East Asia, Japan, World War II period, ca. 1938 to 1945 CE. A Japanese officer's sword known as a type 98 gunto katana with stingray skin panels and cotton bindings adorning the handle beneath a singular suspension loop. A brown and blue tassel signifies its designation for lieutenants and captains, and the brass guard is adorned with cherry blossoms. The machine-forged steel blade has a brass cap along the shoulder and can be removed from the lacquered iron sheath via a release button on the handle base. The blade tang shows eight engraved kanji symbols on one side and four on the other. Size (w/ sheath): 2.4" W x 39.875" H (6.1 cm x 101.3 cm); (blade): 27.125" L (68.9 cm)

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

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#157024

Abrasions to hand guard, sheath, and blade, with fragmentary wooden plug within handle mortise, light staining to cotton tassel, and smoothing to cotton handle wraps, otherwise intact and very good. Nice patina throughout and great remains of lacquer on sheath.