EXTREMELY RARE, ONE OF ONLY APPROX 6000**Original, Pre WW2 Japanese NCO's 1st Pattern, Type 95 Katana With Solid Copper Hilt, Suya (Harp) & Tokyo Kokura Arsenal Marks, Original Leather Cord & Barrel Knot & Scabbard. ED 3019 Sword

**EXTREMELY RARE, ONE OF ONLY APPROX 6000**Original, Pre WW2 Japanese NCO's 1st Pattern, Type 95 Katana With Solid Copper Hilt, Suya (Harp) & Tokyo Kokura Arsenal Marks, Original Leather Cord & Barrel Knot & Scabbard. ED 3019 - ED 3019

On September 16th 1935 a new sword was authorised for Japanese army NCO’s. 1st type sword hilts were made from solid unpainted copper, later variants had cast alloy painted hilts (see page 183 of Swords Of Imperial Japan 1868-1945 by Dawson). Only approx 6,000 1st type copper hilt NCO swords were made before introduction of alloy hilt variants. This is an original extremely rare 1st type pre WW2 Japanese NCO's Katana with copper hilt and scabbard. The sword has the correct solid copper unpainted cast handle with lanyard ring hole fitted with steel cord sarute loop. It has a heavy brass tsuba and scabbard retaining clip (present but not working). It has an undamaged, fullered, 27 ½” blade which has just small areas of light staining consistent with age. The blade is numbered ‘5509’ on one side above the fuller and one side has number 1845. The copper hilt is stamped with 1929-45 Kokura Arsenal mark, Suya sword shop (Harp) mark (see page 185 of Dawson’s book) and inspection mark. The hilt’s steel sarute knot loop is fitted with original brown leather cord with barrel knot in very good condition. It is complete with its black painted steel scabbard which has a single hanging ring. The scabbard has no damage. There are no visible numbers on the scabbard but may be present under the paint. The price for this rare piece includes UK delivery. ED 3019

£1,795.00