RARE**QUALITY SWORDSMITH**SPECIAL ORDER BLADE**WW2 Japanese Officer’s Type 98 Sword Smith Signed ‘Motte Yasugi Asano Kane Zane Saku Kore’ With Smith’s Hot Stamp Seal, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 23264 Sword

**RARE**QUALITY SWORDSMITH**SPECIAL ORDER BLADE**WW2 Japanese Officer’s Type 98 Sword Smith Signed ‘Motte Yasugi Asano Kane Zane Saku Kore’ With Smith’s Hot Stamp Seal, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 23264 - 23264

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 “officers sword shin gunto type 98 with special order blade made using yasugi sand iron with personal seal (kokuin) of kane zane who made medium to high grade showa to (this sword). He also made gendatto to medium grade. With the showa inspection stamp — this is a showa to not gendatto. A very busy smith had his own workshop employed other smiths and hammer men. Have seen lots of blades made by him or by smiths from his workshop forge. In bright old amatuer polish showing irregular (bumpy) hamon nioi based. Motte yasugi asano kane zane saku kore won 2nd seat in 1941 exhibition where he was listed quasi national sword smith still working 1960’s see john slough’s book on war time smiths pages 76 to 79 for oshigata & information. Saya honoki wood with slip on ashi ring & good condition leather cover showing signs of use. Brass hand guard with showa blossonm flowers, no gilt left. Tsuka (handle) mid war quality fuchi & kabuto gane top mount. Bound with military brown ito wrap some wear & fraying, no lock catches ever fitted to this sword. Has remains of leather strap on seppa which passes through the ana in tsuba & fastened to leather saya cover (damaged). Avery nice special order type 98 gunto with good maker in good but used condition”. In his illustrations he describes the cutting edge length as 66 cms and the overall length as 88 cms. He also translates the Smith signature, identifies arsenal & special order hot stamp & describes other blade characteristics and measurements which can be read in the images. The price for this rare piece by a quality Smith with expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 23264

£1,795.00