Japanese Kai-Gunto with Capture Tags from Saipan

A Kai-Gunto sword in leather covered wooden scabbard, with a tag affixed reflecting that the sword was captured by Master Sergeant Early Hart of the 27th Infantry Division on Saipan in 1944. The other tag carries a handwritten notation of “One (1) Jap Samauri [sic] sword” and a stamp which reads “Examined in the field by joint intelligence” with written initials under the statement “Passed by”, indicating that the sword was examined by an Army Intelligence Officer on Saipan who determined that the sword possessed no intelligence value the prevented it from being kept by Sergeant Hart.

The sword blade is approximately 26 inches long, with the sword having an overall length of approximately 37 inches. The tang is unsigned, and the blade has no visible temper line. There are areas of dirt and spots on the blade, but there are no nicks and no active rust. The tsuba is iron with impressed cartouches. The ray skin grip is wrapped with brown fabric and each side carries an impressive 3 1/4 inch long menuki in the form of a dragon.