This is a Japanese WWII Samurai Katana sword. In overall very good condition. The blade and fittings are of World War Two type. The handle is wrapped in a dark green cloth. A set of Menuki are found on each side of the sword. They are of three flower design.

The scabbard has a metal shell over a wooden insert. Four fittings are found spread around the main body. The tip has a drag piece which protects the main body.

The throat of the scabbard has a cloth wrapping and a leather ring with a male snap component. The base of the handle has a similar leather ring with a flap that has the female snap. This is an interesting way to lock the sword in place. Instead of using the standard locking mechanism which is internal, the design has made it external and less prone to failure.

The button on the female snap has a white center outlined by a black design. This hardware does not appear to be of military issue. It seems that the soldier put in place his own system. This is more than likely a field alteration.

The suspension ring normally found on the scabbard is missing. However, all of the supporting hardware is present. It is possible that the soldier removed this piece in order to carry the sword in a more traditional manner - inserted across the belt.

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 of copper construction and plain design. This was characteristic of the WWII era.

The blade shows original polish. The Hammon is not very visible. The edge does not have any major nicks or damage.

These photos show the layout and components that make up the Tsuba. Spacers are placed above and below the Tsuba. They provide the necessary elevation for the locking mechanism to fit better. Notice that the Tsuba is of later war production as it does not have a hollowed structure. The usual Chrysanthemum flowers are placed in each corner.

An interesting fact of the Tsuba and spacers is that they are marked with production numbers written in Japanese. Every part displays the same number. This characteristic is known as "Matching numbers".

The tang of the sword shows aging. A single hole near the start of it has been drilled. This is where the handle pin is placed to secure the handle to the sword.

One side of the tang has been signed. The other side is blank. The end of the tang is rounded. The signature is nicely done with deep markings. A translation is provided and indicates the sword was made by master Ama-Hide.

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 .

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.