WW2 1943 Shin Gunto Type 98 Japanese Army Officer's Katana Sword With Smith Double Signed Tang 'TAKE HISA’ & Steel Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 16095 Swords

WW2 1943 Shin Gunto Type 98 Japanese Army Officer's Katana Sword With Smith Double Signed Tang 'TAKE HISA’ & Steel Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 16095 - 16095

An original WW2 Japanese officers sword. The sword has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written notes and illustrations accompany the sword. In extracts from his notes he states “A Type 98 army shin gunto in good condition. Blade looks a murato oil tempered example signed by its maker ‘Take Hisa’ and dated Autumn 1943. Also has 2 ‘W’ stamps. Fuller & Gregory’s book on swords lists this as unidentified (marks) used by Take Hisa possibly working in Chigusa factory of the Nagoya arsenal. Quite a scarce mark & signature, not seen many of them (not a gendaito by a rated smith). Good shape & good well defined tang with nicely cut kanji but no visible hamon, looks applied by stones & oil tempered, in original polish with scratches and odd staining. Saya metal parade with green/brown paint finish, Bronze finish to mounts, Tsuba standard gunto pattern (faded gilt) with logo of maker (suya company of Tokyo ‘harp’ mark) No. 141 with matching numbers seppa. Tsuka all intact, brown ito wrap, bronze finish to mounts & menuki with working locking catch & half of original sarute loop in cord., needing a knot to finish it off. A good example of a shin gunto with an oil tempered blade in untouched condition”. In his illustrations of the tang and blade he translates the smith signature and date. He describes the cutting edge of the blade length as just under 67cm & full length as 88 cm. He also describes other blade characteristics and dimensions (illustrated in image 2). The price includes a copy of the assessment together with a copy of tang markings the same as on our sword illustrated on page 169 of Modern Japanese sword Smiths by Slough & UK delivery. Sn 16095

£1,250.00