Model 1883 Imperial Japanese Navy Dress Sword

[Tonkotsu]

Here is a WW2 Model 1883 Japanese Naval Officer's dress sword in mint condition. This is part of a group that belonged to PFC Leroy Stanley Gibson USMCR. Gibson was wounded on Roi-Namur Atol and fought on Okinawa Island. At the end of the war he served occupation duty in Japan where he bought this group that belonged to a Japanese Naval officer from the officers family.

[Bruce Pennington]

Dick, that's quite a fabulous collection!  Do you know how he came to get it from the family?

 

How about more close-ups of the kai-gunto? One of the hamon (temper line), blade tip, full shots of both sides of the nakago?  The cord isn't a tassel, but is the cord that linked the sword and saya (scabbard), keeping the sword from slipping out (there's a word for it, which I can never remember).

[PNSSHOGUN]

The condition of these is absolutely superb, I'm glad it is still together after all these years as well. The blade of the dress sword is a little different than usually found on these; looks like a Murata-To style blade.