Description
ITEM DESCRIPTION:
Comes with kimono or cotton bag. Comes with certificate of supein Nihonto.
Imperial Japanese Army officer’s sword, Gunto. Signed 尾州住正氏之作 Bishu ju Masauji no saku. A traditionally made katana mounted in guntō style, with a full military koshirae. The blade shows a subtle suguha or notare hamon and standard geometry. The leather-wrapped saya indicates active use or field readiness. The tsuka features traditional wrapping with floral menuki and well-preserved metal fittings.
This sword stands as a tangible artifact from a key period of Japanese militarism. The traditional blade forged by Masauji, combined with its guntō mounting, bridges samurai craftsmanship with the military needs of Imperial Japan.
During the Second World War (1939–1945), the Japanese military issued thousands of swords to its officers, known collectively as guntō (軍刀, “military swords”). While many were mass-produced using industrial methods, a significant number of handmade guntō were crafted by traditionally trained swordsmiths using classical forging techniques. These artisan-made swords stand out for their superior quality, aesthetic detail, and historical value.
These traditionally forged guntō were typically carried by officers of higher rank, such as lieutenants, captains, and generals. In many cases, these swords were privately commissioned by officers or their families and presented as gifts to mark promotions or deployments. Some were even forged by recognized smiths listed in the Nihonto Meikan, and a few received official certification by postwar organizations such as the NBTHK or NTHK.
Unlike their mass-produced counterparts for simple soldiers, which often used oil-tempered steel and lacked aesthetic refinement, handmade guntō retained features of classical Japanese swords, including:
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Folded steel (hada) with visible grain patterns
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Differentiated hardening (hamon) with elegant temper lines
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Traditional tang inscriptions (mei)
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High-quality koshirae, often custom-made in guntō style but sometimes blending civilian and military aesthetics
Handmade guntō were most commonly mounted in one of the two standardized military styles:
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Type 94 (Kyūyon-shiki): Used by officers of the Imperial Japanese Army, with a greenish-brown lacquered scabbard, brass mounts, and a leather combat cover.
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Type 98 (Kyūhachi-shiki): A simplified version introduced later in the war, retaining the basic style but often with less elaborate fittings.
However, high-ranking officers sometimes personalized their mountings, combining military regulations with civilian-style fittings, lacquerwork, or even family crests (mon).
Today, handmade guntō are highly sought after by collectors due to their historical provenance and artistic quality. Many were forged by gendaitō smiths (modern-era swordsmiths) who were preserving traditional techniques during a time of conflict. A handmade guntō with clear mei, visible hada and hamon, and well-preserved mounts represents not only a weapon but a bridge between samurai tradition and 20th-century military history.
Blade is in good condition due to aging just superficial scratchings as normal. Not hagire and not fatal damage, of course. This is a japanese weapon so have a real historical value. This is a weapon with centuries, not machine crafted so can be minor movements of saya, tsuka, tsuba, etc. Because of dilatation, humidity, etc. and little damages propers of his age like small rust, scratches, etc.
Koshirae Full length: 100 cm
Nagasa: 66.6 cm. Sori: 1.6 cm.
