SC0112
A rare Heirloom Moroha- zukuri tachi with an immense deep curvature of 3.4cm. It was mounted as a gunto by the eldest son of a traditional samurai family background who served his emperor in the Pacific War during WW2.
This Tachi blade has a length of 76cm and a deep sori of 3.4 cm. The cutting edge on its back is sharp.
This long tachi is the second that I have seen remounted in a WW2 army mounting. The other tachi with typical shaped blade was listed for sale by The Lanes Amoury in UK in 2015.
This 'Kogarasu Zukuri' blade in my personal opinion, is much more rarer.
The blade has very fine wood grain forge marks on it and is very well constructed. There is hamon on the upper cutting edge. As this blade is unsigned, it would need to be verified by the scholars at NBTHK in Japan on who could have made this.
As the sword is too long and too curvy to be carried in battle and from its overall condition, it's more likely being carried by a high ranking army officer as a display of authority.
The family Mon of fuji on the tsuka is an indication that the owner belonged to a samurai family. The sword blade is 76cm long with a very deep sori of 3.4cm.
The blade has a cutting edge on its back about 30.5cm from and all the way to the kissaki.
It is very well-constructed featuring an itame hada mixed with straight masame hada. The hamon is a midare hamon of irregular shape. The hamon is present the length of the blade through the kissaki and back along the mune. The tang is unsigned and unshortened.
The sword has a General tassle attached and believed this sword was carried by an army General.
The original General tassle was earlier sold separately for thousands of dollars and a replacement General rank tassle has been re-attached.
The mountings are Type 98 Shin Gunto and in Excellent condition. The tsuka is silk-cord wrapped with cherry blossom menuki. There is little to no fraying. The kabutogane shows the famous family mon of fuji, or wisteria, used by clans such as the Shibata. The locking mechanism is a sukura shaped type and not the normal nob and the whole sword is in Excellent condition.
Kogarasu- maru swords were presented by the emperor from 1918 to full generals and admirals who had deeds of valor in the imperial army and the navy were registered into the marshal prefecture, and the title of the "marshal" was conferred. A marshal prefecture is an organization which assists the Emperor on military affairs. A marshal is not class but an honor title of the members-of-the-armed-forces highest.
In 70 years of history of an imperial army and a navy, 17 Generals of the Army and 13 fleet admirals existed.
The full general and admiral who were registered into the marshal prefecture were awarded the "marshal sword" from the Emperor.
A Gensui-to blade imitates "Kogarasu-maru" of Imperial properties, and the mounting imitates the Kenuki-gata Tachi.
In many instances, Lt. Generals and Vice Admirals custom made swords to imitate the Gensuito as it's the highest honour in the military service and envy of all.
Major General Murata was one of them and he made a Gensuito style sword for himself and mass produced the so-called Murata-to.
Price : NOT FOR SALE