Early WW2 1940 Dated Japanese Officer's Type 98 Shin Gunto Seki Arsenal Katana Sword With Master Pupil Work Smith Signed Tang ‘TOSHI HIDE’ Officer’s Rank Tassel Cord, Scabbard With Leather Field Service Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 23486 Sword

Early WW2 1940 Dated Japanese Officer's Type 98 Shin Gunto Seki Arsenal Katana Sword With Master Pupil Work Smith Signed Tang ‘TOSHI HIDE’ Officer’s Rank Tassel Cord, Scabbard With Leather Field Service Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 23486 - 23486

An original early WW2 Japanese Officer's Type 98 Sword with smith 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 his notes he states “A TYPE 98 SHIN GUNTO ARMY SWORD with a showa-to oil quenched blade. Medium quality with nioi crystal ha-buchi (temper line) with naka ishi mei signature (master pupil work) signed 2 KANJI TOSHI HIDE & flamboyantly dated 1940. Also has Seki Arsenal inspection showing its factory made after 1939. He is rated as:Rikugun Jumei Tosho (Army approved smith). His family name was Asai. See Markus Sesko book page no. 231. For info on this man –see John Slough book on swordsmiths p. no. 176 for signature written by same hand but using kanji for Masa instead of Hide? He either changed one kanji of his name or this blade signed by his pupil. Needs more research? Blade in original polish with lots of small black rust spots. Saya (scabbard) wood with leather active service cover in good condition. Tsuba standard gunto pattern in cast or die stamped brass (some gilt remaining). Has leather seppa which has had retaining safety strap through hole in tsuba to lock onto scabbard now missing. Tsuka (hilt) is good quality, all binding intact and the whole thing in good condition, complete with knot loop (sarute) which has Lt to Captain rank tassel (blue & brown). A nice original, un-messed with wartime officer’s sword”. In his illustrations Bill translates the tang signature & date & identifies a seki arsenal mark. He measures the cutting edge as 64.5 cms, total length 87 cms and describes other blade and tang measurements & characteristics which can be seen in image 2. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23486

£1,200.00