SPECTACULAR FLAMBOYANT HAMON**WW2 (After 1942) Japanese Army Officer’s Gendaito Katana Sword Smith Signed Tang ‘CHIKUGO JU ONIZUKA YOSHI KUNI’ Scabbard With Campaign Leather Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 21258 Swords

**SPECTACULAR FLAMBOYANT HAMON**WW2 (After 1942) Japanese Army Officer’s Gendaito Katana Sword Smith Signed Tang ‘CHIKUGO JU ONIZUKA YOSHI KUNI’ Scabbard With Campaign Leather Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 21258 - 21258

An original WW2 Japanese Officer's Sword and Scabbard. The sword has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written notes and illustrations accompany the sword. In extracts from his notes he states “Army Officer’s sword with gendaito blade, hand forged using Tama Hagane Japanese sand iron. A very stand out flamboyant forging (not seen this before) on a showa period blade. In bright condition but polish is obscuring the finer details. Looks based on sugoha hamon (straight). No discernible nie crystals to edge of hamon (faint) possibly forged at a lower temperature. Grain is spectacular large wood grain infused with long lines of Niju Ba, seems to have sunagash down in Takiba area. There is so much activity going on all over, needs re-polishing to see what is there properly. Maker seems to be obscure showa period man claiming descent from 3 generations of smiths working in the Edo period 1600-18--, also one man used this mei in shin Shinto period 1865-1868. Signed ‘CIKUGO JU ONIZUKA YOSHI KUNI’ (after 1942). An obscure smith used this ‘Go’ at his own forge in Yame Fukushimacho under trade name ‘Noda Nihonto Tan Renjo’ real name ‘Noba Isa Buro’. No mention after war. The information for this man is online (various sites) see Sesko Lists of Japanese smiths Page No. 372. In books Rikugun Jumei Toshu for army rated skilled artisan. Seems this man worked from his own forge supplying the army with blades. In standard shin gunto mounts. Tsubs tsuka with arsenal wood saya, leather covered all in very good condition for age. A very interesting sword with an obscure maker needing polish and more research”. In his illustrations Bill translates the signature on the tang. He describes the cutting edge as 64.5 cms, total length 86.5cms. He also describes other blade dimensions and characteristics (illustrated in image 2). The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21258

£1,750.00