Signed and Dated Japanese WWII Naval Officer’s Kai Gunto Katana

Description

Featuring forged 25 1/16″ blade (measured kissaki to mune machi, or 26″ to the guard), with
visible hada (grain) and wavy hamon (temper line). The nakago (tang) is signed YOSHI
SHIGE. This smith’s real name was Komiyama Ryozo, and the name appears in the Seki
Tanrensho Booklet printed in 1939. Yoshishige was active during the Showa Period and
worked at Seki arsenal in Gifu, Mino Province, and appears to have made both arsenal
forged and traditional blades. The other side of the nakago bears the date SHOWA (current
reigning emperor) Juu-Kyu Nen (19th year of reign, or 1944). Traditional naval mounts,
featuring silver habaki (blade collar), plain oval non-ferrous tsuba (guard), two o-seppa
(large spacers), and four seppa (spacers). Tsuka (handle) with black same (rayskin) and
brown ito (silk braid), with two gilt oval cherry blossom menuki (grip ornaments). Black
lacquered wood saya (scabbard) with twin carry rings. Overall length 36″, not including
scabbard. Blade is smooth and sharp, with no nicks and some staining. Saya with some
lacquer loss. Japanese naval swords are far more scarce than their army counterparts, as
fewer were made and most are at the bottom of the Pacific.