Inherited Officers Sword

[ragrant]

This Japanese sword was given to my father (a Congressman) by General Larsen, Marine Commander of Guam in June 1945. Dad shared his quarters during a visit to Guam in December 1944 and June 1945. The links below are to individual files on Box that can be previewed or downloaded as you prefer. I know very little about this subject and would like help understanding something about the type and history of the sword.

https://www.box.com/s/t6bbht1lixjl3vwwoq1f

 

I have been told that is a naval officer’s sword of the type used by naval landing forces but none of the swords that I could find pictured on the internet had this particular kind of scabbard and mounting. The scabbard appears to be wood covered by rayskin and then leather hide.

https://www.box.com/s/djnuc8z54yy1flk8drcv

https://www.box.com/s/9q7lv5sv9r3l8ptpbmor

 

I have been told that the markings on the tang say “Seki ju Ishihara Kanenao saku" which translates to Ishihara Kanenao from Seki City made this.

https://www.box.com/s/cxgy1sr0u027akpz0v8m

 

I have tried to find and read the stamp on the tang above the signature – is it Seki? Is this correct and what does it mean?

https://www.box.com/s/d9vcnsdwjcwtrbpvmfi5

 

Here are additional pictures of the handle and scabbard details.

https://www.box.com/s/e1mq1af5j0w8aevz2xmv

https://www.box.com/s/aa96ou4xsg21npzphy6d

https://www.box.com/s/o4e4glyzaw892rbxk8lv

 

Here are pictures of the blade where I tried to show the tempering lines.

https://www.box.com/s/2zey616bfl451c5h7fgm

https://www.box.com/s/27k92nqqjzp26xry7dlc

https://www.box.com/s/ij9xyniji93bunmzeqv0

 

This is all new to me so my pictures may not be exactly what are needed to identify the type and quality of the sword. The only obvious defect is the broken leather band at the end of the scabbard near the guard. Every other thing appears to be in good condition and original.

 

Here is a general link to a folder where all of my pictures of the sword can be found. Some are high definition and so will take time to download. The links above are to smaller file versions.

https://www.box.com/s/4q85105d9fkhj4mz2iku

 

What can you tell me about the sword? Thanks in advance.

[SwordGuyJoe]

This is a non-traditionally forged sword (Yes, naval sword aka Kaigunto) forged by (edit) Kanenao is correct. The stamp is a showa stamp.

[Kai-Gunto]

Looks nice , and with deluxe scabbard with laquered rayskin.

[Stu W]

Hello,

 

You may find information useful to you at one or more of these linked pages.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/military.htm

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/showato.htm

http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_039.htm

 

Although the sword itself it not a treasure of great value if you have any evidence, photographic or otherwise, that it was given to your Dad as you say that will certainly enhance it's value to a collector of military blades.

 

Regards,

Stu

[ragrant]

Here's a link to a copy of the letter from General Larsen to my Dad about the sword. General Larsen brought the sword back from Guam with his personal effects and sent it from San Francisco in 1946 (the original of this letter is in the Center for History in South Bend Indiana along with all of my Dad's papers -- I made and kept scans of everything):

 

https://www.box.com/s/kyl87iday6scbhufl126

 

Given the consensus that this is an oil-forged blade, should I be afraid of lightly polishing it with a sword polishing kit? Should I clean (and if so how) the other metal fixtures such as the hand guard?