WW2 Era Japanese Collaborating Burmese Forces Officer's / NCO’s Katana Sword With Burmese Dha Sword Form Silver Plated Brass Hilt Fittings, Scabbard With Leather Field Service Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 23484:104 Sword

WW2 Era Japanese Collaborating Burmese Forces Officer's / NCO’s Katana Sword With Burmese Dha Sword Form Silver Plated Brass Hilt Fittings, Scabbard With Leather Field Service Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 23484:104 - 23484:104

An original WW2 Japanese emergency Burmese collaborating forces 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 his assessment he states “Made on campaign emergency or collaborating forces Japanese style / type sword. It looks a genuine 2nd war period sword. From the fittings & mounts it says made in Burma local wood saya with typical hilt, top & bottom caps of silver plated brass, you see on the Burmese Dha (sword) made by native craftsman. The iron plate tsuba has been engraved and chased remains of silver inlay, typical Burmese work. Officers and NCO's in the national Burma army were allowed to carry swords (symbol of rank). The blade looks made by a blacksmith, someone with a basic knowledge of Japanese arsenal forging techniques. It has a oil tempered hamon line with nioi crystal edging (see Japanese military and civil swords and dirks, Richard Fuller & Ron Gregory published 1996 airlife publishing for a full chapter on these swords. There were over fifty five thousand men in Burma national army by 1943, changed sides & fought with British troops.There were volunteers serving with Japanese forces in every country occupied by Japan from 1932 to 1945. An interesting example of its type with genuine wear and patination for its 80 odd years of age”. In his illustrations Bill measures the cutting edge as 61.5 cms, total length 80 cms and describes other blade and tang measurements & characteristics which can be seen in image 2. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23484:104

£975.00