Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original Japanese WWII high-grade officer katana mounted in Type 98 Shin-Gunto (九八式軍刀 kyūhachi-shiki guntō) military fittings and signed on the tang HIZEN NO KUNI YOSHITADA. The opposite side bears a KIGEN 2600 HARU (Spring 1940) date inscription. The sword is presented in honest service used condition with a 26 1/4" blade, pierced brass tsuba, genuine same grip covering, eight seppa, functional scabbard lock, and its original style steel over wood Type 98 scabbard. The blade appears to have been traditionally forged, though its old non-traditional cleaning and polishing have obscured the finer characteristics of the steel.

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.

The blade on this example was hand forged in the traditional manner using folded steel made from TAMAGAHANE (玉鋼 - precious steel) smelted iron. The tang of the blade is signed (Mei) with the characters 肥 前 國 吉 忠, read as HIZEN NO KUNI YOSHITADA (Yoshitada in Hizen Province). The 前 (ZEN) character used on this blade is the correct modified version used by many members of the Hizen school, which was a famous school of swordsmithing, with a lineage reaching back hundreds of years.

This smith is listed in Markus Sesko's Index of Japanese Swordsmiths:

YOSHITADA (吉忠), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Saga – “Hizen no Kuni Yoshitada kinsaku” (肥前国吉忠謹作), “Yoshitada” (吉忠), real name Kinoshita Kōichi (木下幸一), born 1893, he worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō, jōko no jōi (Akihide), First Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihontō Denrankai (新作日本刀展覧会, 1941)

Yoshitada was active during the Showa period, and looks to have made high grade traditionally made blades. This smith is listed in Kurihara Hikosaburo's 1942 listing of Wartime Japanese swordsmiths (tosho). He reported about 400 gunto tosho's ranking at the Tosho Banzuke (刀匠番附), and classified these into 7 ranks. KANENORI is listed as a 中上作 (CHUJO SAKU) = 上工の上位 (Joko no Joi) level smith, which is the 4th rank out of 7, an "upper middle" level smith. They are also is rated at 中作 (CHU SAKU or Medium work) = 上工の列 (Joko no Retsu or Good Work), which is the 5th rank. We assume that they supplied two blades for the listing. Considering that most wartime smiths were not even rated, this is quite a high ranking.

The other side of the blade has a NENGO (date), which reads 紀 元 二 千 六 百 年之春, read as KIGEN NISEN ROKU-HYAKU NEN KORE HARU. This roughly translates to "This was made 2600 years since the beginning of time in spring", which in this case is the foundation of the Japanese empire, or 1941. This began with the reign of Emperor Jimmu (神武天皇 - Jinmu Tennō) in 660 BCE. This format was often used by higher grade smiths, particularly those of ancient schools. We also noted that the sword is signed TACHI-MEI style, with the signature and date on the opposite sides as they usually are.

The YASURIME (鑢目 - file marks) on the tang are still partially visible, though there is overall oxidation and patination on the tang from exposure to moisture. The TAGANE-MAKURA (raised area around the mei) present, the TAGANE (chisel marks) are strong, and the MEI signature is easy to read, as we would expect on a Showa era blade.

This Shin-Gunto Katana is offered in service used condition, and looks to have seen extensive use during the war. The blade polish is no longer present, and we can see signs of extensive cleaning to remove oxidation, and some past light pitting in the blade. We can see signs of mechanical polishing or resurfacing near the MUNE-MACHI, but it does not look to have removed more than a fraction of a millimeter of material. The edge is still extremely sharp, so it should be handled with care. We do not know when the blade was resurfaced in a non-traditional manner. Blade length is approximately 26 ¼ inches and overall length 37 inches. The katana has a handmade blade with a FUTSU 普通 (regular) NAKAGO (tang) with a HAAGARI (asymmetrically rounded) nakago-jiri (tang tip).

Due to the blade condition, we can no longer see any of the blade aspects, and the finish was buffed in the past, which does not allow the finer aspects of the blade to show. That requires traditional polishing by a trained TOGISHI, who use a multi-step polishing process using progressive grit stones in different directions to bring out the temper line and grain.

The blade mountings are the classic WWII era "high grade" Type 98 Army Shin-Gunto style, brass with gilt accents, which like many we see are now faded due to wear. It has the typical brass MOKKO GATA (木瓜形 - four-lobed quince shape) type TSUBA (cross guard), which is a high grade "perforated" style. The handle features brass Imperial Army cherry blossom menuki (grip decorations), 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 eight metal SEPPA (spacers) around the tsuba to keep the fit tight, and all are inlet for the scabbard lock, which is fully functional. The blade collar (HABAKI) looks to be copper or bronze alloy, and is made from two pieces, as often seen on older blades and higher end production. The handle (tsuka) has a service worn stingray skin (Sa-Me) grip, with an intact ITO (cloth binding). The stingray skin is definitely genuine and not synthetic, showing some cracking and damage from age and use. There is staining to the wrapping with worn in dirt and oil, showing a bit fraying and erosion from long use and moisture exposure. The securing pin (MEKUGI) is made from brass, often seen on high end Shin-gunto. The hilt is still relatively tight on the tang, though the tsuba does wobble a bit.

The Scabbard (SAYA) is steel over wood, and in very good condition, with most of the original textured brown paint intact. There is a crush dented area near the SAYAJIRI end fitting, which does not interfere with sheathing the blade. It does look to have seen some real use in the field, and the brass hardware now displays an oxidized patina, with the original gilding completely gone. The scabbard has the correct single hanger loop of the Type 98 style.

With its Hizen no Kuni Yoshitada signature, Spring Kigen 2600 date, elaborate perforated Type 98 tsuba, eight seppa, two piece habaki, genuine same grip, functional scabbard lock, and service used steel over wood scabbard, this is a particularly interesting wartime Japanese officer sword. The extensive past blade cleaning, loss of traditional polish, old pitting, mechanical resurfacing, tang oxidation, grip wear, loose tsuba, and dented scabbard are all fully disclosed. It would be especially suitable for a Japanese WWII officer sword, signed wartime blade, Hizen tradition, Type 98 Shin-Gunto, or advanced military edged weapon collection.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 26 ¼”
Blade Style: Shinogi-Zukuri (鎬造) Katana
Handle Length: 9 ½“
Overall Length: 37“
Scabbard Length: 29”

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.