A Japanese WWII Kai Gunto, Naval Marine Officers Sword (Katana), with 1934 pattern Toyokawa arsenal steel blade, the faux ray skin grip with bronze coloured tsuka-ito, blackened iron solid tsuba and gilt menuki, fitted with a later saru-te, sheathed within a plain wooden lined black lacquered scabbard with gilt furniture. Bearing an anchor within a circle device to the tang. Length of blade 68.5 cm, overall length sheathed.

A private estate

This type of sword was known to be associated with the Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) a unit that later became airborne paratroopers, accredited with more combat parachute drops during WWII than the regular paratrooper of the Imperial Japanese army. The S.N.L.F. sustained heavy losses due to their unwillingness to surrender to allied troops.

Condition Report

No apparent defects