Pre War Civilian Blade Mounted For WW2** Japanese Officer\'s Type 98 Shin Gunto Sword Shop Factory Katana Sword With Rare Edo Period Iron Tsuba, Leather Field Service Combat Wrapped Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 20904 Swords

**Pre War Civilian Blade Mounted For WW2** Japanese Officer's Type 98 Shin Gunto Sword Shop Factory Katana Sword With Rare Edo Period Iron Tsuba, Leather Field Service Combat Wrapped Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 20904 - 20904

An original Japanese Officer's Sword. The sword has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written notes and illustrations accompany the sword. In extracts from his notes he states “A Type 98 pattern shin gunto army officer’s sword with unsigned medium quality Sowa to blade made in a sword shop factory. Looks oil tempered at lower heat producing slightly fuzzy temperline hamon with nioi crystal edge. A wide blade with quite crude tang possibly pre war (no arsenal marks). Possibly stored in shira saya resting mounts (2 holes) before mounting for war. Quality silver foil habaki. Saya wood covered with leather field service wrap (needs small repair to tear at top). Tsuka is plain brass, han dachi mounts not gunto pattern with civilian menuki, wrapped in brown military ito, good condition. Never had a locking catch. Has a brass sarute loop (wartime add on). Tsuba is antique Namban (foreign style) cast iron chiselled, polished on one side, traces of gold highlights. (Bowl shaped tsuba probably made in the Chinese enclave at Nagasaki in Japan. Design of sacred fungus & foliage with raised Chinese style seppa dai. Edo Period 17th / 18th century. Quite a rare tsuba. A pre war civilian sword mounted later for war service in good carried & used condition. An interesting addition to a collection”. In his illustrations Bill describes the cutting edge as 64 cm and total length 81.5 cm. He also describes and illustrates other blade measurements and characteristics (illustrated in image 2). The price includes UK delivery. Sn 20904

£1,295.00