This is a factory made WW2 Japanese officer’s sword. Judging by the quality of the workmanship it has been manufactured very late in the war, probably in 1945.
There are few elements that could indicate this fact quite clearly. The scabbard is made of raw bamboo (usually it is lacquered) being fitted with a simple steel locket, instead of brass, and covered with military canvas and the field brown leather cover.
All the sword fittings are made of brass, instead of a mix of brass and copper (the copper being in very short supply at that time in the war) and their number is reduced to the minimum required. Also the fushi is not decorated, instead being plain.
The kashira (pommel) is manufactured with a special hole for the knob ring and fitted to its bamboo grip. In this case, in the grip the hole hasn’t been drilled so the ring can’t be fitted anymore. Instead the ray skin has been extended towards the end of the grip (saving time, resources and effort in the manufacturing process).
Also instead of the grip being dressed in ray skin, only two stripes were used, one on each side, in order to save time and materials.
The menuki (ornaments) are also made of brass and they are thinner than usual.
The most notable difference between a handmade blade and a machined blade is that in the case of the last one there is no hammon on the edge and the quality of the blade is poorer.
Even so the Japanese factories manufactured the blades using the traditional design pattern.
The sword comes with the military khaki painted steel scabbard.
The blade is made in the ‘shinogi-kukuri’ pattern.
Its mune (blade back) is shaped in the ‘Ihori’ style and its kissaki (point) is ‘ko’ (short).
The swords fittings are made of brass and decorated with cherry blossom flowers.
The habaki (blade locket/ferrule) is made of gilded brass.
The brass tsuba (guard) is decorated with cherry flowers.
There are two seppa (spacers), one on each side.
The fushi (sleeve) is made of gilded brass.
The tsuka (grip) is made of bamboo covered with white rayskin and cream coloured woven silk. The menuki (ornaments) are in the form of cherry flowers.
The saya (scabbard) is made of babu covered with brown leather with one kurikata (knob/suspension ring.
~ Dimensions ~
The blade length is 27 inches (68.5 cm) and the sword overall length is 37 inches (94 cm). The sword in its scabbard length is 39 inches (99 cm). The complete weight is 1.3 Kg.
~ Condition ~
The blade is in good condition, free of damage.
All its fittings are in good condition with some age wear.
The scabbard is good with signs of wear on the leather.
ref. GS6159572 / TFWIOOZPQ
