WWII JAPANESE ARMY SAMURAI SWORD - KATANA - #1 - The number of Samurai swords found in the US is greater than those found in Japan. After WWII. US soldiers captured and brought back many swords. The item featured here is one of the swords that was brought back.
The Katana is one of the most recognizable swords in history. Its strength, simplicity in design and out right beauty has elevated it to be one of the top military antiques and is highly collectible.

This is a WWII Japanese Army Samurai sword. A Katana. The Katana was developed in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, between 1574 to 1602. These types of swords measure between 24" to 30".

Sword and scabbard are positioned side by side. Most blades were under 30 inches in length, however, some swords reached lengths of 31 to 32 inches. The blade on this sword is fairly old but it is not in the best condition. This fact hurts the value of the item.

This picture provides a good example of WWII fittings which include: The fuchi , decorative band on the left side. A side view of the tsuba or hand guard and the kuchigane, which is the throat fitting located to the right of the tsuba. The kuchigane on this photograph is secured to the scabbard by a screw.

The manuki (handle ornament) displayed on the picture on the left is not an original piece. It appears that at one point the fittings of this sword were replaced. The picture on the right shows the piece attached to the bottom of the scabbard.

Close up picture of the kabutogane or pommel. This piece is painted in military brown colors. A cloth sling would be threaded through the opening on the pommel. The picture on the right provides a view of the top of the blade. What is interesting about this sample is that it has several nicks that appear to have been made by another sword. When a Samurai engaged in combat he would block the opponents blade with the top of his sword so as to avoid damage to the cutting edge.

Unknown marks inscribed on the blade itself. Notice the grinder marks on the blade. Unfortunately but a common occurance, many of the GIs who brought the swords back to the U.S. sharpened them the way a regular knife would have been sharpened, causing severe damage to the blade. The picture on the right shows the Ito groove. The purpose of the groove is to lighten the blade and is a common feature seen on modern day Iaito blades which never touch blood. This feature can be confused with a blood groove. However, blood groves are employed in stabbing weapons to allow increased blood flow from the wound, a katana is predominantly a cutting weapon and would be unlikely to need a blood grove and many do not. Also featuring a Ito groove can slightly compromise the strength a blade to resist a blow from another sword so were only ever added to lighten a blade to make it more manoeuvrable for some one of less strength.

This Samurai Sword may be currently reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the collectible.