MASTER SMITH**SUPERB HAMON**WW2 C1941 Japanese Army Officer’s Shin Gunto Sword With High Grade Showa- To Smith Signed Blade ‘MINO UJI FUSA’, Unusual Shiro (Innocence) Mark Matching ‘No.28’ Seppa & Locking Catch, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn Swords

**MASTER SMITH**SUPERB HAMON**WW2 C1941 Japanese Army Officer’s Shin Gunto Sword With High Grade Showa- To Smith Signed Blade ‘MINO UJI FUSA’, Unusual Shiro (Innocence) Mark Matching ‘No.28’ Seppa & Locking Catch, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 21260 21260

This sword has been assessed by UK based Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His assessment accompanies this piece. In exerts from the assessment he states “Japanese officer’s Shin Gunto pattern sword for the army. This is a high grade Showa To or possibly mill steel Gendaito, because of Showa Blossom stamp not a true Tamahagane Gendaito. Aki Hide who taught sword making and ran competitions during war rated this man a master Joko No Retsu. He was 3rd seat (excellence) in 1941 competition. Signed with art name ‘MINO UJI FUSA’ his real name was Shinoda Uji Fusa. Trained under Watanabe Kane Naga & Kato Jumyo two top smiths. Worked for army as a gunto smith during the war. This one circa 1941well shaped crisp lines, file marks, in battle carried condition covered in scratches & old finger rust. Edge of point small nibbles, would polish well. Showing superb choji midare hamon. Mounts in good un-touched condition. Scabbard metal parade still got most of dark brown paint fittings. Tsuba gunto pattern. Traces of gilt on brass. Number 28 on body with 4 seppa No’s 28. Hilt Tsuka complete & good condition, brown ito tape (dirty but intact). Couple of cracks to Ray skin with use. Good gilt left on menuki. Locking catch stamped No.28 & with quality sarute knot loop with monkey hands for tassel. A quality package in its day”. In his illustrations he states the cutting edge as 64 cms and overall length as just under 85 cms. He translates the smith signature as above & describes a small mark on the tang end as being ‘Shiro’ meaning innocence possibly indicating pure material used, see Fuller & Gregory oshi 366 for example, Bill adds that he has never seen this mark before. He also provides other dimensions / characteristics of the blade which can be seen in image 2. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21260

£1475