Item:
ONSV7968

Original WWII Japanese Navy Officer P1937 Kai-Gunto Sword with Ancient Handmade Wakizashi Blade

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. Purchased recently from a private auction, this is a very nice wartime High Grade Japanese Naval officers sword in the Pattern 1937 Kai-Gunto setting. A Kai-Guntō (海軍刀, naval sword) is a weapon and symbol of rank used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the WWII Period.

Unlike most we have seen, this example is not fitted with a Katana blade, but instead with the shorter Wakizashi (脇差), a shorter type of sword used more for indoor use. Most likely this was a family blade that the officer chose to take with him during his service.

The blade is handmade and was expertly crafted by an ancient master sword maker, which is indicated by a few tell-tale characteristics that include:

- Holes in the tang are punch and not drilled.
- Folded steel blade (fold lines are evident on the spine and body of blade)
- Visible temper line ("hamon"), with crystallization visible at the edge (Nie and Nioi)
- Clear grain (hada) on the blade, with lamination lines visible.
- Several blade "wounds" (kizu), which only occur on traditionally made blades.

Offered in very nice condition, the blade is still sharp and has just a few small nicks on the edge. Overall the polish on the blade is good, but does show some degradation in areas. Blade length is approximately 21 1/4 inches and overall length 31 1/4 inches. This ancient handmade blade has a Futsu 普通 (regular) Nakago (tang) with Haagari (asymmetrical rounded) nakago-jiri. It does not look to have been cut down, so this was originally made as a Wakizashi, though it is very close to the typical Katana form. The tip of the blade has a proper geometric yokote (tip).

The temper line (hamon) is visible, and is of the CHOJI MIDARE (Clover Tree Irregular) shape, and is quite attractive. Grain on blade is visible, and shows a MOKUME (wood grain) pattern, along with some blade inclusions typically seen in handmade blades. These include mostly WARE (horizontal weld lines), but also some FUKURE (carbon pits). This looks to be a blade that has been polished several times, so it may be somewhat "tired" in areas.

Japanese Kai-Gunto naval officers swords are somewhat rare, given that they usually went down with the ships. It has a heavy brass tsuba (cross guard) and the large brass Seppa (spacers) and O-Seppa (Large spacers) around the tsuba are large and highly stylized. The tsuka (handle) has two gold highlighted steel Cherry-Blossom menuki (grip decorations), and a nice gold highlighted Kabuto-Gane (End Cap), with the wooden securing peg still present. It has excellent dark ray skin (same) grip wrapping with olive green-colored Ito (cloth binding) with fine decorative collar. The original brass loop on the end of the tsuka is still present.

Condition of the blade, scabbard and fittings is very good, indicating light use, though the wrapping does show some dirt and staining. There also is some light oxidation on the various metal fittings. As typical of the pattern, Cherry Blossom motifs appear on many of the fittings. The handle is tight to the blade, with secure spacers and just a little wobble in the tsuba.

The Scabbard (saya) is wood, and is covered in the standard leather field cover used during WWII, and looks to be mostly bare wood underneath. We believe that the original scabbard may have been lost, and a relatively simple replacement was fashioned, too long for the blade. The lacing is still intact, and it has a great worn look, with two brass hanger rings installed. The cover has however shrunk, and originally went all the way to the end of the wood. The snap for the retaining strap on the handle unfortunately pulled out, leaving a hole in the cover.

Really a very interesting Imperial Japanese Navy Kai-Gunto, with an ancient handmade Wakizashi Blade. These are getting hard to find in any condition.

It has been over one thousand years ago that the art of making swords appeared in Japan. The swordsmiths of the time may not have known it but they were creating a legendary sword. The Samurai sword has seen combat in many battlefields. From the early days of the Samurai warrior to the fierce battles in the South Pacific during WWII.

Each hand-made Samurai sword is unique because it is forged from steel stock. A tremendous amount of work is dedicated to creating these pieces. They were an instrument of war as much as a beautiful artifact to adorn a room.

The Samurai sword has grown to be one of the most highly desired military antiques.

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