Original Item: One of a Kind. Recently purchased at a recent military auction, this is very nice service used condition USGI Bring-Back wartime production Japanese officer Katana in the Type 98 Shin-Gunto (九八式軍刀 kyūhachi-shiki guntō) setting. The Type 98 fittings (koshirae) are slightly simplified compared to the earlier Type 94. The blade tang is signed by the maker, and appears to have been hand forged at arsenal. 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 blade on this example was hand forged at arsenal, and the tang of the blade is signed (Mei) with the characters 特殊 鋼以 井戸 秀俊 作, which is read as TOKUSHU-KŌ MOTTE IDO HIDETOSHI SAKU. This roughly translates to "Made by Hidetoshi Ido from Special Steel", which indicates it was not made with TAMAGAHANE steel, the traditional laminated type. There were several types of "new" or "special" steel designed during the war, meant to be a replacement for this very labor intensive traditional method. This smith is also listed as 井戸 秀俊 (Ido Hidetoshi). Research indicates that smith's real name was 井戸 俊三 - Ido Shunzō, so in this case Shunzō is their given name, while Hidetoshi is their "swordsmith" name. Their name appears in the Seki Tanrensho Booklet printed in 1939. Hidetoshi was active during the Showa Period and worked at Seki arsenal in Gifu, Mino Province (美濃国), and is stamped 関 (SEKI) on the tang. They made blades from both traditional steel and commercially produced steel. We have confirmed the signature (Oshigata) with other examples of his work.

Hidetoshi was a very well regarded smith during the Showa era, and their teacher was AMEHIDE, who was himself a student of KANENAGA. Both of these were very well regarded smiths. In 1942, Kurihara Hikosaburo ranked about 400 Showa Era smiths, and graded them into 7 different levels with 1 being the highest. Hidetoshi is rated at level 6, 中下作 (CHUGE SAKU or Above Average Work) = 良工の上位 (Ryoko no Joi - Superior work), and also at level 7, 下作 (GE SAKU or Lower Work) = 良工の列 (Ryoko no Retsu or Good work). We would assume that they submitted two blades for the competition. Blades by this smith are very well made compared to most made at Seki Arsenal, most of whom were not even rated.

Offered in good condition, the blade on this example has a good amount of overall oxidation staining, with some evidence of past peppering, now cleaned away. Due to this the temper line is really only visible on the 8 inches closest to the HABAKI, and the polish is quite degraded due to this. There is no major damage to the blade or edge, but it definitely looks to have seen long use during WWII. Blade length is approximately 25 ½ inches and overall length 36 ¾ inches. The katana has an arsenal forged blade with a Futsu 普通 (regular) Nakago (tang) with a Haagari (asymmetrical rounded) nakago-jiri (tang tip).

The blade has a proper kissaki (tip) with a faint yokote (division between body and tip) and boshi (tip temper line) which is to faded to see the shape. The main edge Temper line (HAMON - 刃文) is faintly visible, and looks to be a GUNOME-MIDARE (互の目乱れ - irregularly undulating) type, with some areas of YAHAZU (矢筈 - arrow notch shape). We can also see some NIE crystallization at the edge of the temper line, as well as the correct NIOI cloudiness in the hamon, though it is faint. The blade was most likely oil quenched, which is standard for arsenal forged blades.

The blade mountings are the classic WWII era Type 98 Army Shin-Gunto style, brass with gilt accents, which have partly worn away. It has the typical rounded brass "quince" (mokko gata) 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, which are also found on the scabbard fittings, and the fuchi (grip collar). There are three metal seppa (spacers) around the tsuba to keep the fit tight. The blade collar (habaki) looks to be plated copper or bronze alloy.

The handle (tsuka) shows light to moderate use, and still has a very nice Sa-Me (Stingray Skin) grip, which is mostly intact, and looks to be natural, not imitation. This is mostly intact, and has the, and has a complete brown Ito (cloth binding), which shows light staining and wear from use in the field. There is a single wooden securing peg (mekugi) still present, which looks to be post war replacement, but still quite old. There is no loop on the end of the tsuka, so it was probably removed long ago.

The Scabbard (SAYA) is steel over wood, and in very good condition, with most of the original textured brown paint intact. There is some light dentin and scraping, so it does look to have seen some real use in the field. The brass hardware still retains some of the original brown finish and gilding. The scabbard has the correct single hanger loop of the Type 98 style.

A lovely Japanese Type 98 Shin-gunto by a known maker, complete with scabbard. This is a real USGI bring-back from WWII, ready to display and cherish!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 25 ½”
Blade Style: Shinogi-Zukuri (鎬造)
Overall length: 36 ¾“
Scabbard Length: 28 ½”

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.