J009857 (IJN) 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 "Kai-gunto" (Naval sword), whose wooden scabbard has a blackened leather combat covering. The wooden hilt (Tsuka) of the sword is bound with a brown-colored cloth tape (Tsuka-ito), in a pattern which forms diamond-shaped openings, through which may be seen what appears to be an atypical, underlying covering of blackened leather. Gold-colored ornaments (Menuki), in the form of three encircled cherry blossoms (Sakura), are positioned above the leather and under the tape to each side, each of which has light but noticeable surface spotting to it. Also visible through the diamond-shaped openings, above and below the ornaments, are two wooden pegs (Mekugi), which retain the hilt by passing through it and the tang (Nakago) to its interior. With the hilt removed, stamped to one side of the tang is an encircled anchor, beneath which is a kanji character, and three vertically arranged kanji characters, scored by hand, are beneath that. The other side of the tang has handwritten to it, in black, four kanji characters, translating to "2," "7," "0," and "8." The hilt’s dull brown metal pommel (Kabuto-gane) is covered with small punch-holes resembling fish roe (Nanako). It opens on either side to reveal the leather beneath, where a hole through it, with decorative, gilded metal collars to each side, would admit a knot loop (Saru-te). Both of these collars repeat the cherry blossom motif, and both of their gilding has mostly worn away. The cast brass ferrule (Fuchi) features the same small decorative punch-holes as previously seen on the pommel, against which are two cherry blossoms, to either side. The western numerals "2708" are stamped to the interior of the ferrule. The ovoid-shaped, blackened (over a copper-color) metal cross guard (Tsuba) has a free-floating, blackened metal washer (Seppa) to either side of it - the "Shakudo seppa," with radiating lines to them, the one to the inside followed by a very thin, non-magnetic, silver-colored seppa, which is, in turn, followed by a bronze-colored metal seppa. "2708" is stamped to all but the silver-colored seppa. The blade is 26" (approximately 2.17 "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 polished blade is generally clean, with no obvious surface spotting, but with numerous surface scratches. Its 1 1/8" deep, copper-colored scabbard sleeve (Habaki) over the ricasso has the typical "cat scratches" to it. The 28 3/4" long wooden scabbard (Saya) originally must have had a brass or metal throat (Kuchi-gane) which is presently absent. Its blackened leather covering opens for its single (rare in Navy swords), gilded metal hanging ring (Obi-tori) and suspension mount (Ashi), and is fastened above them near the throat by means of two black-painted metal snap closures on a flap extending to one side of the opening. "K.R. Tsurame" is stamped to the reverses of both snaps. The raised outline of a decorative band (Shibabiki) may be seen positioned approximately 10" from the end of the scabbard. To the end of the scabbard covering, its chape (Isizuke) is reinforced by a second layer of leather. The leather exhibits the expected age and usage wear, but is otherwise undamaged, and is still very supple. Overall, a very good example of a rare sword, in very good condition.

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