SC0165
Japanese Army Colonel`s Murata-to sword in WW2 mountings.
Murata Tsuneyoshi (1838-1921), a Japanese general who previously made guns, started making what was probably the first mass-produced substitute for traditionally made samurai swords. These swords are referred to as "Murata-to" and they were used in both the Sino-Japanese war (1894-1895) and the Russo-Japanese war (1904-1905).[7] The kyu gunto was used from 1875 until 1934.
The Murata-to were machine made from Swedish steel, light weight and very sharp. Murata-to were much favoured as it was rust resistant and easy to maintain during war time and light weight for formal usage. Blades were unsigned, some have arsenal stamp on the tang, shinogi-zukuri shape with bohi engravings. As it is machine made, there is no hamon but on some blades, artificial hamon was created by rubbing hazuya stone on the cutting edge.
General Murata carried a Murata-to he made for himself. Many senior officers and some members of the Imperial family carried these blades to wars too.
This sword:
The cutting edge of this sword is very sharp and the push locking device has been removed for a quick draw.
This sword has seen actions in several wars and it was re- mounted when the owner served again during WW2. The Colonel tassle has faded and weathered through many years of use.
Price : NOT FOR SALE