103. Kai Gunto Sword, Japanese Imperial Navy, World War II period

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Brought to you by

Mihai Boulescu

Head of Religious Art Evaluation Office

0757 116 742 [email protected]

103. Kai Gunto Sword, Japanese Imperial Navy, World War II period

Starting price:

EUR 1.500

Sold

EUR 3.250

tamahagane steel, ray skin, brass, l=93 cm

A rare Japanese naval officer's Kai-Guntō sword, with a blade made by the traditional forging method (Gendaitō), preserving the spirit of the old Japanese craftsmen. The blade is massive and robust, completed by a scabbard made of ray skin and unique decorative details such as Seppa with the Rising Sun motif and original Tassel. This Kai-Guntō example stands out from most naval swords mass-produced during World War II in that the blade was made by the traditional forging method, a rarity among military swords of that time, when most examples were mass-produced or made of stainless steel. The wide and extremely solid blade reflects the robustness and confidence required by the Japanese Imperial Navy. Elegance is ensured by highly collectable details: a decorative metal spacer (Seppa) with the symbol of the Rising Sun, original handle covered with ray skin (Samekawa), officer’s tassel (Ken’o) in good condition, scabbard covered with ray skin (Samekawa) and a perfectly functional sword fastening mechanism in the scabbard. The combination of tradition and military robustness gives this weapon a privileged position among naval swords. Guntō swords were emblems of Japanese officers during World War II. While Shin-Guntō were the standard swords of ground force officers, Kai-Guntō were worn by officers of the Imperial Navy, often made more robust and with details adapted to the naval environment. This particular example represents a rarity, being a traditionally forged blade, not an industrial one, greatly increasing its historical and collectable value.

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