Original Item: Only One Available. Purchased recently from a military show, this is a very nice wartime High Grade Japanese Naval officer Wakizashi Short Sword 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.

With a blade 22 5/8 inches in length, this example is technically a wakizashi 脇差, "side inserted sword". It is however very close to Katana length, and has the same Shinogi-Zukuri blade shape seen on a Katana, so it would be considered an O-Wakizashi (大脇差 or "large side inserted sword"). Wartime dated Showa era military Wakizashi are quite rare, and this is the first example we have seen of a Kai-Gunto Wakizashi with a wartime blade!

The blade on this example was hand forged in the traditional manner, and the tang of the blade is signed (Mei) with the characters 祐久, which are read SUKEHISA. The other side of the tang bears the date when the blade was produced, in the standard long form indicating years into the current emperor's reign: 昭 和 十 八 年. This would be read: SHOWA (current reigning emperor) Juu-Hachi Nen (18th year of reign - 1943). We have not been able to find much about the smith SUKEHISA, other than they worked during the WWII Period. This most likely indicates that this was a bespoke blade, not one made at arsenal, and it was made for a specific officer.

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.

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

- Visible Grain ("hada") in the body of the blade ("ji)

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

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

- Blade wounds ("kizu") visible on the blade, only possible on handmade blades.

The blade is very good condition, showing only light wear, with no dents or chips except for a small chip at the very tip of the blade. Polish is in good shape, though there are signs of light oxidation staining having been cleaned off with traditional Uchiko powder, made from the finest grit polishing stones. Navy swords are much more prone to oxidation due to the salty sea air. This has made aspects of the blade faint. Blade length is 22 5/8 inches and overall length 34 inches. It features a Futsu 普通 (regular) shaped Nakago (Tang) with a Naagari (asymmetrical rounded) nakago-jiri (tang tip).

Unlike most Kai-Gunto swords we see, this example has a hand-made traditionally made blade, complete with a vibrant temper line (hamon). The blade has a true hamon (wave), or temper line, which is visible in the light along the edge of the blade.

The shape is a very attractive NOTARE (wave) shape with very gentle swells.. There is visible NIE crystallization at the edge of the temper line, as well as the correct NIOI cloudiness in the hamon. The blade body (JI) also has MASAME HADA (straight grain) which can be seen under the light. There are also some blade wounds (KIZU), mostly WARE lamination lines, but also a few FUKURE carbon pits. There are some areas of wear and light scuffing, which has made the Yokote faint. We can also see the BOSHI (tip temper line) but the shape is unclear due to wear.

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.

It has a 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, with the tsuba and O-seppa being made from blacked copper plated brass, and are inlet for the functional scabbard lock. The tsuka (handle) has two gold highlighted Cherry-Blossom menuki (grip decorations), and a nice brass Kabuto-Gane (End Cap) with a brass loop through the end. There is a single wooden securing peg still present, which looks to be original. The grip has an excellent black lacquered stingray skin (Sa-Me) under the complete brown colored Ito (cloth binding) with fine brass decorative collar (fuchi).

Condition of the blade, scabbard and fittings is very good, indicating light use, though the wrapping does show a bit of light staining. There also is some light oxidation and plating loss on the various metal fittings. 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 (saya) is wrapped in lacquered sharkskin shagreen, and has all gilt brass fittings, with much of the gilding remaining. As is typical, the glue holding the fittings in place has weakened over the decades, and all are now somewhat loose on the scabbard. The sharkskin covering is still in great shape, with most of the lacquer intact. There is just a bit of lacquer loss along the seam. Both hanger rings are still present, making this a really great example of a high grade scabbard. The koguchi (throat) is inlet for a scabbard lock, and it correctly locks onto the handle.

The tsuba, O-seppa, Seppa, Fuchi, and the end of tsuka are all marked with matching number 97. There are no markings visible inside the saya due to wear. This indicates that this set of KOSHIRAE (fittings) are a matched set, all made for this specific blade. All of the metal fittings are non-magnetic, a mixture of gilt brass, as well as blacked copper plated brass (tsuba).

Really a great example of a rare high grade Imperial Japanese Navy Kai-Gunto Wakizashi, handmade by a known smith and complete with its original sharkskin covered scabbard. These are getting hard to find in any condition, especially in this shorter blade length!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 22 5/8"
Blade Style: Katana
Overall length: 34“
Scabbard Length: 26 1/2"

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.