JAPANESE ARMY SAMURAI SWORD WWII KATANA - #14 -
The Samurai sword is one of the most sought after military antiques. Its popularity in the movies and television has helped propelled it into a popular icon. The strength, simplicity and beauty of the blade have made it a legend.

The item feature here is a WWII period Japanese Katana sword. Outfitted with the classical Japanese Imperial Army fittings. The scabbard is made of wood and covered in brown leather. This was a typical trademark of the military models. A single brass ring was located on one side. The purpose was to allow the soldier to secure the sword to the belt of the uniform. In reality this was not widely used. Soldiers would prefer to carry the sword the traditional way, through the belt towards the front.

The tang of this particular sword is not signed. Not all the swords were signed, even if they were hand made. A single hole is used to secure the blade to the handle. A wooden peg would be employed for this task. Some samples would have the arsenal marking stamp on the tang.

The handle wrapping is also consistent with the method used during WWII. The menuki is a representative sample of that used by the Japanese Army in WWII. Notice that the shark skin is receding, exposing a little of the wood of the handle.

The Samurai sword has a very rich history. The sword has been manufactured for several centuries and continues to be produced today. The sword represented more than just a weapon. It was the soul of the Samurai warrior. When attempting to identify the type of sword you have It is important to keep in mind that the fittings of a sword (scabbard, handle, crossguard. etc.) may be identical from one sword to another. The reason why is because during WWII the same fittings were used in all Army swords, Navy swords, etc. Armed forces are all about uniformity. They strive to make everything the same. This is the reason why a sword cannot be identified merely by its external appearance. Understanding the different components that make up the Samurai sword is the first step in figuring out the type of sword you have. That is the reason why we have created the Understanding the Samurai sword section as a means to provide a novice with the basic knowledge to start the path of determining the questions everyone has; who made the sword, how old it is nad how much it is worth.

The Tsuba is not typical of the ones used during WWII. This is an older sample. It dates back to the mid to late 1800's. There are three openings. The center one is for the blade to pass through. The other two are strictly ornamental.

WE BUY JAPANESE SWORDS - All types of Japanese edge weapons. Whether it is a WWII era Samurai sword or an older type of blade. The process gets started by you sending us an Email . We will respond to your inquiry normally within 24 hours and in many cases much faster. We can tell you what you have, what it is worth and how much we can pay you. One sword or an entire collection - Email Us .

Since the standard locking mechanism was not used with this sword the replacement was the use of a leather strap with a male snap. It is attached to the side of the handle. The receiving end is placed on the throat of the scabbard. It is held in place by the leather cover.

By the Numbers
It is next to impossible to determine the exact number of Samurai swords that were produced and issued to Japanese soldiers during the war. However, thanks to the record keeping maintained by the US Armed Forces, it is possible to estimate how many swords were actually shipped home.

There were over 500,000 Samurai swords were brought back home as souvenirs from the war. There are several caviats to this number.

For example, some soldiers took souvenirs and shipped them home circumbenting the established process. Some of the swords were brought back inside duffle bags without anyone knowing except for the soldier who captured the sword. This fact would clearly affect the final count.

The number also does not account for swords that were taken by Allied soldiers from other countries.

Collecting Samurai swords
Collecting Samurai swords is a field that has been growing since the days the GI's rummaged around Asia bringing back military souvenirs. Japanese soldiers carried many of these swords when they went to battle. Once the soldier was killed or captured, the Americans would take the edge weapons as war trophies. Eventually all these pieces came back to the United States where military history enthusiasts began to collect them.

In trying to determine if you should collect Samurai swords there are certain factors that should be considered. The adjacent table outlines some of the advantages and disadvantages of collecting the Samurai swords.

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.