Original Item: Only One Available. Purchased recently at a large military show, this is a very nice wartime High Grade Japanese Naval officer Katana in the Pattern 1937 Kai-Gunto setting. A Kai-Guntō (海軍刀, naval sword) is a weapon and symbol of rank used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the WWII Period. This is a very nice example, and features a traditionally made and maker signed blade, something we rarely see in Naval fittings. It still has the original brown tassel, which was used for all Naval officer grades.

The blade on this example was hand forged in the traditional manner, and the tang of the blade is signed (Mei) with the characters 兼 波 - KANE NAMI. This smith, who also signed blades 伊 奈 波 兼 波 (Inanami Kanenami), is a known maker of Kai-gunto during WWII. Research done by a member of the Nihonto Message Board has cataloged many blades by this maker, and they range from lower grade stainless examples, to traditionally made blades such as this one. We have confirmed the signature (Oshigata) with other examples of his work. For more information please see JAPANESE NAVAL SWORDS WW 2 Swordsmiths & Workshops: Part 2, compiled by Malcom E. Cox, pages 33-39.

The blade is handmade and was expertly crafted by a sword maker, which is indicated by a few tell-tale characteristics that include:

- Hole in the tang is punched and not drilled. (there is an additional drilled hole for some reason)

- Visible temper line ("hamon") with crystallization visible (Nie and Nioi)

- Blade is signed on the tang by the maker ("Mei") and dated

- Blade has a proper geometric Yokote at the tip (kissaki) with a Boshi (tip temper line)

The blade is very good condition, with just some very minor edge dents / bends, which can only be felt by very carefully touching the edge. The polish is in good good shape, though the blade looks to have been cleaned multiple times with traditional Uchiko powder, made from the finest grit polishing stones. This has made some aspects of the blade faint, and left "swirl marks" in areas. There also looks to have been some polished out past scuffs on the surface. Blade length is 24 ⅜ inches and overall length 35 ⅜ inches.

Unlike most Kai-Gunto swords we see, this blade of this example was made in the traditional fashion from folded steel made from TAMAGAHANE steel. It features a Futsu 普通 (regular) shaped Nakago (Tang) with a Haagari (asymmetrical rounded) nakago-jiri (tang tip). The blade has a proper geometric KISSAKI (切先 - tip of blade) with a faint YOKOTE (横手 - transition to the tip), however the BOSHI (帽子 -tip temper line) can no longer be visualized. The main edge Temper line (HAMON - 刃文) is fully visible, and is a very attractive YAHAZU MIDARE (矢筈乱れ - irregular arrow notched)shape, with some nice internal activity. Along the transition there are clear NIE crystals visible, with cloudy areas of NIOI in the body of the hamon, which show chatoyancy. The body of the blade (JI) no longer shows any hada (肌 - grain), due to cleaning, and must be looked at in the light to see the aspects in reflection.

Japanese Kai-Gunto naval officers swords are somewhat rare, given that they usually went down with the ships. This particular example is definitely high grade, with a hand made blade, and excellent fittings.

The fittings (koshirae) heavy round tsuba (cross guard), with 4 Seppa (spacers) and two O-Seppa (Large spacers) around the tsuba that are large and highly stylized, correct for the Kai-Gunto pattern. All of these are non-magnetic except for the O-Seppa, which are made from blacked copper plated steel. The tsuka (handle) has two gold highlighted steel Cherry-Blossom menuki (grip decorations), and a nice iron Kabuto-Gane (End Cap), all of which show some loss of the gilding. There is a single wooden securing peg still present, which looks to be a replacement. The grip has a black shark skin grip under the complete brown colored Ito (cloth binding) with a fine brass decorative collar (fuchi). There is a very nice service used condition brown rank tassel attached to the end loop of the tsuka, which shows wear and some small tears.

Condition of the blade, scabbard and fittings indicates that this katana did see service during the war. The grip wrapping shows some dirt and oil worked into the cording, though there is no tearing or other major damage. As typical of the pattern, Cherry Blossom motifs appear on many of the fittings. The handle is tight to the blade, with secure spacers and just a bit of wobble in the tsuba.

The Wood scabbard has a standard black Urushi lacquer finish, and has gilt iron fittings, except for the KOIGUCHI (throat fitting), which is brass. The gilt finish is relatively well retained, with some loss from wear. They are mostly still attached well to the scabbard, with some wobbled due to the glue degrading. The black enamel finish on the scabbard is still in very good condition, showing only some minor chipping and splitting on the seam. This has allowed the underlying cloth layer to be seen, which also can be seen a bit in the texture of the lacquer finish.

Really a nice example of an Imperial Japanese Navy Kai-Gunto, handmade by a known smith and complete with its original scabbard. These are getting hard to find in any condition.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 24 ⅜"
Blade Style: Shinogi-Zukuri (鎬造)
Overall length: 35 ⅜“
Scabbard Length: 27 ⅞"

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.