A different Type 19 company grade sword

[PacificRim]

Greetings. I recently purchased this type 19 company grade sword from an online auction, which the seller advertised the item as parade/dress sword. The hilt appeared to be ox horn with a scabbard lock. The blade is a razor sharp machine made blade approximately 26” in length. Any information in these type of swords is appreciated.

 

Best regards,

 

Alex

[Bruce Pennington]

Alex,

Nice one! I'm not sure why you call it "different". Is it the shorter, wider blade? In Dawson's book, you can see that there were multiple variations on these. In your picture with it next to the Field grade sabre, it almost appears to have a real combat blade by the curvature and shape, although, I can't see a hamon. Only way to be sure would be to remove the handle, and that is probably not easy with the 19's.

 

Ohmura's site calls the handle material "buffalo" and the cord a Company grade that began in 1912.

 

That's all I have, but I don't study this type.

[PNSSHOGUN]

It looks like some sort of Murata-To/arsenal blade, the Horimono isn't executed very well so it may be an NCO arsenal blade. The earlier blades were very well finished for non traditional work:

 

[PacificRim]

Bruce, I called it different because I thought I bought a parade sword until I saw the combat blade...

John is right, I think is a machine/non traditional made blade so there is no hamon...unlike the one shown in John’s photo, there is no mekuji on mine. When I saw the photos I realized the hilt is bigger and it has a scabbard lock, I guessed I did good for $300?

[PacificRim]

Alex,

Nice one! I'm not sure why you call it "different". Is it the shorter, wider blade? In Dawson's book, you can see that there were multiple variations on these. In your picture with it next to the Field grade sabre, it almost appears to have a real combat blade by the curvature and shape, although, I can't see a hamon. Only way to be sure would be to remove the handle, and that is probably not easy with the 19's.

Ohmura's site calls the handle material "buffalo" and the cord a Company grade that began in 1912.

That's all I have, but I don't study this type.

The sword is even shorter than a Type 32 乙...

[PNSSHOGUN]

For $300 bucks you did very well, it's a little more unusual to have that parade style grip with combat blade.