 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
WW2 Imperial Japanese Military Type 94 Officer's Samurai Sword / Shin-Gunto w/ Scabbard * Showa Period & Signed by Takeshita Sukemitsu *
Guns International #: 101720281 Seller's Inventory #: CBP21-80
Category: Collectibles - WWII - Military Collectible Non US
Seller's Information
When emailing or calling sellers direct, please mention that you saw their listing on GunsInternational.com
Seller: Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc.
Company: Antique & Modern Firearms, Inc.
Member Since: 4/27/15
State: Kentucky
Zip: 40503
Country: United States
Phone: (859) 276-1419
Fax: (859) 278-0838
Platinum Seller
Number of Active Listings: 184
Total Number of Listings: 14865
Seller: FFL Dealer
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: Visa,Master Card, Discover,Check
Description:
This is a very handsome and all-original dated and signed World War 2 Japanese Imperial Army Officer's Samurai Sword or Shin-Gunto complete with the original scabbard. This was an officially licensed Japanese Military Shin-Gunto with the standard type of fittings and scabbard and a hand-finished blade. Japanese officers had to privately purchase their swords, they were not issued to them, so this sword would have been bought directly by the officer that carried it during WW2. As you can see from the pictures, this sword is in very good condition overall and has not been altered in any way since it was brought back as a war trophy by an American soldier at the end of WW2. The previous owner bought it many decades ago and as he did with each sword he acquired, he made a drawing of all of the parts and measurements, he made a rubbing of any tang markings with the handle removed, and he had the Kanji translated. All of that information is included with the sword and pictured in the listing. The tang of this particular sword is dated May of Showa 18, otherwise known as 1943. The tang is signed "Sukemitsu", which is the signature for the swordsmith Takeshita Sukemitsu. Sukemitsu was born on May 20, 1915 and was part of Sukehiro's lineage, where he learned sword making from his father Eitaro Sukemitsu and Okishiba Masatsugu in Osaka, Japan. Takeshita Sukemitsu first won a Nyusen prize in 1941 for his work as an officially licensed Japanese Imperial Army sword maker, then a Tokusen prize in 1943 in a sword evaluation contest by the Agency of Cultural Affairs. Sukemitsu finished out WW2 making swords for the Japanese Army and then continued to make swords privately after the war. In 1954 at age 40 he was officially licensed from the Agency of Cultural Affairs as a Artistic Japanese Sword Artisan. Sukemitsu went on to win the Nyusen prize for sword making from the Japanese Sword Preservation Society in Japan 11 times altogether, including a run from 1964 to 1970 where he won the award continuously. Later Sukemitsu would move to Misawa, Kawakami town, Takahashi city to work with his son making swords until his death. The blade of this sword is still bright and very shiny, and still shows a straight-style Hamun (temper line) along it's entire length on both sides of the blade. It really is a very handsome blade with no major damage, defects, voids, cracks, or delamination of any kind. The Yakiba (cutting edge) is still very sharp and in good condition overall, showing just a few tiny little nicks in the edge. The tip is still intact and sharp as well, and the curvature to the tip is uniform and smooth. There are some scattered light scratches on the blade with the majority located at the tip, however these are all extremely shallow and will not catch your fingernail. This blade is certainly very attractive as-is, but could be polished by a professional to look perfect if the new owner so chooses. All of the fittings on this Shin-Gunto are original and also in very good condition overall. They show a little wear and age but that is to be expected on a combat-carried samurai sword from WW2. The Ito (cloth wrapping) on the handle is tight, the Sa-Me (ray skin) is in good condition, and the Tsuba, Fuchi, and Habiki are all in great shape and have just a little bit of play in them. Both of the ornamental Menuki are still in-place under the Ito (cloth binding), these add girth and a bulge to the handle where the user's palms make contact with the sword when used. The push-button scabbard latch is still intact and functional, and the sword comes with two original decorative tassels, one on the scabbard and one on the Kashira (butt cap of handle). All in all, if you have been looking for an all-original WW2 Japanese Samurai sword for your collection or for decorative purposes, this example would be a excellent choice. This Takeshita Sukemitsu-made Shin-Gunto would look amazing on display in any gun room or on any bookshelf.
SOLD