MINT BLADE**1875-1934 Japanese Type 19 Company Grade Kyu-Gunto Army Officers Parade Sword & Scabbard. Sn 23803:10 Sword

**MINT BLADE**1875-1934 Japanese Type 19 Company Grade Kyu-Gunto Army Officers Parade Sword & Scabbard. Sn 23803:10 - 23803:10

This sword has been examined by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. In his assessment he states: “A Type 19 Company Grade Kyu-Gunto Army Officers Parade Sword. Introduced November 24th 1875 during the reign of the Emperor Meiji. Worn right through till cancelled February 14th 1934. In the latter 19th century Japan was industrialising and copied the Western nations, their armies & navies. The Kyu-Gunto was their idea of a Western army officer dress sword. Some early parade swords were made in Solingen, Germany, who also supplied instructors from the army to teach military strategy & discipline to the Japanese Imperial Army. There are several variants of this pattern, carried by different branches and ranks of the military. Copied from German & British methods of forging sword blades for parade, heated bar stock forged, rolled & hammered to shape, quenched in oil, then polished & plated with artificial temper lines put on with acid etching or polishing stones. * See Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945 Reference Cyclopedia Edition P/No. 57 onward By Jim Dawson. In very good condition gilt faded with mint blade. Family crest or mon unknown, needs research.” The blade is 27“ length and has its original leather hilt washer. The sword is 32 ½” overall length. The scabbard with single hanging ring & shoe has no dents. The price for this sword worthy of further research includes UK delivery. Sn 23803:10

£695.00