WWII Japanese Army Officer’s Type 98 Shin Gunto Seki Arsenal Sword with Smith Signature ‘NOSHU SEKI JU HATTORI MASA HIRO SAKU’, Scabbard with Leather War Service Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 20599. Sword

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 “A Type 98 Shin Gunto . This is a medium grade showa-To oil tempered blade made Seki arsenal using Yaki Ire process to produce its temperline (Hamon) not visible with rust. It is signed Kazu Uchi Mei, I think this means another man actually signed the Nakago, probably his job to sign for a lot of other arsenal smiths ‘‘NOSHU (province) SEKI (city) JU (living in) HATTORI (family name) MASA HIRO (art name) SAKU (made this)’. He is rated as making either low to medium grade Showa-To (nontraditional forged) or medium grade Gendaito (hand forged). This is a good example of his work but needs a polish to see what is in it. Saya is Honoki wood, leather covered for war service, used condition with a period reinforcing brass collar put on mouth of Saya. Tsuba good quality Gunto pattern with lots of gilt on it, also good quality Gunto mounts, some gilt and colour remaining. Ito wrap & fish skin good but skin shrunk revealing small gaps. Needing a sarute (knot loop) to complete it”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as 66 cms. Total length 86 cms. He also translates the tang signature & describes other blade characteristics and dimensions (illustrated). The price for this sword with expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 20599