WW2 Japanese Army Officer Sword Signed . SJ357

WW2 Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Officer Sword (Shin-gunto). Blade in nice overall condition with nice wavy harmon (temper line). One-hole nakago (tang) is nicely signed and has arsenal mark as well. The blade habaki (blade collar) is single piece basic brass type. The sword has the standard army brass tsuba (hand guard). The military-style hilt (tsuka) is the typical officer type, it is constructed of a wood base, covered in ray skin with the traditional 3 brass cherry blossoms, with brown wrap. The push button lock is still intact on this one and works decently and has a matching part number “20” that also matches the part number on the tsuba and the seppa (spacers). The metal scabbard (saya) is in decent condition with some wear. Overall, a nice condition ww2 Army Officer sword with a signed tang and all matching part numbers on the tsuba, lock buttons, and seppa.

Additional Notes: The Shin-guntō (“new military sword”) was the standard-issue sidearm for Imperial Japanese Army officers during WW2, introduced in the late 1930s. Its design blended traditional samurai katana aesthetics with modern, mass-production techniques to meet wartime demand. Modeled after the tachi style of mounting, the Shin-guntō featured a metal scabbard (often painted brown or green), a ray-skin grip wrapped in silk or cotton, and a brass guard with cherry blossom motifs—symbolizing the Japanese military spirit. While some swords housed traditionally forged blades by skilled smiths, the majority were machine-made or oil-quenched to speed production. Beyond being a weapon, the Shin-guntō served as a status symbol and ceremonial piece, representing an officer’s honor and connection to Japan’s warrior heritage. After Japan’s surrender in 1945, many were confiscated by Allied forces, becoming sought-after military collectibles today.

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