Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Purchased directly from a veteran's family this is a very good condition Japanese officer katana. The blade is hand made, indicated by a few tell tale characteristics that include:
- Double-hole tang.
- Tang is signed by the maker on both sides!
- Holes in tang are punch not drilled
- Folded steel blade (fold lines are evident on the spine)
Offered in good condition with a clean bright blade, this sword has definitely seen use. The cutting edge has some small nicks, and the polish of the blade has been worn, making the hamon hard to see. There also appears to have been some sharpening on the edge of the blade, so it is very sharp, but it was not done traditionally. Blade is somewhat heavy and the length is approximately 26" and overall length 37". Handmade blade with two mounting holes in the squared off tang.
One side of the tang bears the makers name: 弘 道 or HIROMICHI. This smith is listed in the Seki Tanrensho Booklet printed in 1939. Their real name was 丹羽 弘 - Niwa Hiroshi. It was common for smiths to use part of their real name in their "swordsmith" name. The other side is dated 昭 和 二 十 年 一 月, for January of 1945.
This sword is mounted in the typical late WW2 setting. Oval tsuba (cross guard) with plain blacked brass cherry blossom menuki (grip decoration), and a steel kashira (End Cap), with both securing pegs present. Has a nice brass habcki (blade collar), and two seppa (spacers) surrounding the tsuba. The end of the tsuka (handle) where the blade inserts has a nice blacked brass fuchi (handle collar) embossed with cherry blossoms. The Excellent synthetic stingray Sa-Me (grip) with complete Ito (cloth binding). The Scabbard (saya) is steel and in very nice condition with original WW2 paint and functional locking spring.
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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