Original Item: One of a Kind. Recently purchased from a private collection, this is very interesting USGI Bring-Back Japanese officer Katana in the "High Grade" Type 98 Shin-Gunto (九八式軍刀 kyūhachi-shiki guntō) setting. The Type 98 fittings (koshirae) are slightly simplified compared to the earlier Type 94. The blade tang is signed by the maker, and appears to be handmade in the traditional fashion. A Shin-Guntō (新軍刀, new military sword) is a weapon and symbol of rank used by the Imperial Japanese Army between the years of 1935 and 1945.

This blade on this example dates from the Edo period (江戸時代, Edo jidai) or Tokugawa period (徳川時代, Tokugawa jidai) of Japanese history. This is the period between 1603 and 1867, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional daimyo. It was common practice for swords to be passed down for generations, particularly ones that were of high quality. These would be re-polished and re-fit numerous times, as steel was precious and swords were expensive. This continued up into WWII, which is possibly how this blade found it's way into WWII "Shin-Gunto" fittings. There also was an official Japanese program during the war for families with no sons to donate their swords towards the war effort.

This example has most likely been remounted several times, as was common for Japanese blades that are several hundred years old. Age and wear have made the file marks (yasurime) on the tang faint, and given it a lovely patina. Chisel marks (tagane) are visible but the tagane-makura (raised area around the mei) are worn away. The mei (signature) on the blade is however still relatively easy to read, and is marked 武 州 ? 江戸 神 田 住 兼 永 作 - BUSHŪ ? EDO KANDA JU KANENAGA SAKU. There is one kanji that we were unable to decipher, but a basic translation is:  "Kanenaga made [this] in the Kanda District of Edo in Musashi Province." This smith is listed twice in Markus Sesko's Index of Japanese Swordsmiths.

- KANENAGA (兼永), Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Mino/Musashi – “Musashi no Kuni Edo-jū Fujiwara Kanenaga” (武蔵国江戸住藤原兼永), “Kanenaga” (兼永), “Bushū-jū Fujiwara Kanenaga” (武州住藤原兼永), this Kanenaga moved later to Edo´s Kanda district (神田).

- KANENAGA (兼永), Genroku (元禄, 1688-1704), Musashi/Ōshū – “Kanenaga” (兼永), “Bushū-jū Banzai Kanenaga” (武州住万歳兼永), he moved from Edo´s Kanda district (神田) to Ōshū province, it is unclear if he was the same smith as the Kanbun-era (寛文, 1661-1673) Kanenaga who moved from Mino to Kanda.

There is unfortunately not much else we know about this smith. Definitely some great research potential in this blade, especially if you can decipher the one character that we could not.

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)

- 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)

- Visible HADA (grain) in the body of the blade and lamination in the temper line.

- Blade KIZU (wounds) are visible, only possible on laminated steel blades.

Offered in very good condition, the blade is still quite sharp in many areas, so it should be handled with care. There are no nicks on the edge that we can see, just some wear from the scabbard in areas, though there is an area on the edge where it is somewhat blunt, possibly from removal of some dents. The polish is in very good condition with some scuffing and staining scattered overall. Aspects of the blade are relatively easy to see in the light, though it does look like it was cleaned with uchiko powder since last polishing. Blade length is approximately 28 ⅛ inches and overall length 38 ⅞ inches. The katana has a handmade blade with a Futsu 普通 (regular) Nakago (tang) with Haagari (asymmetrical rounded) nakago-jiri (tang tip.

The blade has a proper geometric kissaki (tip) with a faint yokote (division between body and tip) and boshi (tip temper line). The main edge Temper line (HAMON - 刃文) is mostly visible, and is a very attractive TOURAN (濤瀾 - billowing wave like) shape. Along the transition there are clear NIE crystals visible, with cloudy areas of NIOI in the body of the hamon. There is also a lot of activity visible internally, and some in the body of the blade. The blade body (JI) also has ITAME HADA (板目肌 - Wood grain), which is the shape of the texture on the blade surface. The tip temper line (boshi) is visible but too faint to see what type it is. There are WARE (lamination lines) and FUKURE (carbon pits) visible, which are blade "wounds" or "kizu", only possible on laminated blades.

The blade mountings are the classic WWII era "high grade" Type 98 Army Shin-Gunto style, brass with gilt accents, which are actually still retained in many areas! It has the typical rounded "quince" (mokko gata) shaped tsuba (cross guard), which is a high grade "perforated" style. The handle features brass Imperial Army cherry blossom menuki (grip decoration), and a nice Kabuto-Gane (Pommel Cap) with a brass end loop. The cross guard and pommel cap have matching cherry blossom motifs, which are also found on the scabbard fittings, and the fuchi (grip collar).

There are six metal seppa (spacers) around the tsuba to keep the fit tight. All are inlet for the scabbard lock, which is fully functional. The blade collar (habaki) looks to be plated copper, and definitely is not the typical WWII type, so it is probably from an earlier set of fittings, or possibly the original set. The handle (tsuka) has an great Sa-Me (Stingray Skin) grip, which is fully intact. It has a complete golden brown Ito (cloth binding), which shows only light staining and wear. There is a single wooden securing peg (mekugi) still present, which is definitely a display replacement.

The Scabbard (saya) is steel over wood, and in very good condition, with almost all of the original textured paint intact. It has only a few small scrapes, though there is a dent on the left side just above the semegane scabbard ring, though this does not interfere with sheathing the blade at all. The scabbard has the correct single hanger loop of the Type 98 style. The top fitting is inlet for the scabbard lock on the hilt, and the lock works correctly. Interestingly, there is a "keel" on the bottom of the sayajiri scabbard tip, something we have not seen before.

A very nice handmade Japanese Type 98 Shin-gunto by a highly ranked maker, complete with a lovely scabbard! This is a real USGI bring-back from WWII, ready to display and cherish!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 28 ⅛"
Blade Style: Katana
Overall length: 38 ⅞“
Scabbard Length: 30 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 folded 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.