As the war neared the end in the South Pacific, the Japanese were being choked out of war materials. The island was surrounded. All the supply lines were caught off. The weapons manufacturer's had to make do with the materials they had available in the island. This period is known as the "Last Ditch" effort.

These swords were produced late in the war. They are characterized by shortcuts taken in the fittings used as well as overall lower quality.

This is a Samurai Katana sword. The mountings are typical of the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII. The handle wrapping is of brown color and has a dark brown menuki with the three flowers.

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 following pictures show a closeup view of the Habaki. It is the standard brass construction. This piece secured the blade to the sheath when the sword is put away.

The swords locking mechanism is clearly visible. It is spring loaded so it locks the sword in place automatically and it is disengage by pressing the metal button to the side of the handle.

The tang shows two holes. One near the bottom and one near the top. It has not been shortened since manufacturing. The holes were intended to be in these places from the start.

Black paint is applied in the writing of three different characters. These are factory production markings or arsenal markings.

The tanf is signed in two different places. One side has seven characters. The other has two, which are the master's signature.

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 pommel shows a lightly pebbled metal cap. The hole in the wood was never finished. Shortcuts in the production of swords, like this one, are an indication of "last ditch" swords.

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.