Japanese Navy officer Kai-Gunto

Axis Powers > Japanese > Edged Weapons >

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. It has painted characters to one side and a Naval stamp to the other. The blade displays a faint thin temper line. 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 menuki ornaments are of the Kai-Gunto style three cherry blossoms. The kabuto-gane, (pommel) is copper/brass. The tsuba is iron based, quite correct for this vintage piece. The blade displays a faint thin temper line. The blade displays normal light wear. The black lacquered scabbard ( saya) is in excellent condtion with the gilt ashi ( suspension rings) and semegane ( lower ornamental band and drag fitting all displaying very nice gilt. The scabbard fittings are all slip fit into place.