Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice original Imperial Japanese Type 32 Kō cavalry saber, complete with its original steel scabbard. Adopted in 1899, the Type 32 was a machine-made enlisted sword produced in two principal versions, Kō (甲) and Otsu (乙). The longer Kō version was intended primarily for cavalry troops, while the shorter Otsu version was issued to other enlisted personnel authorized a sword. This example is the longer Kō cavalry configuration and is serial numbered 68445.

The Type 25, introduced in 1892, had brass hilts and plain wood grips. The Type 32, introduced in 1899, on the other hand has a checkered steel hilt with checkered wood grips. They were issued with a leather finger loop on the inside of the guard. The machine made blades are "katana" shaped, and have a full length wide fuller and flat spine, and are contained in steel scabbards with a single ring. The swords saw service during the Russo-Japanese War, World War One and on into World War Two.

Two patterns of the Type 32 were produced. The first pattern, known as ‘Ko,’ was issued to cavalry NCOs and had a blade length of around 32 1/2 inches. The second pattern, known as ‘Otsu,’ was issued to army NCOs and was shorter, with a blade length of around 30 inches. This example is a ‘Ko’ pattern Type 32 cavalry saber, and is an early production example, with a lower serial number, and was designed to have a leather finger ring, but it is gone.

The blade is in very good condition and retains its fighting edge, with a few areas of nicks and denting. The ricasso is stamped with serial number 68445. The blade was designed for cutting and thrusting and was superbly good at both. This blade definitely looks to have seen service, and is not sharpened, with the original blunt edge.

The steel D guard has a checked steel back strap and dove head pommel, all of which now show a worn light gray steel patina from years of service and cleaning. The checkered wooden grip is in very good condition, with strong checkering and still has a nice dark red brown color. The guard has the "stacked cannonball" logo used by Tokyo and Kokura arsenals, along with some other characters we cannot make out.

The sword is complete with its steel scabbard, with a single hanger-ring, and functional locking catch, though the sword comes out of the scabbard without much force. There is a very faint serial number stamped on the drag, but it is not matching to the sword. The scabbard is in good condition, showing minor dents towards the drag, with a moderately oxidized patina on the exterior.

This example is particularly noteworthy for the combination of its long Kō cavalry blade, serial number 68445, original checkered wooden grip, stacked cannonball arsenal marking, intact locking mechanism, and surviving steel scabbard. The missing finger loop and nonmatching scabbard serial are important condition and originality considerations, but the saber remains a strong representative example of the Type 32 cavalry sword carried by Imperial Japanese mounted troops from the turn of the century through the WWII era.

Specifications:
Blade length: 33”
Blade style: Single Edged with Fuller
Overall length: 38 1/4”
Guard Dimensions: 4 1/2"W x 5"L
Scabbard length: 33 3/4"