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WWII JAPANESE ARMY NCO SAMURAI SWORD - KATANA - #7 -
The NCO swords were introduced on September 16, 1935. These swords were machine made and came in six different
variations. however, two of the variations were not officially recognized by the Japanese Imperial Army.
All swords were marked with a serial number on the blade and the scabbard. In addition, the arsenal markings were
stamped near the habaki in the handle. The example displayed on this page is the aluminum variation.
The sword was also issued to officer candidates on September 17, 1940.
The locking mechanism was welded to the handle and it kept the blade firmly secured to the scabbard so it
would not falll off during battle. The locking mechanism is a component that breaks fairly easily if not handled
properly. The arsenal control markings (left picture) can be seen towards the bottom of the handle.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for Samurai swords.
Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point
out clearly defined points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my Samurai Sword worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the swords is
reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of the edge weapons in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality
military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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Just like the regular swords, the menuki and pommel portray the cherry blossoms representative of the Imperial
Army. The only difference is that in NCO swords these items are painted instead of being separate pieces.
THE BLADE
The NCO blade is easily recognized by the serial numbers engraved near the top of the blade.
Another telling fact is the blood groove which spans nearly the entire length of the blade on
both sides.
The top of the blade has some rust spots and the tip shows slight marks of sharpening
but the overall condition of the blade on this example still very good.
THE SCABBARD
The numbers on the scabbard match the numbers on the blade. The scabbard is painted with the
imperial army brown. All NCO swords were issued on this color.
THE TSUBA
The tsuba ob the NCO swords is normally a completelly solid design. The tsuba shown here is
a much more ornate and thinner example and is constructed from brass.
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.
If you have an interest is seeing other Japanese Samurai swords, you can do so by going to our
Japanese Samurai Swords Price Guide
identification guide. Where we cover Samurai swords from all periods.
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