Japanese WW2 Kaigunto Officer's Sword By Fukuoka – “Chikugo Miike-jūnin Kawamura Yukimitsu Saku” (筑後三池住幸光作)

At present in the artisans workshop and having a no expense spared thorough cleaning, polishing and conservation. The deluxe saya was covered in polished samegawa rayskin, that had separated from its wooden base, underneath its stitched foul weather cover, but our expert spent two full days removing it and re-affixing the samegawa ray skin and he has done a fabulous job.

It will be photographed and added in the next few days once completed
As England’s favourite Military Antiques & Collectables Gallery, and likely the worlds leading specialist original Japanese Samurai arms and armour dealers outside of Japan {and probably within it} we acquire collections, of all kinds, and add them to our website, every, single day.

Purchased directly from grandson former WW2 POW nurse, this is a very nice wartime production original Japanese Naval Officer’s 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.

It has a super blade, and Japanese Kai-Gunto naval officers swords are somewhat rare to survive, given that they usually went down with the ships that suffered badly from the continued well deserved assaults from the allied navies, though mostly American. This particular example has the typical WW2 pattern fittings

It has a typical {numbered naval oval tsuba, The tsuka (handle) has two menuki (grip decorations), and kabuto-gane (pommel end cap), with the wooden securing peg still present. Good tsuka-Ito {hilt binding} over fishskin, with traditional Showa cherry-blossom decorative collar.

Condition of the blade, will be, in superb near mint order once finished in the workshop, with an excellent scabbard and fittings that are very fine.

Fortunately these swords were used on board ship, so the army version was far more likely to bear considerable wear, through considerable marching and combat through jungle warfare etc
Cherry blossom motifs appear on many of the koshirae. The handle is good to the blade, and secure.

The wooden scabbard is covered in samegawa and has gilt brass fittings, with good gilding and all of the fittings are sound
Two hanging loops are present, and the condition is good.

Really it should be a super example of an original Imperial Japanese Navy Officer’s Kai-Gunto, in clean condition with clear signature.

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.

From the earliest days hand-made traditional the Samurai sword was unique because it was forged using the finest skills known to man. A tremendous amount of work was dedicated to creating these pieces. They were an instrument of war as much as a beautiful artifact to adorn any decor.

The Samurai sword has grown to be one of the most highly desired military antiques of all time.

The 1937 Pattern Japanese Naval Sword, known as the Kai-Guntō (海軍刀, Sea Military Sword), was formally enacted in October 1937 as the official sidearm for Imperial Japanese Navy officers. These mounts were designed to be more practical for combat than previous, more delicate dress swords, yet they retained traditional elements and were often fitted with high-quality stainless steel blades.

Photo of a Japanese Naval Officer’s sword type examined by commonwealth naval officers after capture.

Code: 26140