WWII JAPANESE MILITIA KATANA SWORD - 23 -
At the end of WWII, the Japanese people were forbidden to own swords. many of them surrender them to the American troops where the GI's had the opportunity to pick them and bring them back to the states as war souvenirs.
Since those days the appreciation for the craftsmanship and beauty of the Samurai sword has increased year by year. Turning the sword into one of the most sought after military antiques. The Katana was developed during the Momoyama period in Japanese history. The length of the sword allowed the warrior to fight from horseback. The curve in the blade facilitated a slashing motion.

The item featured here is a Japanese Katana Samurai sword. It is mounted on a civilian attire.

The fittings on this sword are very nice. The blade shows some damage on both sides. primarily near the tip. The blade should clean up nicely with polishing.

The scabbard of the sword is of wood. Covered with black lacker. One of the sides shows some cracking.

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 handle in this sword remains tight. It has not been loosen with use. Shark or Ray skin is used to line under the cloth wrappings. The Menuki were used to adorn each side of the handle. Their placement was roughly at the center of the handle.

The top of the handle is capped with a piece of metal. Their design can range from simple to very ornate. In this sample it is very simple.

The fittings of the sword were normally created by craftsmen who specialized in the making of the part. The blade smith would not be the one making the scabbard, or Tsuba, etc.

The swordsmith signed the sword once it was determined that it met the quality standards set by the school where the sword was forged. The signature was placed on the Tang. The size and shape of the Tang are indicating factors of which school produced the sword.

The length of this sword is approximatelly 37 inches. This measure was performed with the sword inside the scabbard. the typical length of the blade (from the top of the tang, with the handle off, to the tip) was between 25 inches to 30 inches.

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 .

The Menuki is in the shape of a bird. It dates back to the early 1900's or the late 1800's. A close look at the white shark/ray skin reveals a series of bumps.

The following picture shows the Tsuba and all of its spacers (Seppa). The design of the Tsuba is solid and very plain. No decorations. The spacers are often marked with a production number. In this case they are blank. The collar (Fuchi) is also devoid of decorations. It is plain brass.

The pommel cap (Kashira) is of plain brass construction. no ornamentation. The design matches the Fuchi.

The tang has a signature on one side. The same side also has a Seki stamp. This is an indication that the blade was manufactured using mass produced techniques in a factory during WWII.

The tang has a single hole drilled near the base. This is where the wooden peg passes to secure the handle to the blade. The sword has not been shortened.

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.