Pre WW2 December 1938 Dated Japanese Civilian Sword With Possible Gendaito Artisan Smith Signed Regulation Military Length Blade Possibly ‘TOMO KAZU SUKE’ / ‘SUKE MITSU’ With Scabbard & Expert Assessment Swords

Pre WW2 December 1938 Dated Japanese Civilian Sword With Possible Gendaito Artisan Smith Signed Regulation Military Length Blade Possibly ‘TOMO KAZU SUKE’ / ‘SUKE MITSU’ With Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 20547 - 20547

This sword has been assessed by a UK based Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His assessment accompanies this piece. In exerts from the assessment he states “Civilian katana, pre-war manufacture December 1938. This blade possibly made by an artisan & not trained sword smith. The mei (signature) is crudely written, especially the 1st kanji of name, cannot pin it down, tried numerous translations could be ‘Tomo Mitsu’, ‘Kazu Mitsu’ or ‘Suke Mitsu’. There is one Suke Mitsu showa period, a smith working as a gunto arsenal smith. Regulation military length at 25 ½”, no arsenal marks could be basic Gendai. Or high grade showa-to with a Nioi oil tempered blade, hamon unusual Hosho Suguha, no grain visible, a very clumsy looking sword, not in good polish. Saya good quality Honoki wood with thick black lacquer with its Kurikata for Sageo cord. Tsuba is Mokko (4 lobe) shape in a Sentoku brass metal possibly been blackened to match Shakudo Fuchi & Kashira on hilt (Tsuka). With Gunto Cherry Blossom menuki. Hilt with brown ito tape which is frayed with age. An interesting example, needs more research”. In illustrations of the blade & tang which accompany the assessment, Bill states that the cutting edge is 25 ½”, total length is 32 ¼”. He translates the tang date & signature as far as possible and describes other blade characteristics and dimensions (illustrated). The price for this interesting Katana worthy of further research with expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 20547

£1,250.00