Chōunsai KORETOSHI In the second month, the second year of Manen
Length of cutting edge85.5cm Curvature1.0cm Width of base32.5mm Width of Yokote19.0mm Thickness of base7.8mm
Forging pattern (kitae hada) : Kitae hada is precisely fine Mokume hada mixing in with partial flowing marks. The entire hiraji is moistened by fine, uniform ji-nie (hard metal granules over the surface of the blade) and is beautifully active with precise chikei (darkish precise Nie lines).
Tempering pattern (hamon) : Hamon is fine Nie base, wide Sugu-ha straight. Deep ko-nie glows in a belt and extremely bright where is activated with fray, ASHI-feet and small gunome activity. The interior of entire temper is filled in with fine blinking Nie glitter and soft Nioi-mist.
Temper of tip (boshi) : Boshi is regularly small circle turns back.
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is UBU original. Sujikai(slanting left) and Kesho (horizontal) filemarks. Kurijiri uneven U-shape heel. Round back ridge. One Mekugi-ana peg hole.
The signature in front is chiselled on Shinogi-ji, starting the place of work [Oite Tōto], a pseudonym [Chōjusai], smith name [TSUNATOSHI] and [seitan] (forging steel) and the reversed side is chiselled of collaboration smith name [Chōunsai KORETOSHI] and the date of year [In the second month, the second year of Manen] (1861).
Smith Chōunsai TSUNATOSHI, his real name is Kato Hachiro, was born in the 10th year of Kansei (1798) as the 3rd son of Kato Kunihide in Yonezawa, Dewa domain. TSUNATOSHI and his elder brother Kato TSUNAHIDE both were exclusively worked for the lord Uesugi in the Dewa domain. He left for the Bushu capital during Bunsei (1820's) period and exclusively worked in the studio of Uesugis' Samurai residence. He named himself a pseudonym [Chōunsai] that is handed over to his son KORETOSHI in the first year of Ansei (1854) then named himself as [Chōjusai].
He learned under the great master Suishinshi Masahide of the same prefecture to establish one of the leading schools in Bushu capital. His major brilliant disciples were Ishido Korekazu, Koyama Munetsugu, Takahashi Naganobu and Iwamoto Moritoshi. He passed away in the 5th day, 12th month, the 3rd year of Bunkyu (1863) at 66 years old.
A collaborator - KORETOSHI, real name Kato Sukeichiro is the second son of 1st gen. TSUATOSHI. He enjoyed a pseudonym [Chōjusai] title from his father in the first year of Ansei (1854). He succeeded smith name as 2nd gen. TSUNATOSHI on after the death of his father. Passed away in the 2nd day, the 11th month, the 26th year of Meiji (1893) at 61 years old.
This katana is the collaboration work of parent TSUNATOSHI in maturity at age 61 and son KORETOSHI at 28 years old. In view of tang (Nakago), detailed slanting left with horizontal Kesho filemark and shape of heel shows notable feature of a son KORETOSHI and chiselled signature is analyzed as one of the parent TSUNATOSHI. It is supposed that groundwork forging was joint-work by parent and son, tempering process was in charge of master TSUNATOASHI, the tang shape and filemark was made by KORETOSHI and last stage signature on both sides was chiselled by master-father TSUNATOSHI.
This heroic katana is exceptionally long which was custom-made for a sturdy Samurai in Dewa domain of last stage against a movement to overthrow the Shogunate before Meiji Restoration.
This superb katana is strikingly healthy and the Nakago holds a good taste of patina, remains clear filemark and chisel of signature.The collaboration signature with the date of year adds a historical research material value.
Gold foiled double layer habaki collar, Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting with Sayagaki written by Dr. Sato Kanzan in 1972
An old good polish/Condition scale: mint-excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
