Kantei

NH-1014 Rank 45

Suishinshi Masatsugu

Katana by Suishinshi Masatsugu dated Tenpō 13 (1842), with an ubu tang, shirasaya and a black-lacquered uchigatana koshirae; Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken paper declared by the original seller.

Shintō (1596-1780)2nd month of Tenpō 13 (1842)MusashiNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Katana by Suishinshi Masatsugu, an Edo smith of the Suishinshi school active in the Tenpō era. According to the original seller, he was the son of the second Suishinshi Masahide and son-in-law of Taikei Naotane, and worked in Shitaya Okachimachi, Edo, in the service of the Akimoto house. The blade, with a nagasa of 71.3 cm and a sori of 2.2 cm, is shinogi-zukuri with an iori-mune. The original seller describes an itame jihada mixed with masame and dense ji-nie, and a notare hamon mixed with gunome, rich in nie, with ashi and kinsuji, in the manner of the old Bizen Kanemitsu. The tang is ubu, with a single mekugi-ana and slanting file marks; the omote bears the signature 水心子正次 (Suishinshi Masatsugu) with a kaō, and the ura the date 天保十三年二月 (Tenpō jūsan-nen nigatsu), corresponding to 1842. It comes in shirasaya and with an uchigatana koshirae: a black roiro lacquered saya, a tsuka wrapped in black ito over white same, an openwork iron tsuba with ginkgo leaves and gold touches, and a fuchi with gilt chrysanthemums. The original seller declares an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken paper, which does not appear in the photographs.

Strong points

  • Signature 水心子正次 (Suishinshi Masatsugu) with kaō and an inscribed date of 1842
  • Ubu tang with a single mekugi-ana, according to the photographs and the original seller
  • Notare and gunome hamon with nie, ashi and kinsuji, according to the original seller
  • Kept in shirasaya and accompanied by an uchigatana koshirae with a black roiro saya
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken paper declared by the original seller

Points to bear in mind

  • The Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken paper does not appear in the photographs; it rests solely on the original seller's statement.
  • The koshirae is undated, and the ito looks tight and clean, probably rewrapped.
  • The original seller does not describe the condition of the blade.

Score breakdown

67.6/100

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 22 of 22 Tang intact according to the seller at origin
  3. Mounting 0 of 18 Mounting described piece by piece by the seller at origin · restored: rewrapped ito
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 8 of 8 71.3 cm: within the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 4 of 4 With a storage shirasaya
  7. Price 4.6 of 10 Rank 87 of 161 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest