J02053 (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 white ray skin (Same). Gilt-washed alloy ornaments (Menuki) in the form of three cherry blossoms (Sakura) are positioned above the ray skin and under the tape to each side. Some wear is evident to their gilt wash. Visible through one of the diamond-shaped openings is a single bamboo peg (Mekugi) which retains the hilt by passing through it and the tang (Nakago) to its interior. The brass pommel (Kabuto-gane) has a tarnish-resistant brown finish, with light wear to its highlights, upon which are embossed three decorative cherry blossoms against small punch-holes resembling fish roe (Nanako). It opens on either side to reveal the ray skin beneath where a hole through it with a decorative brass collar admits the knot loop (Saru-te). The knot loop is a copper-colored woven cord, and it has bound to it a sword knot in the form of a brown, rayon strap, 5/16" wide, with a slider and two crowned tassels. Both the cord and the sword knot are lightly frayed along their edges, and the latter has separated in one place. To the left side of the brass ferrule (Fuchi), colored brown and decorated with six embossed cherry blossoms against small punch-holes, is a small brass spring button, with a cherry blossom embossed to it, which, when pressed, releases a catch which passes through the cross guard (Tsuba) and washers (Seppa) and would engage with a slot to the mouth of the brass throat (Kuchi-gane) of the metal scabbard. The 1/4" thick, "Aoi"-shaped, solid cast brass cross guard (Tsuba) has an embossed cherry blossom to each of its corners to each side. A free-floating, thin brass oval washer (Seppa) is to the lower side of this cross guard, to one side of which is stamped "88," the other side having the catch which passes through the cross guard to it. Copper-colored "Dai seppa," which are flush with the cross guard and are most noticeable by their extensions to each side, are to both its upper and lower faces. The blade is 26 3/4" (approximately 2.25 "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, but its polished surface is generally clean, with minimal surface spotting. 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) features a repetition of the brass ferrule, with its brown coloring and six embossed cherry blossoms against a background of small punch-holes. A depression for the catch is cut into one side of its opening. The scabbard itself is lined in wood. A metal hanging ring (Obi-tori) and its alloy suspension mount (Ashi), both finished in brown, is near the throat. Near the base of the scabbard is the decorative "Shibabiki" band, and the chape (Isizuke), also of brass and finished in brown, is to its end. The scabbard has one noticeable ding to its metal exterior, between the throat and the suspension mount. Light to moderate wear to the brown finish of its devices is evident. Overall, an impressive example, in very good condition.

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