Item:
ON3723

Original WWII Japanese Handmade Katana Samurai Sword by SUKENOBU with Painted Scabbard

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. Purchased directly from a WW2 USMC veteran's family this is a wonderful condition Japanese katana. The blade is genuine to a few tell tale characteristics that include:

- Single-hole tang.

- Tang is signed by the maker! One side is engraved with a MEI (name) the other is painted with a matching number

- Holes in tang is drilled, consistent with early 20th century manufacture.

- Folded steel blade (fold lines are evident on the spine)

- Vibrant visible temper line ("hamon").

Offered in very good condition with an incredible temper line, it is still razor sharp and nearly nick free. Blade length is approximately 26" and overall length 36". Handmade blade, with one mounting hole in the Iriyamagata (asymmetrical pointed) tang.

The tang of the blade is signed by the maker: 濃州 住 亮信 作 - NOSHU JU SUKENOBU SAKU. This roughly translates to "Sukenobu made this in Mino Province (noshu)". This smith is listed in the Seki Tanrensho Booklet printed in 1939. Their real name was 土岐 雄一 - Toki Yuuichi. There is also a  (SHOWA) arsenal stamp on the tang.

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. NAGAMITSU is listed as a 中作 (CHU SAKU) level smith, which is the 5th rank out of 7, an "above average" level smith.

Round tsuba (cross guard) with menuki (grip decoration), and a nice Kashira (End Cap), one bamboo securing peg still present. Excellent faux stingray Sa-Me (grip) with complete Ito (cloth binding). The Scabbard (saya) is wood, hand painted with traditional Japanese dragons and in very nice condition with original period paint.

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.

  • This product is available for international shipping.
  • Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Cash For Collectibles