J002758 (IJA) OFFICER'S COMBAT SWORD/KATANA. The sword is said to symbolize the spirit of the Japanese warrior from time immemorial. It came to be regarded as a representation of the samurai’s "Bushido," or code of honor. In the late nineteenth century, the samurai class were all but disbanded, and with them their traditional "Tachi," or slung sword, passed out of common usage. The swords adopted by the Japanese military after this period reflected the design influence of their European advisors. The pre-war military incursions into Manchuria and China inspired a Japanese nationalism that led, in 1933 or 1934, to the return to the Tachi design, then referred to as the "Shin-gunto" (neo-army sword). It was to become the most commonly encountered Japanese military sword and was produced and used until the end of the second world war. An officer’s Shin-gunto, whose wooden scabbard is faced with metal. The wooden hilt (Tsuka) is bound with a brown-colored cloth tape (Tsuka-ito), in a pattern which forms diamond-shaped openings through which may be seen the underlying off-white ray, or simulated ray, skin (Same). Blackened metal ornaments (Menuki) in the form of three cherry blossoms (Sakura) are positioned above the ray skin and under the tape to each side. Visible through the diamond-shaped openings are two bamboo pegs (Mekugi), which retain the hilt by passing through it and the tang (Nakago) to its interior. The blackened metal pommel (Kabuto-gane) has embossed to it small punch-holes resembling fish roe (Nanako), and it has a collar to it to admit the, absent, knot loop (Saru-te). The right side of the blackened metal ferrule (Fuchi) is decorated with an embossed cherry blossom against small punch-holes, and to its left is a small metal spring button which, when pressed, releases a catch which passes through the cross guard (Tsuba) and washers (Seppa) and would engage with the slot to the mouth of the blackened metal throat of the metal scabbard. The 3/16" thick, "Aoi"-shaped, solid cast, blackened metal cross guard is plain. Free-floating, thin, silver-colored metal oval washers (Seppa) are to either side of the cross guard, each having a perforation to one side for the catch which passes through the guard. The hand forged blade is 26 1/8" (approximately 2.19 "Shaku" (a measure of 11.93")) long (measured from the point (Kissaki) to the back notch (Mune-machi)). The back (Mune) of the blade has the pointed "Iori" shape. The tempering line (Hamon) is visible to the blade, as are light runner marks and surface scratches, but its polished surface is generally clean, with minimal surface spotting. When disassembled, its tang displays incised kanji characters to both sides. What appears to be a "Showa era 20th Year" (1945) date is to one side of the tang, while the two characters to the other side are no doubt the maker’s name. Its 1" deep brass scabbard sleeve (Habaki) over the ricasso has the typical "cat scratches" to it. The metal scabbard (Saya) is olive drab-colored, and its throat (Kuchi-gane) is of blackened metal, with a cross-hatched pattern and two attachment screws. A depression for the catch is cut into one side of its opening. The scabbard itself is lined in wood. A blackened metal hanging ring (Obi-tori) and suspension mount (Ashi), being the late 1944 pattern for army officers, is near the throat. Unto it is tied a tag with the "liberator’s" name, serial number and address. To the base of the scabbard is the chape (Isizuke), also of blackened metal with small punch-holes, to either side of which are embossed cherry blossoms, to whose centers may be seen the attachment rivets. The chape is moderately surface spotted, but its other blackened metal elements have only light wear to their highlights. The paint to the scabbard is lightly surface scratched, and has some wear to the base metal just forward of its hanging ring. Overall, an excellent example of a late war sword.

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