{"product_id":"original-japanese-wwii-type-98-shin-gunto-katana-sword-by-kanemasa-with-leather-covered-wood-scabbard-and-company-grade-tassel","title":"Original Japanese WWII Type 98 Shin-Gunto Katana Sword by KANEMASA with Leather Covered Wood Scabbard and Company Grade Tassel","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: One of a Kind. Recently purchased from a private collection, this is lovely 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 in the traditional manner. 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. It also has a very nice company grade rank tassel attached to the pommel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade on this example looks to have been hand forged from TAMAHAGANE steel, and the tang of the blade is signed (Mei) with the characters \u003cstrong\u003e濃 州 住 兼 正\u003c\/strong\u003e, which is read NOSHU JU KANEMASA, or \"[made by] KANEMASA in NOSHU (Mino Province). We have checked their signature against known examples (OSHIGATA), and it is a match. There were several different smiths using the KANEMASA name in Mino and at Seki arsenal, we were able to find a reference to this specific style of signature in Markus Sesko's\u003cem\u003e Index of Japanese Swordsmiths\u003c\/em\u003e, and this is KANEMASA's entry:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eKanemasa (兼正), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – „Nōshū-jū Kanemasa“ (濃州住兼正), „Shuryūshi Kanemasa“ (炷龍子兼正), „Nōshū Seki-jūnin Kanemasa“ (濃州関住人兼正), civilian name „Ōno Masaki“ (大野正己), born in February 1923, he was adopted by the Ōno family and studied under Morita Kaneshige (森田兼重), gō „Shuryūshi“ (炷龍子), younger brother of Yoshida Masaaki (吉田正明)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDefinitely an interesting smith, who looks to have made traditionally blade blades and also arsenal made blades. Age and wear have made the YASURIME (鑢目 - file marks) on the tang faint, and given it a lovely patina, with some areas of oxidation scaling. There still is some of the TAGANE-MAKURA (raised area around the mei) present, and the TAGANE (chisel marks) are quite faint, however the MEI signature is still relatively easy to read.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade is handmade and was expertly crafted by a sword maker, which is indicated by a few tell-tale characteristics that include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Blade is signed on the tang by the maker (\"Mei\")\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Hole in the tang is punched and not drilled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Vibrant visible temper line (\"hamon\") with crystallization visible (Nie and Nioi)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Blade has a proper geometric Yokote at the tip (kissaki) with a Boshi (tip temper line)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Visible HADA (grain) in the body of the blade and lamination in the temper line.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOffered in very good condition, the blade is still \u003cstrong\u003eVERY sharp\u003c\/strong\u003e and looks great. There are no\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003enicks or major dents on the edge that we can see, just a bit of wear from the scabbard near the hilt. Overall the polish on the blade is in very good condition, with just a few small specks of oxidation staining on most of the blade, though the tip area has some more advanced staining, probably from contact with the scabbard. The aspects of the blade are still relatively easy to see in the light. Blade length is approximately 25 ½ inches and overall length 36 ⅝ inches. The katana has a handmade blade with a Futsu 普通 (regular) Nakago (tang) with an Iriyamagata (asymmetrical pointed) nakago-jiri (tang tip).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade has a proper kissaki (tip) with a clear yokote (division between body and tip) and boshi (tip temper line). The main edge HAMON (刃文 - temper line) is fully visible, and looks to be a very attractive GUNOME (箱互の目 - zig zag undulating) shape. Along the transition there are clear NIE crystals visible, with cloudy areas of NIOI in the body of the hamon, and some nice activity. This includes ASHI, which are lines of NIOI running towards the edge. The body of the blade (JI) also shows hada (grain), which is the MASAME (straight) pattern, very fine and tight, typical of Showa era blades. The tip temper line (boshi) is visible, however due to the oxidation staining, we cannot make out what shape it is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade mountings are the classic WWII era Type 98 Army Shin-Gunto style, browned brass with gilt accents, which have mostly 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. All are inlet for the scabbard lock, however the lock itself is broken, and the scabbard is also not set up for one. There may be some seppa missing, and the tsuba is fairly loose on the tang. The blade collar (habaki) looks to be nickel plated copper or bronze alloy, which has had the plating worn away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe handle (tsuka) definitely shows a good amount of use, and a good amount of the wood near the top on the scabbard lock side is missing. It still has a very nice Sa-Me (Stingray Skin) grip, which is mostly intact, and looks to be natural, not imitation, which is why it has cracked in so many areas. It has a complete golden brown Ito (cloth binding), which shows wear and staining from use in the field. There is a single wooden securing peg (mekugi) still present, which is a fabricated replacement. There is a steel loop on the end of the handle, which shows some wear and oxidation. The handle does not quite fit correctly anymore, and due to this the seppa and tsuba are quite loose on the blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAttached to the pommel cap loop is a Brown and Blue colored Tassel, which is in good service used condition. This signifies that this was carried by a \"company grade\" officer, which would be a Lieutenant or Captain rank. It is totally correct, still tied around the end loop, with the colors faded over time\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Scabbard (saya) on this example is wood finished with black URUSHI lacquer, and looks to originally have been the traditional style, with a KURIKATA knob for attachment of a SAGEO sword cord. This protrusion was however removed, and a leather field cover was placed over the scabbard, along with a steel hanger ring on a loop. This was done commonly later in the war, as it required far less materials and time than the standard steel scabbard with a wooden insert. The scabbard has definitely seen use, and the leather field cover is now in very delicate condition, with a good portion already missing. The black finish on the scabbard shows chipping and wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely Japanese Type 98 Shin-gunto by a known maker, complete with an aged scabbard and rank tassel. This is a real USGI bring-back from WWII, ready to display and cherish!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlade Length: 25 ½”\u003cbr\u003eBlade Style: Shinogi-Zukuri Katana\u003cbr\u003eOverall length: 36 ⅝“\u003cbr\u003eScabbard Length: 29”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Samurai sword has grown to be one of the most highly desired military antiques.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43887443869765,"sku":"ONSV23WFC73","price":2195.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV23WFC73__02.jpg?v=1761318787","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-japanese-wwii-type-98-shin-gunto-katana-sword-by-kanemasa-with-leather-covered-wood-scabbard-and-company-grade-tassel","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}