Kato Tsunatoshi
This is a nicely mounted katana signed Kato Tsunatoshi and is dated Tenpo Nen Gatsu hi or February 1838. There was a smith by this name who worked in Musashi, a member of the Masahide school, who made swords in this style with choji hamon.
He was rated Josaku by Fujishiro. I am not certain if this is the same man or not. In any case this is a very nice blade, in good condition, with a recent polish, mounted in top quality shirasaya and is accompanied with nice mountings.
The sword is 88.3 cm total length or 34 ¾ inches and has a nagasa of 68.4 cm or just slightly less than 27 inches in cutting edge. The blade is shinogi zukuri with a 1.8cm sori, has a medium long kissaki and it is ubu, one mekugi ana, and is signed and dated.
It is tempered with a very nice gunome choji hamon with spikes going half way to the shinogi and long strands of ashi. The hataraki displays skill and nice activity. The chu kissaki is tempered with a small turn back.
The sword is mounted with a gold washed habaki, in traditional shirasaya of the best quality with bamboo bands.
The mountings are Bakamatsu period, with plain iron fuchi kashira, nice large iron tsuba of Nobuie style and menuki of three toed dragons over black same with lacquered hemp wrap in the Satsuma style.
A very nice package ready to enjoy.
Price $ 4,950.00
