1940-1942 WW2 Japanese Fuku Moto Amahide Gunto Civilian Factory Army Seki Arsena Wartime Blade Signed ‘Soshu Seki Ju Ido Hide Toshi’, Scabbard & Expert Assessmen Swords
ad ref. GS142C53C

1940-1942 WW2 Japanese Fuku Moto Amahide Gunto Civilian Factory Army Seki Arsenal Contract Wartime Blade Signed ‘Soshu Seki Ju Ido Hide Toshi’, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 18880 - 18880

An original WW2 era Japanese Officer's Sword with signed tang. 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 civilian katana wartime blade circa 1940-1942 made in Fuku Moto Amahide’s Gunto Civilian Factory Army Contract Wartime Blade AKAZU UCHI IMEI (signed by some other smith) ‘Soshu Seki Ju Ido Hide Toshi’’ the factory owner’s son produced under army contract. It has a seki arsenal stamp 9passed quality control). It looks medium quality showa-to which has undergone Yak ire (covered in clay) then heated and quenched in oil producing a hamon with a ha-Buchi edge of Nioi crystals. It has had a reasonable polish and is in good condition, bright and showing hamon well. Some small scratches and odd bit of finger rust. The saya is its original gunto honoki wood mount with thin layer of dark lacquer. It has a Sageo cord tied in a bow for martial arts use. Tsuba is old late Edo period octagonal iron plate with inscribed with Dragon in clouds motif. It is un-signed. The tsuka is retored civilian hilt with good quality black ito wrap around quality Ray skin. Soft metal shakudo, nanako fuchi kashira showing Tori gates & cherry blossoms. Cannot identify the menuki, look Meiji period in age. Nice looking sword”. In his illustrations Bill translates the tang signatures and describes the tang end as Nakago Jiri cut square. Hamon Midare Ba irregular mixture of Bizen crab claws and mino gunome. Hada Nishiji (pear grain). He also identifies a polisher’s mark on the blade. Kissaki 39mm, cutting edge 66cm total length 84.5cm”. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 18880

£1,250.00