N° d'objet
8801.1.2
Titre
Japanese military sword, Shin-guntō
Créateur
Description
Japanese military sword, Shin-guntō from the Shōwa period (1926-1945), Officer's sword. Sugata (configuration): shinogi-zukuri (longitudinal ridgeline) with shallow tori-zori (even curve) with medium kissaki (blade tip). Hamon (tempering pattern): broad suguha (straight)
Nakago (tang): one mekugi-ana (peg hole); signed on the ura (outer-facing side of the blade) Showa Tsuchinoto U Shu (1939 [Shōwa 14] in the zodiac 60-year cycle). On the ura (inner face of the blade) Ko A Isshin Mantetsu saku kore (All Asia, one heart, this is forged from Manchurian steel).
Koshirae (mounting): wooden saya (scabbard) with metal cover and single ashi (suspension ring); copper habaki (blade collar), standard military brass mokko tsuba (quatrefoil hand guard) decorated with cherry blossom, fuchi (collar) decorated with cherry blossom and kabutogane (pommel) with suspension ring; wooden tsuka (hilt) wrapped in same (rayskin) with brown silk itō (braiding) over brass menuki (hilt fittings) in the form of triple chrysanthemums.
Ko A Isshin was a patriotic slogan which refers to Japan’s ‘Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere’ which began in 1932 with Japan's occupation of Manchuria and was part of the imperialist expansion programme. Manchurian steel was highly prized by Shōwa period swordsmiths and most blades made of this material were of high quality and at the very least were hand finished.
Date
1939 - 1939
Période de création
Shōwa period, World War Two, 1939-1945
Matériel
Dimensions
- Length: Sword 940 mm
- Length: Blade 685 mm
- Width: mm
- Width: mm
- Height: Guard 72 mm
- Length: Scabbard 746 mm