Katana: Kato Chounsai Tsunatoshi The first generation
2017/01/04
Katana in Shirasaya, with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper)
Signature : Kato Chounsai Tsunatoshi Zo (The first generation)
Tenpo 6 Nen 2 Gatsuhi(February 1835)
Shinshinto : Josaku ranking : Musashi province.
The blade is polished
Habaki :Gold single foiled Habaki
Blade length : 75.75 cm or 29.82 inches.
Sori : 2.12 cm or 0.83 inches.
Mekugi : 1
Width at the hamachi : 3.38 cm or 1.33 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 2.21 cm or 0.87 inches.
Kasane : 0.87 cm or 0.34 inches.
Era :Late Edo Era
Shape : Wide and thick blade with deep curve nice looking shape.
Jitetsu : Itame hada well grained with Jinie attach. Delicate Chikei can be seen.
Hamon : Chouji with Gunome-medare mixed Hamon with Nie. Active Sunagashi, Kinsuji can be seen.
Special feature : Katou Chounsai Tsunatoshi is the third son of Katou Izuminokami Kunihide
He worked as a smith in Uesugi family, owner of Dewa Yonezawa domain. Katou Tsunayoshi and Katou Tsunahide are his real brother. Both studied douranba Hamon and Bizenden by Suishinshi Masahide
in Edo.
Tsunahide left many numbers of Douranba pieces.
Some of his good pieces are Bizenden with Gunome Midare.
Many students studied from him like Koyama Munetsugu, Takahashi Naganobu and Seryuken Moritoshi and so on.
Especially he liked Seryuken Moritoshi personally.
His second generation Tsunatoshi went Suo province to study from Seryuken Moritoshi .
Both Tsunatoshi and Koyama munetsugu's Hamon are very similar.
Some differences are mentioned as following. Koyama Munetsugu's Boshi is Midarekomi style, on the other hand Tsunatoshi's Gunome Midare has clover style and round shaped Boshi Hamon.
This blade forged by Tsunatoshi is Midarekomi Boshi which is rare Hamon.
The sword is wide and thick and long sword with healthy and good work.
Koshirae : Koshirae crafted at later Edo period.
Tsuba : Elipse shape iron Tsuba with Kaou signed.
Fuchikashira : Family crest delicately engraved in iron Tsuba.
Saya : Black Roiro Saya
Menuki : Samurais on boat engeaved on Shakudo plate.
Historical background : At Tenpo era, many famous swordsmiths competed their skills with one anothers. The swords forged at Tenpo period are valued as most fine quality pieces.
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.
Price : JPY ¥1,450,000-.
