East Asia, Japan, World War II era, ca. 1938 to 1945 CE. An attractive naval officer's sword known as a kai-gunto that is made in a non-traditional (showato) manner. The wooden sheath is wrapped with lustrous brown ray skin and features a pair of suspension loops along the upper body. The leather handle is adorned with a pair of steel cherry blossom menuki and bound with black cotton wrappings beneath a brown tassel knotted within an upper loop. The machine-forged blade has a slightly curved profile with a sharpened edge, and the tang bears three kanji on one side. The tsuba exhibits a rising sun form. Size (w/ sheath): 2.6" W x 38" H (6.6 cm x 96.5 cm); (blade): 26.375" L (67 cm)

Provenance: private Centennial, Colorado, USA collection, inherited from relative

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#157025

Minor abrasions and nicks to sheath, handle, and blade, with softening to kanji on sheath, and light staining to sheath strap and brown tassel on handle, otherwise intact and very good. Nice patina throughout.