Original Item: Only One Available. Purchased recently from a private collector, this is an excellent wartime production 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 great example, complete with a sharkskin covered scabbard, and shows only light use, without much damage or wear. It also still retains almost all of the original gilding on the fittings, making it a real showpiece!

The blade is in near excellent condition and is still VERY sharp, and should definitely be handled with care. There is just a bit of light scuffing from use, and no dents or bends on the edge, consistent with light use in service. Blade length is 24 ⅜ inches and overall length 35 ¼ inches. It has a factory forged steel blade, with a single mounting hole in the standard Futsu 普通 (regular) tang, and a haagari (asymmetrically rounded) nakago-jiri.

Unlike most arsenal forged blades, the blade bears a signature (MEI) on the tang, which reads 武 泰 作 - TAKEYASU SAKU, which translates to "Takeyasu made (this)." There is also a Naval Anchor stamp, indicating manufacture at Toyokawa Naval Arsenal (豊川海軍工廠, Toyokawa kaigun kōshō). Takeyasu was a known smith working at the Naval Arsenal. The other side of the tang bears painted matching number 七 七 〇 (7 7 0), which would be used to match the blade to fittings being made for it, as all blades varied in size and shape slightly.

The blade retains the original factory finish, with a simulated temper line. With the near total absence of rust, even on the tang, we are fairly certain that this is a stainless steel blade, but we have not been able to conclusively verify this. There is just some light scuffing on the last third of the blade keeping the blade from being "MINT". Japanese Kai-Gunto naval officers swords are somewhat rare, given that they usually went down with the ships. This particular example has the higher grade 1937 Pattern fittings with a sharkskin shagreen covered scabbard, indicating this may have been made for a higher ranking naval officer.

It has a heavy blacked copper plated iron tsuba (cross guard) with two brass Seppa (Spacers) and two large stylized O-Seppa (Large Spacers) surrounding it, which are also blacked copper plated steel. The tsuka (handle) has two brass plated iron Cherry-Blossom menuki (grip decorations), and a nice plated iron Kabuto-Gane (End Cap), with a replacement red rope loop. It has a very good condition black oilcloth grip with complete olive-colored Ito (cloth binding) showing light soiling and wear, and a fine decorative plated non-magnetic collar (fuchi).

Condition of the blade, scabbard and fittings is excellent, indicating only light use. The plating and gilding is very well retained on the metal fittings, which we very rarely see! As typical of the pattern, Cherry Blossom motifs appear on many of the fittings. The handle is tight to the blade, with very little wobbling in the fittings, and there is a single mekugi securing peg, which looks to be a post war replacement.

The Wood scabbard (saya) is wrapped in lacquered sharkskin shagreen, and has all gilt iron fittings except for the koiguchi (scabbard mouth), which is gilt brass. As with most we see, the fittings are a bit loose on the scabbard, as the glue holding them in place has degraded over time. The scabbard is covered in sharkskin shagreen, which was coated with black URUSHI lacquer and then sanded down to give it a great look. It is still in great shape, with almost all of the lacquer intact. There is no splitting along the seam, and this is definitely one of the best sharkskin covered scabbards that we have seen in some time. Both hanger rings are still present, making this a really great example of a high grade scabbard.

The fuchi, tsuba, and O-Seppa are marked with western number 7 7 0 after a series marking. The end of the tsuka and inside the scabbard are also marked with number 7 7 0. This matches the Japanese numbers 七 七 〇 (7 7 0) painted on the tang. This indicates that this set of KOSHIRAE (fittings) are a matched set, all made for this specific blade.

Really an excellent example of a Imperial Japanese Navy Kai-Gunto with a lovely signed Stainless Steel blade and matched fittings, ready to display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 24 ⅜"
Blade Style: Shinogi-Zukuri
Overall length: 35 ¼“
Scabbard Length: 27"

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.