Original Item: Only One Available. Purchased recently from a private auction, this is a very nice wartime High Grade Japanese Naval officer Katana 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. This is a very nice example, and features a traditionally made and maker signed blade, something we rarely see in Naval fittings. It still has the original brown tassel, which was used for all Naval officer grades.

The blade on this example was hand forged in the traditional manner, and the tang of the blade is signed (Mei) with the characters 越 後 住 昭 麿 作 - ECHIGO JU AKIMARO SAKU, or "AKIMARO made this in Echigo." This was an old province name in north-central Japan, on the shores of the Sea of Japan. Its abbreviated form name was Esshū (越州), with Echizen and Etchū Provinces. Swordsmiths liked to use the old province names in their signatures. Research indicates that AKIMARO's family name was NAGASHIMA (長島), and given name is Heijiro (平次郎). He was a student of Akihide (昭 秀), a very well regarded Showa Era smith, who is rated at 8 by Hawley, and at ¥1.5M by Toko Taikan.

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

- Hole in the tang is punched and not drilled.

- Visible temper line ("hamon") with crystallization visible (Nie and Nioi)

- Visible Grain ("hada") in the body of the blade ("ji)

- Blade is signed on the tang by the maker ("Mei")

- Blade has a proper geometric Yokote at the tip (kissaki) with a Boshi (tip temper line)

- Blade has wounds (kizu) such as ware (lamination lines) and fukure (carbone pits)

The blade is very good condition, showing only light wear, with a few small dents and dings on the edge. There is a small chip on the blade tip. There are areas of oxidation "tracks", when a bit of water or debris moves along the surface, leaving squiggly lines of oxidation. Most of these are on the left side of the blade, so it was probably resting on that side in the wooden scabbard. Blade length is 25 1/4 inches and overall length 36 1/4 inches. Unlike most Kai-Gunto swords we see, this example has a hand-made traditionally made blade, complete with a vibrant temper line (hamon). It features a Futsu 普通 (regular) shaped Nakago (Tang) with a Haagari (asymmetrical rounded) nakago-jiri (tang tip).

The blade has a true hamon (wave), or temper line, which is clearly visible near the edge of the blade. The shape is a very tight GUNOME (Zig Zag) or SUGU in places with some very visible NIE crystallization at the edge of the temper line, as well as the correct NIOI cloudiness in the hamon. There are some ASHI, which are lines of NIOI that run down from the temper line towards the edge. Definitely a very "active" hamon! The blade body (JI) also has MASAME HADA (straight grain) which can be seen under the light. There are some areas of wear and light scuffing, but the kissaki (tip) still shows a clear yokote with visible Boshi (tip temper line), which is the KOMARU (small turn back) type.

Japanese Kai-Gunto naval officers swords are somewhat rare, given that they usually went down with the ships. This particular example is definitely high grade, with a hand made blade, and excellent fittings.

It has a heavy round tsuba (cross guard), with 4 Seppa (spacers) and two O-Seppa (Large spacers) around the tsuba that are large and highly stylized, correct for the Kai-Gunto pattern. All of these are plated steel, with the tsuba and O-seppa being blacked over copper plate. The tsuka (handle) has two gold highlighted Cherry-Blossom menuki (grip decorations), and a nice brass Kabuto-Gane (End Cap) with a green rope through the end. There is a single wooden securing peg still present, though part of it is missing. Excellent black lacquered sharkskin under the complete olive colored Ito (cloth binding) with fine brass decorative collar (fuchi).

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 and wear 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 bit of wobble in the tsuba.

The Wood scabbard has a standard black lacquer finish, and has all brass fittings, with much of the original gilding. The fittings are just a bit loose due to age, but they are still held in place party by the original glue. Condition is very good, with only a few small chips and dents. It does not have a koiguchi (scabbard mouth" fitting, but does not look like it was removed, so it may have never had one. The tsuba, tsuka, both O-Seppa and all 4 of the smaller Seppa (spacers) are stamped with western number 1 4 4. This matches the number 144 (faint) inside the scabbard itself. This indicates that this set of KOSHIRAE (fittings) were all made for this specific blade.

Really an excellent example of a Imperial Japanese Navy Kai-Gunto, handmade by a known smith and complete with its original scabbard. These are getting hard to find in any condition.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 25 1/4"
Blade Style: Katana
Overall length: 36 1/4“
Scabbard Length: 29"

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.