. The photographs show a very lively midare hamon with abundant chōji formations, which the seller describes as jūka-chōji midare over an itame jihada with midare-utsuri. The tang, declared ubu by the seller, appears in the overall view with a single mekugi-ana and the signature on the omote. It comes with a complete koshirae: tsuka wrapped in garnet ito over same, shishi menuki, iron fuchi-kashira with gold karakusa, a four-lobed openwork iron tsuba and a black lacquered saya with a blue-green sageo. A shirasaya with its tsunagi is also included. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper (no. 1023860, December 2024), visible in the photographs, certifies the blade as a signed work by Sadamori of the 平高田 (Taira Takada) branch.

Strong points

  • NBTHK 特別保存刀剣 (tokubetsu hozon tōken) paper, no. 1023860, photographed.
  • Blade signed 定盛 (Sadamori), of the Taira Takada school of Bungo.
  • Ubu tang according to the original seller, with a single mekugi-ana.
  • Very active midare hamon with abundant chōji.
  • Complete koshirae with gold-decorated iron fuchi-kashira, plus a shirasaya.

Points to bear in mind

  • The original seller describes the mounting but does not date it.
  • The original listing does not state the condition of the blade.
  • The tang appears only in the overall view and in the paper's drawing, with no close-up of the file marks or the signature.
  • The photographs show fine scuffs on the saya lacquer and some worn ito threads next to the menuki.

Score breakdown

57/100

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 22 of 22 Tang intact according to the seller at origin
  3. Mounting 1 of 18 Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 6 of 8 68.2 cm: close to the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
  7. Price 3 of 10 Rank 113 of 161 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest