Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent condition katana. It was made for a Japanese officer before WWII but is nicely signed by the blade maker. The blade is in very good condition with only a few very minor specs, it is still sharp and nick free. Blade length is 27.25" and overall length 37.75". Handmade blade, with one mounting hole in the squared tang. Multiple temper lines visible.
One side of the tang bears the makers name: 吉近 or YOSHICHIKA. This smith is listed in the Seki Tanrensho Booklet printed in 1939. Their real name was 吉岡 鉄次郎 - Yoshioka Tetsujirō. It was common for smiths to use part of their real name in their "swordsmith" name. The other side is dated, however the second character of the year is unclear, so all we know is that it was made during 1935-1944.
Nice brass tsuba (cross guard) with gold highlighted menuki (grip decoration), and a nice gold highlighted Kashira (End Cap), bamboo securing peg still present. Excellent synthetic stingray Sa-Me (grip) with complete Ito (cloth binding). The release/lock button for the scabbard is missing.
Steel scabbard with wood lining, nice brass copper and gold highlights with no dents or dings.
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 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.
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