Japanese Edged Weapons

This page's last update: April 3, 2012

Samurai Swords Naval Dirks/Daggers Bayonets

Japanese Samurai Swords

SW-5401 Japanese Army/Navy kyu gunto
The 26 inch matte machine made blade looks good! The tip is sharp and the fit is nice and tight! The blade rates Exc+. There is some pitting towards the tip leaving some nicks as well. The scabbard features a black polished shark skin body, over wood, contained by three gilded brass scabbard mounts. The steel based scabbard is painted black enamel. There are a few light scratches / wear spots. It remains dent free. The fittings are all steel. The throat (kuchigane) is tightly secured by two screws. The ishizuke shows two cherry blossoms that have been riveted in their centers. The back strap, pommel, D-guard and ferrule are all constructed out of matching gilded brass. They are lightly worn with fine details throughout. The pommel and back strap are decorated with the cherry blossom and leaf design on a pebbled background. The back strap also shows a silver, burnished cherry blossom Kamon (Family Crest). The grip features white ray skin, wrapped in a brass triple wire wrap, the center wire is twisted. The wire wrap is well worn, it has portions of the wrap missing and some have been glued. There is one spot of the grip that appears to have blood on it. This needs some restoration work. Overall exc+
$900

SW-5399 Japanese Type 44 Army shin-gunto
Here we have a late 1944 shin-gunto with a post war wrap. The 26 inch matte machine made bade is in great condition. There is a bit of spotting and surface scratches but that's about it. The tip is perfect and the fit is nice and tight. The blade rates Exc++. The steel scabbard (saya) is rough textured and painted brown with iron fixtures. It is in excellent condition with no paint loss or dents! All of the fittings have pebbled backgrounds. The throat (kuchigane) is tightly secured by two flat head screws. The ishizuke shows two cherry blossoms that have been riveted in their centers. The semegane is inspection stamped. The hand guard (tsuba) is a single oval piece of iron. The ferrule shows cherry blossoms in leaf designs, and the button works as it should. The wooden grip has two strips of white ray skin and two mekugi's. The grip is wrapped in purple post war silk tape. The pommel (kashira) is iron with a pebbled background. Overall if you can forgive the rewrap this piece is in excellent condition ratting in at Exc++/NM.
$495

SW-5398 Type 97 Naval Kai-gunto
Here's a decent sword for your collection! The 25 inch hand-made blade rates Exc. There is age grey, surface scratches, areas of spotting and a two nicks to the cutting edge. The tip looks good and the fit is nice and tight. The scabbard is black polished shark skin over wood, with gold plated brass fittings. Each fitting depicts cherry blossoms and leaves over a pebbled background. The scabbard body is in fairly good condition with some minor spots and scuffs throughout. Towards the tsuba the shark skin wrap has started to separate. The scabbard remains dent free and the button works as it should. The tsuba is a chemically blackened bronze oval with decorative lines surrounding the beautifully detailed seppa's. The handle is a hand fitted wooden sleeve wrapped in unpolished black shark skin and wrapped again in a brown twisted silk tape. The two menki's depict three cherry blossoms on three disks each. The fittings are gold plated brass. The pommel fitting has a Family mon (crest) on it. Overall this piece has beautiful features and details throughout rating in at Exc+.
$2350

SW-5396 Japanese Type 98 shin-guntō Army Samurai Sword
Here we have an excellent example of a highly detailed type 98 shin-gunt ō samurai sword! The 26 ½" inch hand-made blade is in excellent condition! It has a gorgeous matte temper line that nicely contrasts the rest of the blade! The fit is nice and tight and the tip is perfect. The blade rates Exc++. There are a few age crazing spots and some surface scratches but that's it. The scabbard is brown painted steel. It does have several wear spots / loss of paint throughout yet it continues to remain dent free. There are three fittings; one brass ashi, one semegane and one brass ishizuke that is faceted by a screw. The ishizuke is supposed to match the pommel cap (kabutogane). Now this piece is particularly interesting as wear to the original finish reveals that the cherry blossom and leaf designs were separately applied in copper (with a metal stamping machine) after the kabutogane and the ishizuke were cast in brass. The Tsuba is an "open-work" or "pierced" style. All of the 5 pieces, and top of the grip are matching being stamped: "III II O". This type was definitely more expensive to produce than the solid tsuba's, which were more highly produced later in the war. The tsuba is a brass construction, with four cherry blossoms and four holes encircled by an ornate design. The exterior of the tsuba is worn from period wear yet continues to hold excellent detail. The wooden grip is covered in white ray skin which is then wrapped in a brown twisted silk tape. The tape is tightly wrapped and shows that is has been handled many times. Overall this is a beautiful sword with a great blade and lots of detail. Definitely one to add to your mantel! Overall Exc++
$1795

SW-167 Japanese Navy Officer Sword
Here's a good example of a late war time officers sword. This one has a Exc++/NM stainless steel blade. No sharpening. Blade is seated through a one piece tsuba with the tang secured with a bamboo peg. The military type hilt is typical officer quality. It is constructed of a wood base, covered in textured canvas imitating shark skin with the traditional 3 brass cherry blossoms all wrapped in a brown cloth tape with a twist. The kabuto-gane, (pommel) is copper/brass. The tsuba is iron based, quite correct for this vintage piece. The scabbard is lacquer finished wood based with an ornate copper/brass ashi in place for carrying. The scabbard fittings are all slip fit into place. Nicely finished with an original officer portepee. Overall Exc++
$1295

SW-197 Naval Officer Kai-Gunto
This is a beauty near mint WWII Naval sword with high quality mounts. The hand-forged, water tempered blade is unsigned and undated with light surface scratches and minor oxidation (see pictures showing the grain of the steel). Otherwise, this sword is in very minty condition with high quality mounts. The tsuka underlying blacked dyed same is perfect and the Ito wrapping is a flawless brown silk tape. The fittings are the higher quality style with the larger o-seppas being the brass/copper sunburst versions. The tsuba and seppa are matching numbered. The saya (scabbard) is the high quality shark skin wrapped, which is unblemished. The sword locking mechanism works well. Many of the sword and saya fittings retain most of their original gold gilding. It has a higher quality clasping hands motif sarute and a naval officers tassel (these are all solid brown regardless of rank) Overall NM
$2295 Layaway(kf)

SW-232 Japanese 1886 Pattern Company Grade Army Officer's Parade Saber
This is the 1886 patterned Army Officer's Parade Saber with a fully decorated back strap with the kadosakura (5 petal cherry blossom) and leaves. This means it was authorized to be carried by a field grade (Major or Colonel) officer. The 1886 pattern for a field grade officer is rarely encountered. Although identified as the 1886 pattern, these were continually manufactured well into the World War II era (1940s). The plated blade on this example has extensive spotting and pitting. The blade rates Poor. The leather buffer pad remains intact. The plated scabbard shows some small hits and minor oxidation. The throat retaining screw remains intact. The black wood grip is intact and remains chip free the wire wrap is lost to time. The solid brass hilt is very ornate. The whole thing has wear and has potential for restoration. Overall rates VG
$125

SW-230 Japanese 1886 Pattern Company Grade Army Officer's Parade Saber
This is the 1886 patterned Army Officers Parade Saber with a partially decorated back strap with the kadosakura (5 petal cherry blossom) and leaves. This means it was authorized to be carried by a company grade (Lieutenant or Captain) officer. Although identified as the 1886 pattern, these were continually manufactured well into the World War II era (1940s). The hilt consists of a blackened hardwood grip that has two chips wrapped in near flawless brass wire with the standard type of pierced brass D-guard consisting of two panels, with two kadosakura in one panel and only one in the other and is nicely patinaed. The blade is the standard shape with a long fuller or groove, chrome plated with a false cutting edge. The leather buffer pad is lost. The scabbard is the standard chrome/nickel plated showing wear and some hits with a single suspension ring. There is some minor loss of the chrome plating. Overall rates Exc+
$225

SW-229 Japanese 1886 Pattern Field grade Army Officer's Parade Sabe
This is the 1886 patterned Army Officer's Parade Saber with a fully decorated back strap with the kadosakura (5 petal cherry blossom) and leaves. This means it was authorized to be carried by a field grade (Major or Colonel) officer. The 1886 pattern for a field grade officer is rarely encountered. Although identified as the 1886 pattern, these were continually manufactured well into the World War II era (1940s). The hilt consists of a blackened hardwood grip wrapped in brass wire, (a few strands are broke) with the standard type of pierced brass D-guard consisting of two ?panels?, with two kadosakura in one panel and only one in the other and is nicely patinaed. The blade is the standard shape with a long fuller or groove, chrome plated with a false, acid etched temper line and cutting edge. The leather buffer pad remains in position. The scabbard is the standard chrome/nickel plated with a single suspension ring. There is some minor loss of the chrome plating on the scabbard some small hits and dents as well as some minor oxidation and wear. Overall rates Exc+
$450

Japanese Daggers

Jap-7 Japanese Navy Dagger
This is a nice 1883 patterned WWII Imperial Japanese Naval officer dirk. This example is of wartime construction with machine made 10" blade. The blade shows minor age and all in all is a nice example. The crossguard is polished brass. The grip is double brass wire wrapped over ray skin. All grip wire and fittings to include the brass cherry blossom on either side are intact and quite nice! The saya (scabbard) is wood with a decorative line down the reverse. It shows some age and has scratches and small chips to the finish. Both fittings have nice detail. The lock works perfectly. Exc++
$1250

Japanese Bayonets

BA-201 Type 30 Japanese Kokura Combat Bayonet
Here's one that just arrived from the US vet's grandson. a good example with a nice blade by an unusual maker. The blade is a good example that is free of sharpening. The riccasso is stamped with four circle Kokura maker mark. The pommel end I think has some serial numbers but they are illegible. The pommel button is fully functioning. The mortise slot is slotted. The hilt and scabbard fittings to include the ball are painted gold, the button and the grip plates are painted blood red. Why? Who knows? I've never seen this before. I'm guessing the Vet's kid embellished this in the 60's but if there is some good reason you know please educate me!! Finally the obverse grip plate is cracked. VG
$65

Why not complete your sword with a hanger?