Early WW2 Japanese Army Officer’s Type 98 Shin Gunto Sword With Patial Smith Signature ‘HIZEN KUNI’ (Possible Gendaito) , Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 19377:4 Sword

Early WW2 Japanese Army Officer’s Type 98 Shin Gunto Sword With Patial Smith Signature ‘HIZEN KUNI’ (Possible Gendaito) , Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 19377:4 - 19377:4

This sword has been assessed by a UK based Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His assessment accompanies this piece. In exerts from the assessment he states “A Type 98 Shin Gunto with possible Gendaito blade. Partial Mei 2nd part rusted away due to jungle campaign ? Tsuka Hilt shows heavy use, water damage rotted most of fish skin under binding, which is intact but very dirty. Still got sarute loop and menuki. With a bit of detective work I have come up with 2 possible men who both started their Mei with the address HIZEN KUNI. This is a very uncommon prefix to a showa period name. John Slough has 2 men listed (Takaguchi family name) Masatsugu a RJT Swordsmith Star Stamp * made medium to high grade blades page 106-107 good comparison or Kino Shita (family name) Yosh Tada. He was also a RJT smith Rikugun Jumei Tosho army approved rated Medium to high grade swords. Very good match both men same Kanji style same horizontal kiri file marks & tang shape. Heavily buffed by previous owner needs professional polish to restore blade. The steel saya scabbard has also been heavily water damaged. It has been covered with a quality leather foul weather cover in 3 pieces fitted around carring ring and ashi mounts, professionally done by a qualified saddler ? attractive looking job. This could be restored polished to bring out beauty of blade. The 2 possible smiths are my conjecture. Made C1940”. In illustrations of the blade which are included in the assessment he translates the tang markings. He states overall length 33”. Cutting edge 24 ½”. He describes Hamon as’ Ko (small) Suguha with irregularities difficult to see’. He observes Yakote line buffed away. Tang end as Nakago Jiri shape (rounded). The price for this sword with expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 19377:4

£1,245.00