Signed 1944 Dated Shin Gunto Japanese Army Officer Sword in Leather Combat Cover
$1,250.00
The shin gunto sword has an overall length in the scabbard of approximately 39 inches, with a blade length of approximately 25 inches. The blade exhibits some relatively minor signs of age, with spots and smudges, but it is generally clean and quite bright, while displaying a visible straight temper line. The tang has a single mounting hole and it is dated “Showa 19th Year [1944]” and it is signed “Kanemori”. The legal name of “Kanemori” was Nishida Rin’ya. He was born on March 14th 1883, and he entered the Seki Guild Log on December 25 of 1940. He died in 1944, the same year in which he made this sword, so it was almost certainly one of his final creations. The grip is covered in light sharkskin, and it is tightly wrapped in the traditional manner with golden brown fabric. Beneath the fabric on each side of the grip are the standard military menuki of three cherry blossoms, with a worn gilt finish. The tsuba guard is the solid style with four raised cherry blossoms in relief as well as an opening for the retention strap of the leather grip cover, which itself is no longer present on the sword. The scabbard is within a black leather combat cover, with scratches and scuffs as well as a hole in the lower area of one side, but it is complete. Overall the sword is in very good condition. We photographed the sword with the retaining peg removed and it will be replaced when the sword is shipped.