Wwii Officers Sword

[VashBitchko]

I have a WWII Japanese Army officers (family?) samurai sword This has been in my family for over 73 years I rescued it about 12 years ago before any more wear was done to it this Measures 37" in length (27" for the blade and 10" for the hilt (handle) the scabbard I believe is covered in eel skin maybe just leather? there is kanji written on the base of the blade once the tsuka (handle) is removed

[VashBitchko]

Close up shots of the kanji

[Bruce Pennington]

Michael, I can't translate, someone will come along. But I can tell you this is a Type 98 Officer sword in combat scabbard. Japanese smiths sign the tangs with the blade tip pointed up, so I flipped your pics for readability.

[VashBitchko]

Thank you for the information,I was told on another thread that the Sword Smith of this sword was Ishihara Yoshisada and that it may have been made in 1939

[Bruce Pennington]

Michael,

 

Is the writing only on one side? Dates are usually on the other side from the smith name. If made in '39 or anytime during the war, it wasn't a "family" sword. Those are much older. The leather on the scabbard is simply leather. It's called a combat scabbard.

 

The weekends tend to be slower around the forum, so if you don't get a confirmation on the smith name soon, someone with chime in by Monday, ususally.

[Stephen]

BP

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/25811-wwii-sword/?do=findComment&comment=260799

[Bruce Pennington]

BP

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/25811-wwii-sword/?do=findComment&comment=260799

Thanks Stephen! Can’t get any more detailed than that.

[BANGBANGSAN]

石原義定 Ishihara Yoshisada

[VashBitchko]

Thanks for the info everyone