Signed Late War 1945 Dated Japanese Army Officer Shin Gunto Sword

The standard issue Japanese Army officer’s sword has an overall length in the scabbard of approximately 38 inches, with a blade length of approximately 26 inches. The sword blade is generally clean, showing some spots and scratches, as well as some mossy areas. The blade has a few small and barely visible nicks to the cutting edge. The tang shows some relatively minimal surface rust and it has a single mounting hole. The cutting edge has a few tiny and barely visible nicks. The tang is signed “Yoshichika”and it is dated “Showa 20 Year [1945], May”, reflecting production of the sword only three months before the Japanese surrender. The swordsmith’s legal name was “Yoshioka Tetsujirō” and he entered the Seki Guild Log on April 26 of Showa 18 (1943). The ray skin grip is wrapped in the traditional style with copper brown fabric Beneath the wrapping on one side is the standard military menuki of three cherry blossoms. On the opposite side the menuki of the cherry blossoms is missing and in its place is a simple plain brass lozenge. This may well reflect the late war production of the sword, when the production process ran out of the menuki, or simple was unable to stamp the plain brass lozenge into the cherry blossoms form. The tsuba guard is the solid style without decoration. The brown scabbard paint exhibits age and wear, with scattered scuffs, but it is essentially intact.