A JAPANESE REPLICA WORLD WAR II TYPE 98 GUNTO MILITARY OFFICER'S KATANA SWORD, 20TH CENTURY, the curved single edge carbon steel blade with a two piece habaki and a bronze tsuba guard with four corner Ume blossoms in shallow relief, before the copper patinated fuchi hilt collar with leafy Ume blossom details and centering a brass Ume flower release button, the resin faux sharkskin covered tsuka hilt centering on one side a gilt metal triple Ume flower menuki and wrapped throughout in silk tsuka-ito, ending before the copper patinated kashira pommel with stippled surface and Ume flower edge, bordering the exposed faux sharkskin tsuka and pierced with a circular aperture suspending brown and blue silk woven and elaborately tied tasseled ribbons, additionally tied with an old white cotton textile fragment centering rows of black ink character marks, sword length: 37"; set within a conforming wood/horn lined patinated metal saya scabbard with a single copper patinated steel suspension knobbed loop, ending in a coppered and stippled metal kojiri cap, beneath a similarly decorated and gilt strap with stylized fleur de lys details, saya scabbard with sword; length: 38 3/4".

Good condition, some very tiny spots on steel blade with evidence of sharpening on edge, expected surface build up and wear throughout guard, hilt and scabbard. Silk tasseled ribbons are slightly faded. Simpson Galleries strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Simpson Galleries regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only and should not be relied upon as statements of fact and do not constitute a representation, warranty, or assumption of liability by Simpson Galleries. All lots offered are sold "AS IS."