Original Item: Only One Available. Recently purchased at a military auction, this is an very good service used condition USGI Bring-Back wartime production high grade Japanese officer Katana in the Type 98 Shin-Gunto (九八式軍刀 kyūhachi-shiki guntō) setting. 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.The Type 98 fittings (koshirae) are slightly simplified compared to the earlier Type 94, though still could be very ornate depending on the maker. It features a very good condition handmade blade, though at some point it the original scabbard was replaced with a high grade sharkskin covered P37 Kai-Gunto Navy Officer Sword scabbard.

The blade on this example was hand forged in the traditional manner, and the tang of the blade is signed (Mei) with the characters 江 村 作, read as EMURA SAKU, or "Emura made [this]". This is a very interesting and highly desirable WWII smith, whose real name was 江村 繁太郎 (EMURA SHIGETATO), but used the name 長運斎 江村 (CHOUNSAI EMURA) as a smith. We have compared signature on the tang (oshigata) to other blades and this is definitely a blade by Emura, with the distinctive stylization of the "江" character. Please see figure "B" on this page at the Japanese Sword Index: CHOUNSAI EMURA.

Emura was originally from Tokushima in Shikoku, and operated a sword smithing school on the grounds of the Okayama Prison, which he was the head of. He made sword blades himself and also trained prisoners to make sword blades in support of the Japanese war effort. He made numerous very good blades which are now much sought after by collectors and students of the Japanese sword, though he himself was not a professional swordsmith, and made them only as a hobby before the war. The swords he made were in the BIZEN tradition, and normally featured SUGUHA (straight) or CHOJI-MIDARE (sometimes mixed with GUNOME-MIDARE) HAMON temper lines. His swords have been judged as HOZON by the NBTHK, and are considered true GENDAITO.

The blade has the following period correct features, indicating it was forged in the traditional manner using folded steel made from TAMAGAHANE (玉鋼 - precious steel) smelted iron sand:

- Hole in the tang is punched and not drilled.

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

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

- Visible HADA (grain) in the body of the blade and lamination in the temper line.

Offered in very good condition, the blade is still quite sharp and attractive. The polish is still in very good condition, and the aspects of the blade are relatively easy to see. It does show signs of wear, cleaning, and light oxidation in areas. There are some minor bends on the blade edge, and also several areas of oxidation at the very edge, which were cleaned aggressively to remove the staining and rust. Blade length is approximately 26 ⅜ inches and overall length 36 ¾ inches. The katana has a handmade blade with a FUTSU 普通 (regular) NAKAGO (tang) with an IRIYAMAGATA (入山形 - asymmetrical pointed) nakago-jiri (tang tip).

The main edge HAMON (刃文 - wave or temper line) is mostly visible, and is a very attractive SUGUHA - 直刃 (straight) shape with a bit of undulation. It exhibits a good amount of internal activity, and lamination is visible in many areas. Along the transition there are clear NIE (沸え) crystals visible, with cloudy areas of NIOI (匂い) in the body of the hamon. It shows the characteristic chatoyancy / flip flip on the light caused by the variation in steel crystal structures. The body of the blade (JI) also shows HADA (肌 - grain), which is the MASAME (柾目 - Straight) pattern, typical of late SHOWA period blades. The blade has a proper geometric KISSAKI (切先 - point of blade) with a faint YOKOTE (横手 - line between ji and kissaki). The BOSHI ( 帽子 - tip temper line) is of the KO-MARU (小丸 - small round turnback) shape, and is visible with a relatively clear transition.

The blade mountings (KOSHIRAE) are in very good condition, and are the classic WWII era Type 98 Army Shin-Gunto style, originally browned brass with gilt accents, but now worn. These include a brass MOKKO GATA (木瓜形 - four-lobed quince shape) type TSUBA (cross guard), which is the high grade "pierced" style". The blade collar (HABAKI) is gilt copper with a lovely texture, showing some loss of the gilding. There are also brass Imperial Army cherry blossom MENUKI (grip decorations), and a nice brass KABUTO-GANE (Pommel Cap), which is missing the end loop. The cross guard and pommel cap have matching cherry blossom motifs, which are also found on the scabbard fittings, and the FUCHI (grip collar). There are four SEPPA (spacers) around the cross guard to keep the fit tight, though it is a bit loose.

The handle (TSUKA) has an SA-ME (Stingray Skin) grip, which is partly intact, showing some areas of cracking and flaking from age and use. It definitely looks to be real stingray skin, and not the synthetic celluloid version sometimes used. It has a complete golden brown ITO (cloth binding), which shows staining and worked in dirt and oils throughout. It holds the two menuki in place well, and there is a single wooden securing peg (MEKUGI) still present, which looks to be a post war fabricated replacement.

Matching number • 5 3 is stamped on the Tsuba and all four Seppa, all of which are inlet for a scabbard lock, however it is broken. It is marked 5 3 as well, and the top of the FUCHI collar and TSUKA handle are marked with 五 三 - 5 3, indicating that the hilt fittings are matched, made for this specific blade. We also noted that the TSUBA is marked with the logo of the Suya Sho Ten company. This is a Tokyo company mainly made gunto koshirae during WWII.

The wood scabbard (SAYA) is wrapped in lacquered sharkskin shagreen, and has all gold washed iron fittings except for the KOIGUCHI (scabbard mouth / throat), which is gold washed brass. The throat fitting and lower hanger ring are a bit loose, while the upper hanger ring, SEMEGANE ring, and SAYAJIRI end fitting are all still tightly attached. The scabbard is covered in sharkskin shagreen, which was coated with black URUSHI lacquer and then sanded down to give it a great look. Over time, this has unfortunately degraded, causing the skin to shrunk and pull apart at the seams along the edge, and between the pieces used. Both hanger rings are still present, and this is a very nice service used example of a high grade Kai-Gunto scabbard.

This Japanese WWII Type 98 Shin-Gunto combines a traditionally forged blade signed by Chounsai Emura with a matched set of Army hilt fittings numbered 53. The blade remains in very good condition, with a visible suguha hamon, masame hada, clear boshi, and only localized wear, oxidation, and minor edge bends from age and use. The Type 98 koshirae retains its pierced tsuba, four numbered seppa, cherry-blossom fittings, stingray-skin grip, and complete ito, although the scabbard-lock mechanism is broken, the samegawa shows cracking and flaking, and the mekugi appears to be a later replacement. The original Army scabbard is no longer present, and the sword is now housed in a higher-grade sharkskin-covered Kai-Gunto naval scabbard that shows seam separation, loose fittings, and age-related deterioration. Despite the mismatched scabbard, the signed Emura blade and matched Army hilt fittings make this a particularly interesting and cohesive wartime sword assembly.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 25 ¼"
Blade Style: Shinogi-Zukuri (鎬造)
Handle length: 9 ⅜"
Overall length: 36 ¾“
Scabbard Length: 27 ¾"

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.