Tsunatoshi blade

[JonP]

I have a very time worn blade signed Tsunatoshi. Two characters only, as seen in pics. Unlike my other Nihonto this one is in very poor condition and I'm concerned its historical value, if any, will be lost when I'm not here to value it.
If anyone out there has an opinion on its merits I'd welcome them, I'm not concerned with its monetary value just it's historical if it indeed was made by Tsunatoshi Kato. My other blades are in much better condition and I think will be treasured by those I leave them to but I'm worried this one might be further abused by unappreciative owners like the ones I bought it off 30yrs ago. $50 blade only and I made a poor attempt at a Shira Saya.

Look forward to hearing from you all.

Jon

[Nihonto student]

Dear Jon,

 

can you please describe the measurements of the blade? Than a picture of the complete nakago and more detailed pictures of the hada and hamon would help.

Tsunatoshi worked mainly in Bizen Den so you should find similarities in style to give author/work coherence before moving on to the signature.
Regarding the signature, nijimei seems quite strange to me, curious to see if other members can bring similar examples.

 

Regards,

Giordy

[JonP]

7 hours ago, Nihonto student said:

Dear Jon,

 

can you please describe the measurements of the blade? Than a picture of the complete nakago and more detailed pictures of the hada and hamon would help.

Tsunatoshi worked mainly in Bizen Den so you should find similarities in style to give author/work coherence before moving on to the signature.
Regarding the signature, nijimei seems quite strange to me, curious to see if other members can bring similar examples.

 

Regards,

Giordy

Hi Giordy, the nagasa length is 700mm. Here are some more pics but the Harmon is hard to see better than the original images. This is a very mistreated blade sadly.

[JonP]

If anyone would like to take conservatorship on this blade and restore it, please get in touch. I’d prefer to trade or part exchange on a tamahagane tanto, wakizashi or katana that looks in better condition in the hope it will be more likely to be treasured by my grandchild I leave it to. 

[Stefan]

Nice China-To

 

[Stephen]

Stefan may I ask why that call?

1 hour ago, Stefan said:

Nice China-To

 

 

[Mark]

i would not say Chinese.  Is it dated?  I have had.handled Tsunatoshi blades. Usually there have longer mei and are dated. 2 kanji could be possible. Looking at the nakago it does not look like Tsunatoshi's  without seeing or knowing more i would have said later copy, maybe early Showa

[Ooitame]

What is on the end of the nakago? Looks like some weird orikaeshi...

[Stephen]

Yea probably took it the wrong way.

@vajo usually does the best photoshop

[Stefan]

Ok.   The  hole  is  modern,  the  "yasurime" in this  case  an type  of  sensuki  is wrong and  sluggish, the  kanji  is more than poorly  written.  All  this  is  not typical for  an real  nihonto. If  one  takes  an look  on the blade : Oh no,looks  not  good. This  blade  does  not  have  anything one  would  expect  in an Kato school  sword. Could  it  be  an  later copy, well even  in showato such  sluggish  nakago  finish is rarely   seen. 

 

[Brian]

Bothered by the lack of yasurime.

[Stephen]

 

@Bruce Pennington

What are these.

 

Bad stamp? 6 dimples?

[vajo]

Hard to say from that pictures. But what i see looks like late shin shinto Tsunatoshi. 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

11 hours ago, Stephen said:

 

@Bruce Pennington

What are these.

 

Bad stamp? 6 dimples?

 

If I thought I was looking at a WWII blade, I'd consider the possibility it is a really poorly struck Showa stamp.  Better pics, or even a powder dusting might help.

But I don't see any Tsunatoshi, in any of the sources I have access to, in WWII.  So, considering the damage at the nakago jiri, my thinking is the marks at the top were done at the same time as the stuff at the bottom. 

[JonP]

On 1/4/2024 at 12:27 PM, Ooitame said:

What is on the end of the nakago? Looks like some weird orikaeshi...

A piece of masking tape so it fitted better in the crap wooden handle I made decades ago 😂

[JonP]

The blade was in a poor state from misuse when I got it in the 80’s. Blade only and the owner had cleaned the tang and lost its patina sadly. It is old and worn. 

[JonP]

[JonP]

[JonP]

[Stephen]

17 minutes ago, JonP said:

I see now was a stamp that someone dipped to remove 

[Stephen]

7 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

If I thought I was looking at a WWII blade, I'd consider the possibility it is a really poorly struck Showa stamp.  Better pics, or even a powder dusting might help.

But I don't see any Tsunatoshi, in any of the sources I have access to, in WWII.  So, considering the damage at the nakago jiri, my thinking is the marks at the top were done at the same time as the stuff at the bottom. 

New photo shows the stamp was dipped 

[Bruce Pennington]

Bingo! Good eye, Stephen!
 

99% that would be a Showa stamp. So the blade was made during World War II.

[JonP]

52 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Bingo! Good eye, Stephen!
 

99% that would be a Showa stamp. So the blade was made during World War II.

Maybe a bit of Rorschach going on with rust marks 🤷 The right end pic is on the other side.

[Bruce Pennington]

Ok, Jon.  Amazing what lighting and angles can do to photos.  You've got it in-hand, and with the added photos, I'll defer to your judgement on that.

[Guest Simon R]

With the new photos I don't believe that's a stamp - but they do appear to show a postwar attempt to drill another ana.

[Stephen]

16 hours ago, Stephen said:

I see now was a stamp that someone dipped to remove 

This one @Simon R

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Stephen,

That is the one he's re-shot with different lighting a focus:

 

Appears to be corrosion.