RARE*EXCEPTIONAL*C1933-1934 Pre WW2 Japanese Army Officer’s Type 94 Tachi Pattern Shin Gunto Sword With Tokyo Arsenal Marked Tang, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 23803:11 Sword

*RARE*EXCEPTIONAL*C1933-1934 Pre WW2 Japanese Army Officer’s Type 94 Tachi Pattern Shin Gunto Sword With Tokyo Arsenal Marked Tang, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 23803:11 - 23803:11

This sword has been assessed by a UK based Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His assessment accompanies this piece. In his assessment he states “A type 94 army shin gunto sword imperial decree no 26 authorised the manufacture of this tachi pattern for army officers. A tachi is a sword with 2 suspension rings or slings. Later the second ring was discarded resulting in the type 98 sword. I have only ever seen one of this type of sword with a smith name on the tang mostly unsigned like this. It only has arsenal inspectors markings on it. All relating to places in the tokyo area. This sword is early production type 94 made circa 1933 / 1934. The sword is v/good to excellent condition overall, only few marks & tiny rust patches otherwise 90/95% original polish which has a fake hamon line put on with stones. This is a murato oil tempered sword bar stock or scrap steel; first devised by colonel murato in tokyo no 1 arsenal in the 1920s. A very fine example of this sword and signed by colonel murato was on display at the to-ken society of great briton sword exhibition in the mid 20th century in London. Mounts. Scabbard has all its paint all fittings still retain the finish tsuba (handguard) has some gilt left a match to its seppa numbered 22. Tsuka. Complete with working locking catch, knot loop with monkey hands quality, gunto brown binding, fish skin and menuki, small amount of grease to ito wrap. A superb example of a shin gunto would fit into any sword collection”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as just under 66.5 cm. Total length 82 cm. He also identifies arsenal marks and describes other blade characteristics and dimensions which are illustrated in the images. The price for this exceptional sword with expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 23803:11

£1,595.00