Original Item: One of a Kind. Recently purchased at a large military show, this is a great USGI Bring-Back Japanese officer Katana in a Shin-Gunto military setting, with a leather covered wooden scabbard. A Shin-Guntō (新軍刀, new military sword) is a weapon and symbol of rank used by the Imperial Japanese Army between the years of 1935 and 1945. Most of these had WWII production blades fitted to them, but the blade on this example definitely pre-dates WWII, and is from the 19th Century. 

It was a common practice for swords to be passed down from one generation to the next, particularly ones that were of high quality. These could be re-polished and re-fit numerous times, as steel was precious and swords were expensive. This continued up into WWII, which is how this blade found it's way into standard WWII "Shin-Gunto" fittings. There also was an official Japanese program during the war for families with no sons to donate their swords towards the war effort.

The blade on this example was hand forged, and the tang of the blade is signed (Mei) with the characters 石 堂 運 壽 是 一 精 鍛 作 之 - which reads ISHIDO UNJU KOREZAKU SEITAN SAKU KORE. This basically means "Unju Korezaku Made This", along with some honorifics earned. Information on this smith indicates that they were active 1830-1891, so they made swords during the reign of THREE Emperors, eventually passing away at age 75 in 1891. This was during the reign of Mutsuhito,  Emperor Meiji 明治天皇, the grandfather of Hirohito, the Emperor Shōwa 昭和天皇, who reigned during WWII. They were a well respected and known smith, for more information please see this page at the Nihonto Club: Unju Korekazu

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), including ashi.

- Blade has lamination visible, including some Kizu (Blade wounds), which only happen on laminated steel blades.

- 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)

Offered in very good condition, the blade is still sharp and does not have any nicks or dents on the blade edge that we can see. Overall the polish on the blade has however degraded, with some signs of light speckling, which were cleaned off. Blade length is approximately 26 1/2 inches and overall length 37 1/4 inches. The katana has a handmade blade with a Futsu 普通 (regular) Nakago (tang) with Haagari (asymmetrical rounded) nakago-jiri (tang tip). It has a proper kissaki (tip) with a clear yokote (division between body and tip).

Temper line (hamon) is fully visible, and is a very attractive CHOJI MIDARE (Irregular cloveleaf) pattern. There is highly visible ASHI, which are streaks of cloudy NIOI in the hamon, running to the edge. This type of hamon is known trademark style of Unju Korezaku! We have attempted to picture the hamon, which unfortunately does not show up well at all with flash photography.

The blade mountings are the classic later WWII era Type 94/98 Army Shin-Gunto style, brass with gilt accents. Rounded "quince" shaped tsuba (cross guard) with brass Imperial Army cherry blossom menuki (grip decoration), and a nice Kabuto-Gane (Pommel Cap). The cross guard and pommel cap have matching cherry blossom motifs. The fuchi (grip collar) is plain brass. There are 3 Seppa (spacers) around the cross guard, however it definitely looks like there were at one time more, and possibly a leather collar that attached to the scabbard. As they are missing, the crossguard and seppa are loose. The blade collar (habaki) looks to be bronze alloy, maybe with some plating.

The handle (tsuka) has an nice stingray skin (Sa-Me) grip, which is fully intact. It has a worn Ito (cloth binding), which definitely shows much wear, and has frayed through in one area.. There is a single wooden securing peg (mekugi) still present, however it is a replacement. The scabbard is wood with brass fittings and a leather scabbard cover. It has a single brass hanger ring, and is typical of the style we usually see older family blades mounted in.

An incredible Japanese Shin-gunto with a blade by a respected 19th maker, this is a real USGI bring-back from WWII, ready to display and cherish!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 26 1/2"
Blade Style: Katana
Overall length: 37 1/4“
Scabbard Length: 28 1/4"

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 folded 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.