A Superb WW2 Officer's Sword in Type 94 Deluxe Quality Early War Mounts, Made by the Suya Company of Tokyo, & Full Length Hi Blade in Excellent Polish

This is truly and exemplary example of an original, early, WW2 IJA officer's sword, in stunning condition for age, especially the blade that is superbly bright with not a trace of rust or staining on the blade surface at all. The nakago {the hidden tang under the hilt} is surface pitted as usual and totally as to be expected for a sword of this vintage. A collector would have to go a long way to ever see a better surviving example, if at all! A 5 Star plus example, set in its original, and rarest, type 94 koshirae {sword mounts}. An absolute beauty!. The tsuba {sword guard} bears the logo of the Suya Company of Tokyo. They appear to be a private company that provided military fittings, all the fittings are original and just as issued, with the scarce, type 94 four pierced boar's eyes, tsuba. Seppa all serial numbered to match the tsuba.

The blade with full length hi {fuller} is in excellent near mint bright polish, and bears, probably, a small Tokyo 1st army arsenal stamp, and its habaki is very fine quality indeed. The filemarks on the mumei nakago are still visible by around 50%, and are sujikai, a pattern of perpendicular lines going straight from left to right. A nakago-Miri Chestnut End (Kurijiri 栗尻)

The saya has its original wartime military olive green paint. Button scabbard retaining clip still present without catch, {about 80% were removed entirely}, the scabbard {saya} is completely dent free. the tsuka has its original cotton silk hilt binding intact.

Gunto Type 94 mounts;
The “type 94” shin guntō (九四式軍刀, Kyuuyon-shiki guntō) officers sword replaced the western style kyu gunto in 1934. It had a traditionally constructed hilt (tsuka) with ray skin (same) wrapped with traditional silk wrapping (ito). A cherry blossom (a symbol of the Imperial Japanese Army) theme was incorporated into the guard (tsuba), pommels (fuchi and kashira) and ornaments (menuki).

The scabbard (saya) for the Type 94 was made of metal with a wood lining to protect the blade. It was often painted olive green and was suspended from two brass mounts, one of which was removable and only used when in full dress uniform. The fittings on the scabbard were also decorated with cherry blossom designs.

The blades found in “Type 94” shin guntō ranged from modern machine made blades through contemporary traditionally manufactured blade to ancestral blades dating back hundreds of years.

Somewhere around just 1 of 1,000 Japanese Army swords are Type 94's. This sword would make an important addition to any collection.

Code: 25479