{"product_id":"original-wwii-japanese-army-type-95-nco-aluminum-handle-katana-sword-with-scabbard-matched-serial-47864","title":"Original WWII Japanese Army Type 95 NCO Aluminum Handle Katana Sword with Scabbard - Matched Serial 47864","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent original Imperial Japanese Army WWII \u003cstrong\u003eType 95 NCO sword\u003c\/strong\u003e, retaining its early-style cast aluminum hilt, machine-made fullered blade, steel scabbard, and most importantly, \u003cstrong\u003ematching serial number 47864 \u003c\/strong\u003eon both the blade and scabbard throat. Matching-number Type 95 swords are particularly desirable because the blade and scabbard were originally numbered together as a fitted military set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe end of WWII marked the beginning of the sword ownership ban in Japan. By law, Japanese citizens were forbidden to own swords. General McArthur did not want the general population to be able to arm again. Most soldiers and citizens surrendered their swords to the American occupying forces. The Americans destroyed a large number of swords by dumping them into the ocean or by melting them. But a small percentage made its way back to the United States and into the collector market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis lovely example is a genuine WWII Japanese Type 95 NCO Samurai Sword or katana, with aluminum handle construction and machine made fullered blade. Blade is 27 1\/2 inches long, with an overall length of 36 ⅜ inches. The grip wrapping and menuki are cast-formed out of aluminum, and then painted to give the illusion of fabric wrappings and gilt menuki. NCO Katanas were issued to soldiers who did not want to take their family sword to battle or who came from poor families that did not have swords to pass down through the generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe design copies the typical WWII Imperial Japanese Army style fittings, known as the \"New Military Sword\" ( 新軍刀 - shin guntou) style, with a single hanger ring and bolster on the scabbard. It is said that during battle soldiers would not use the ring but rather would stick the sword through the belt the same way as the Samurai in ancient times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll NCO swords were numbered. This example has\u003cstrong\u003e matching serial number 47864\u003c\/strong\u003e on both the blade and the throat of the scabbard. Most swords do not have matching numbers because somewhere along the life of the sword the scabbard was changed. Next to the serial on the blade is the\u003cstrong\u003e 東 (To)\u003c\/strong\u003e marking for \u003cstrong\u003eTokyo Arsenal.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Fuchi (grip collar) of the sword is marked with information related to the sword's production and inspection. While holding the sword hilt up, the first symbol on the left is a \u003cstrong\u003esingle line inside a cherry blossom\u003c\/strong\u003e, a known marking that has not yet been identified to any particular supplier. To the right of the logo is\u003cstrong\u003e 東\u003c\/strong\u003e for inspection by \u003cstrong\u003eTokyo arsenal,\u003c\/strong\u003e and all the way to the right is the \u003cstrong\u003e\"stacked cannonball\" \u003c\/strong\u003elogo of \u003cstrong\u003eKokura arsenal,\u003c\/strong\u003e where the sword was put into arsenal for issue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sword is complete with the metal locking spring tab that secures the blade to the scabbard. This prevents the sword from falling when the soldier is running. Traditionally this function is assigned to the Habaki (blade collar). But machine made swords like this one do not have the accuracy of manufacturing that enable the Habaki to perform such a function. The metal loop on the pommel is still present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe condition of this sword is excellent, with a blade showing just a few areas of scuffing and wear. There are just a few tiny nicks along the edge of the blade, and no signs of post war abuse. The olive brown paint on the pommel is retained in the recessed areas, and correctly does not run off the faux \"wrappings\", so we see no reason to think it has been repainted. There is also still most of the yellow paint highlighting on the \"menuki\" on the grip and on the cherry blossom on the pommel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tsuba (crossguard) is the early-mid war brass MOKKO GATA (quince) shape, with holes in both sides to reduce weight. Later swords would be fitted with simple iron round tsuba. The blade collar (habaki) is the standard brass. The scabbard is entirely painted in black, which was done over older paint but may have been done during the period. It definitely has seen some service, but there are no major dents we can see and it fits the sword well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are some Chinese replicas of these out there, however this sword is definitely genuine. It has the correct arsenal markings on the hilt collar (fuchi) and blade, indicating inspection by Kokura Arsenal. The spacers (seppa) are cast and rounded, while the replicas are crudely cut. The spacing from the top to the hanging ring is the correct length. Overall the fit and finish is definitely far above a replica, which can be seen in the photos.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of the\u003cstrong\u003e matching 47864 blade and scabbard numbers, early aluminum hilt, Tokyo inspection marking, surviving arsenal and contractor marks, brass mokko-gata guard, functional scabbard lock, well-retained grip paint, and excellent blade condition \u003c\/strong\u003emakes this a particularly strong example of the Imperial Japanese Army Type 95 NCO sword. The small edge nicks, scattered blade scuffing, and black-painted scabbard are the principal condition considerations, while the matched serial numbers and original early-pattern fittings remain its most important collector features.\u003cbr\u003eSpecifications:\u003cbr\u003eBlade Length: 27 1\/2\"\u003cbr\u003eBlade Style: Katana\u003cbr\u003eOverall length: 36 ⅜“\u003cbr\u003eScabbard Length: 28 ¾\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46197278867525,"sku":"ONJROCPC080","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/2763D645-2FAF-4FCB-93AC-52F98496EDC5.jpg?v=1793362651","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-wwii-japanese-army-type-95-nco-aluminum-handle-katana-sword-with-scabbard-matched-serial-47864","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}