Original Item: Only One Available. Purchased recently at a military show, this is an great 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. Japanese Kai-Gunto naval officers swords are somewhat rare, given that they usually went down with the ships. This is a very nice example, complete with scabbard, and only shows signs of light use.

The blade is in excellent condition, with an edge which is still relatively sharp. There is just a bit of scuffing and a few minor dents on the edge. Blade length is 24 ⅛ inches and overall length 34 ⅞ inches. It has a factory machine forged steel blade, with a single mounting hole in the standard long Futsu 普通 (regular) shaped Nakago (tang) with a kiri (cut) nakago-jiri. The tang itself is marked a Naval ANCHOR stamp, indicating manufacture at Toyokawa Naval Arsenal (豊川海軍工廠, Toyokawa kaigun kōshō). There is no signature (MEI), as is usual for later war pieces. There there are the painted Japanese numbers 八 四 - (8 4) on the tang.

The blade retains virtually all of the original factory finish, though it is a later production one without the simulated hamon and yokote. There are are just a few minor scratches and scuff marks on the surface. Given the total absence of rust on the blade, we believe it to be made from Stainless steel, which was popular for the rust-inducing ocean environment. This particular example has mid grade fittings, which are quite nice, but not the same level seen on the higher end examples made for command officers.

It has a heavy iron tsuba (cross guard) and a single gilt brass seppa (spacer). The tsuka (handle) has two brass Cherry-Blossom menuki (grip decorations), and a nice brass Kabuto-Gane (End Cap), with a metal loop through the end. It has an excellent condition black oilcloth grip with complete gold brown-colored Ito (cloth binding) with a fine decorative collar (fuchi), which is molded to look like it has a seppa on the top. The wrappings show little to no use, with no staining we can see. The condition of the fittings indicates light use, as most of the gilding is still present. As typical of the pattern, Cherry Blossom motifs appear on many of the fittings. The handle is tight to the blade, and the mekugi (peg) looks to be original, though the tsuba does wobble a bit.

The wooden saya (scabbard) has a standard black lacquer finish, and has all brass fittings, with the gilding a bit faded due to wear. Most of the fittings are somewhat loose due to age, as the original glue has degraded, and the wood has shrunk a bit. The black enamel finish on the scabbard is still in good condition, showing some age checking and chips, though there is no splitting along the seam.

The fuchi, tsuba, and seppa are all stamped with western number 8 4. This matches the number 八 四 - (8 4) painted onto the tang, and 8 4 is also written on the end of the tsuka and inside the saya throat itself. This indicates that this set of koshirae (fittings) were all made for this specific blade, and no parts have been swapped out.

With its matching No. 84 assembly markings, bright machine forged stainless steel blade, Naval anchor stamp, black oilcloth grip, well preserved gold brown wrap, cherry blossom decorated fittings, and complete black lacquer scabbard, this is a very appealing Imperial Japanese Navy Kai-Gunto. The light blade scuffs, small edge dents, slight tsuba movement, lacquer checking and chips, faded gilding, and looseness to some scabbard fittings are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in an Imperial Japanese Navy officer sword, matching numbered Kai-Gunto, naval edged weapon, or advanced Japanese WWII collection.

Specifications:
Blade Length: 24 ⅛”
Blade Style: Shinogi-Zukuri (鎬造) Katana
Handle Length: 9 ¾“
Overall Length: 34 ⅞“
Scabbard Length: 27 ½”

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.