Original Item: Only One Available. Purchased recently at a large military show, this is an exceptional WWII Imperial Japanese Navy officer's katana in the Pattern 1937 Kai-Gunto (海軍刀) setting, dated August 1943 and signed for manufacture by Tenshozan Tanrenjo. The sword is especially appealing for its excellent condition, matching assembly number 313 across the blade and fittings, black lacquered sharkskin covered scabbard, gilt nonmagnetic fittings, and original brown Naval officer tassel. It shows only light to moderate service wear and is a notably complete, high grade example.

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. For the Navy, which usually has black scabbards, when using sharkskin shagreen on a scabbard, it is first covered with black urushi lacquer, and then sanded down on all sides to remove the tops of the denticles on the sharkskin. This leaves a fantastic pattern of diamond-shaped flat denticles with a black background. Really a very attractive scabbard.

The blade is excellent condition and is still EXTREMELY sharp, so it should be handled with care. It shows little to no signs of use, with just a bit of wear to the faux hamon near the tip from insertion into the scabbard. The edge is completely intact save for a tiny dent about 5 inches above the crossguard. Blade length is 26 ⅛ inches and overall length 37 ⅝ inches. It has a factory forged steel blade, with a single mounting hole in the standard FUTSU 普通 (regular) NAKAGO (tang) with a HAAGARI (刃上がり- asymmetrical rounded) NAKAGO-JIRI (tang tip).

Unlike most arsenal forged blades, the blade bears a signature (MEI) on the tang, which reads 天勝山 鍛練場 鍛 之, read as TENSHOZAN TANRENJO KITAU KORE, or "Tenshozan Tanrenjo Forged This". This was a was a small forge and shrine set up within the precincts of the Komyo-ji temple in Kamakura. It is on the Yokosuka peninsula and in the eastern part of Sagami Bay. The forge made anti-rust and stainless steel swords (KAI-GUNTO) for the Navy. The working group was quiet small so production was limited. Typically these blades have a stamp of a single IKARI (anchor) on the NAKAGO (tang), but this example does not, and has the full name of the forge, possibly because it was most likely bespoke, based on the high grade fittings. For more information please see JAPANESE NAVAL SWORDS WW 2 Swordsmiths & Workshops, compiled by Malcom E. Cox, pages 3, 81-87, with this exact marking shown on page 85. Blades by this maker are definitely quite rare compared to the usual Naval Arsenal produced examples,

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 八 月 日. This would be read: SHOWA (current reigning emperor) Juu-Hachi Nen (18th year of reign - 1943) Hachi-Gatsu (8th Month - August). The tang is also stamped with 3 1 3, a number to match it to its fittings.

The blade retains all of the original factory finish, with a simulated temper line, and with the total absence of rust and staining, even on the tang, we are certain that this is a stainless steel blade. Japanese Kai-Gunto naval officers swords are somewhat rare, given that they often went down with the ships. This particular example is in a higher grade Pattern 1937 setting, with gilt non-magnetic bronze fittings and a magnificent sharkskin shagreen covered scabbard, indicating this may be a bespoke example for a high ranking naval officer.

It has a heavy round blacked brass 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, and they are entirely non-magnetic. The TSUKA (handle) has two gold highlighted Cherry-Blossom menuki (grip decorations), and a nice brass KABUTO-GANE (End Cap), which originally had a rope loop through it, however that tore away, and we can only see the very ends still inside. It is however still included, as the rank tassel is still wrapped around it, and itself wrapped around the top of the handle to secure it. The tassel itself is in excellent condition, showing just a bit of fading.

There is a single MEKUGI wooden securing peg still present, which looks to be original. The grip has an excellent black lacquered stingray skin (SA-ME) under the complete golden brown colored ITO (cloth binding), which shows only light wear, with a fine decorative non-magnetic collar (FUCHI).

Condition of the blade, scabbard and fittings is excellent, indicating light to moderate use. There is some plating loss on the various metal fittings due to age and oxidation, particularly on the FUCHI and KABUTO-GANE. As typical of the pattern, Cherry Blossom motifs appear on many of the fittings. The handle is tight to the blade, with no detectable wobble to the crossguard at present.

Of particular interest, the Fuchi, Tsuba, both O-Seppa, and all four smaller Seppa are stamped with matching assembly number:

3 1 3

The same number is stamped on the tang and top of the Tsuka, and is written inside the scabbard. This extensive matching assembly system strongly indicates that the fittings were manufactured and fitted together for this particular blade and have remained together as a matched set.

The wooden Saya, or scabbard, is one of the most impressive features of the sword. It is covered in genuine sharkskin shagreen, finished in black Urushi lacquer and then polished or abraded across the raised denticles to produce the distinctive patterned surface. The covering is almost completely intact with no significant lifting at the seams, and only a few scratches and abrasions to the lacquer. The scabbard is fitted with two suspension bands and rings, and the gilt brass hardware remains largely tight and attractive. The fittings are screw retained rather than simply glued in place, a detail associated with better quality construction.

Overall condition of the blade, fittings, and scabbard is excellent, with only minor wear and age oxidation to the metal mounts. The matching 313 assembly numbers, full Tenshozan workshop signature, August 1943 date, excellent corrosion resistant blade, original brown officer tassel, black lacquered ray skin grip, and especially the striking sharkskin covered scabbard give this Kai-Gunto exceptional collector appeal. For the Japanese Naval sword collector, this is a particularly complete and sophisticated wartime example with strong maker, date, and assembly evidence.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 26 ⅛"
Blade Style: Shinogi-Zukuri (鎬造)
Handle length: 10 ½"
Overall length: 37 ⅝“
Scabbard Length: 28 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.