Swords
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**ATTRIBUTED TO WW1 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL (DSM) GALLIPOLI RECIPIENT**British Royal Navy Officer’s 1827 Pattern George VI Presentation Sword With Etched Blade By Gieves, Inscribed ‘PRESENTED BY MARTINS BANK LTD TO GUNNER W.G. MANTELL DSM RN 30.9.41’ - 23388 William George Mantell was a member of the Royal Navy (RN) who served during both World War I and World War II. He was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) in August 1917 for his service during the Great War. Mantell served as a rating and was wounded in action during the Dardanelles Campaign (Gallipoli) in 1915. His "conspicuous gallantry" during the war led to him being awarded the Distinguished Service Medal in 1917. He was later recorded as a Chief Petty Officer & served as a Gunner during World War II. He was later employed by Martin’s Bank as head messenger (more service information / antecedents on this man is available online at the Imperial War Museum archives and a portrait photograph of Mr Mantell is reproduced in image 1). This is an excellent British RN sword to Mr Mantell DSM presented to him by Martin’s bank Ltd in 1941. The Naval Officer’s sword has 80.5cm long fullered blade both sides with foliate etched & Blued panels and Kings crown Cyphers (one side ‘GRVI’ (King George 6th Rex). One side of the ricasso has maker’s / retailer’s name ‘Gieves Ltd’ the reverse has ordnance star and inlaid proof roundel. One side of the blade has presentation inscription ‘PRESENTED BY MARTINS BANK LTD TO GUNNER W.G. MANTELL DSM RN 30.9.41’. It has an attractive Lion’s head pommel and the knuckle guard features King’s crown and RN motif. The sword’s fish skin grip with wire binding is undamaged. One side of the guard has a folding langet which locks securely to a pin on the throat of the scabbard and holds it securely in place. The hilt is fitted with original bullion cord & bullion portepee. The leather scabbard with brass fittings is in excellent condition. The price for this excellent RN sword presented to a DSM recipient includes UK delivery. Sn 23388 £795.00 |
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Victorian Era Japanese Tourist Export Tanto Dagger With Ornately Hand Carved Ox Bone Handle & Scabbard. Sn 23362 - 23362 This is an excellent original late 19th Century Japanese Tanto With Beautiful Carved Ox Bone Handle & Scabbard no doubt a Tourist export piece. The Tanto has a sharp 5 ½” single edged blade and measures 8 ¾” overall length (9 ¾” in its scabbard). The blade has no damage and just areas of staining consistent with age. Its handle and scabbard made of the bone from the shin of an Ox are ornately hand carved with attractive imagery of Japanese Noblemen & Monk characters dressed in traditional Japanese Costume. The bone has even aged patina. The scabbard has a holed bone peg for hanging cord. The price for this hand crafted Japanese piece includes UK delivery. Sn 23362 (in tanto box floor armoury) £165.00 |
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Victorian Era Japanese Tourist Export Wakizashi Short Sword With Ornately Hand Carved Ox Bone Handle & Scabbard. Sn 23361 - 23361 The Wakizashi is a traditional short sword carried as a companion to a Katana (see page 11 of Military Swords Of Japan by Fuller & Gregory). This is an excellent original late 19th Century Japanese Wakizashi Sword With Beautiful Carved Ox Bone Handle & Scabbard no doubt a Tourist export piece. The sword has a sharp 15 ½” single edged blade and measures 24 ¾” overall length (29 ¾” in its scabbard). The blade has no damage and just areas of staining consistent with age. Its handle and scabbard made of the bone from the shin of an Ox are ornately hand carved with attractive imagery of Japanese Noblemen & Monk characters dressed in traditional Japanese Costume. The bone has even aged patina. The scabbard has a holed bone peg for hanging cord. The price for this hand crafted Japanese piece includes UK delivery. Sn 23361 £225.00 |
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**SUPERIOR BLADE MAKING SMITH FAMILY**POSSIBLE ANCIENT BLADE**Japanese Bizen School Ko (Small) Wakizashi Short Sword Smith Signed ‘YASU MITSU’ & Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 23356 - 23356 This Wakizashi with possibly ancient blade has been examined by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg and a copy of his assessment notes accompany the sword. In his notes he states “A small (ko wakizashi) Bizen blade with two kanji mei Yasu Mitsu See Hawley’s book on swordsmiths for info Pages 820, 847, 848, 849, 850, 851 lists 5 generations working 1413 up to 1533. See Markus Sesko page 332 only 4 generations listed. Both books give the 1st & 2nd generations high ratings making sharp superior blades. An ancient blade, needs professional polish & papers in Japan to determine which generation made it. Blade with old rust & scratches & several small chips along the cutting edge. Worthy of restoration. Mounted in honoki wood saya in black lacquer with missing patches of lacquer, and bottom of saya split, needs restoring. No Kogatana knife inside pocket. Tsuba is Oval iron pierced nice black patina, looks ancient but is late Edo recreation Circa 1800. Tsuka hilt is Satsuma rebellion period munition quality binding (needs re-wrap). With mis-matched iron Fuchi / Kashira shakudo menuki (dirty) & covered by wrap. This is a good example of a Bizen school / style that is worthy of restoration & preservation”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes translates the tang signature, describes the cutting edge of blade as 45.5 cms, total length 57 cms. He also describes other blade characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23356 £975.00 |
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Late Edo Period C1800 Japanese Aikuchi (Dagger Without Tsuba) With Hira Zukuri (Slab Sided) Blade, Hilt With Shakudo Menuki Of Doves & Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 23357 - 23357 This Aikuchi has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. Bill has examined the tang but the tang is tightly fitted in the hilt and to prevent possible damage we have not attempted to remove the tang from the hilt. A copy of his hand written notes and illustrations accompany the knife & can be read in the images”. In his illustrations of the blade he observes ‘cutting edge just under 22cms (length) Total length 33.5 cms and describes other blade & tang characteristics which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23357 (tanto box armoury floor). £745.00 |
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**ANCIENT LATE EDO PERIOD C1700’s CORMORANTS NECK BLADE ** Japanese Mino School Ko-Wakizashi Small Sword With Kodjuka By-Knife Hilt With Silvered Mount Fuji Device, Scabbard, Cloth Bag Cover & Expert Assessment. Sn 20907 - 20907 This ancient blade Japanese Ko (small) Wakizashi Sword has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written notes with illustrations accompany the sword. Extracts from the notes include “Mino School / Style blade made in the late Edo period C1700’s. The small unsigned blade is shaped U-No-Kubi-Zukuri (like a Cormorant’s neck) back edge. This shape popular in Muromachi period. This looks later into Shinto. In good old Hadori polish showing Nioi edged gunome midare temper line hamon. Cannot see grain, later work usually has small/ tight forging. Saya is black lacquer good quality on Honoki wood in very good condition with horn Kuri Kata fitted with Shita Dome eyelets. Koi Guchi throat mount is silver plated copper in Han Dachi style. Matches fittings on tsuka, also Han Dachi style finished with silver menuki of a Vraja Bhudist ghost knife and bound in light blue ito. All the mounts look Meiji period. With an iron Tachi style Tsuba, plain black iron with 2 Hitsu Ana cut outs, good 19th century patina. Ha Baki is gold foil overlaid , small amount of damage. There is a Kodjuka hilt in the slot in Saya (By-Knife Hilt). It has replacement blade in wood, original missing. Shakudo plate showing a silvered mount Fuji (worn) with some contact marks”. In his illustrations he describes sword dimensions (illustrated in the images). The price for this ancient blade with expert opinion includes UK delivery. Sn 20907 (in box floor armoury under gun rack) £1,395.00 |
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WW2 Japanese Officer's Type 98 Shin Gunto Katana Sword With Gendaito Hand Forged Blade Smith Signed Tang ‘ISHIDO TERU HIDE SAKU’, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. ED 3016 - ED 3016 An original WW2 Japanese Officer's Type 98 Sword with smith signed tang and scabbard. The sword has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written notes and illustrations accompany the sword. In extracts from his notes he states “A Type 98 army shin gunto officer’s sword, blade signed ‘ISHIDO TERU HIDE SAKU’. There were 3 men using this art name (go) all made gendaito hand forged traditional blades. 2 were brothers from Saitama prefecture North of Tokyo. This man claimed descent from Musashi Daijo Kore Kazu, made many swords for high ranking officers. Listed as having an exclusive seat in 1943 Smiths ranking by Nihon Token Tanren Jo & Ni Hon Token Shin Bun Shi. A blade by him recently got hozen papers by NBTHK. A true Gendaito., see notes by Chris Bowen & AOI Arts for info, also Markus Sesko books pages 196-197, John Slough page 171 and Fuller & Gregory list No. 193 / 291. Needs a polish to bring out forging details. Saya gunto parade steel, brown pait lots of knocks and marks with use. No gilt left on mounts. Tsuba die stamped brass gunto pattern stamped Number 3 as are seppa, no finish left. Tsuka good quality gunto pattern with rare Monkey hand sarute loop. Locking catch missing and missing fish skin in places. Binding intact but dirty. Lots of information on this man. Worthy of restoration”. In his illustrations Bill translates the tang signature. He measures the cutting edge as just over 66 cms, total length 88 cms and describes other blade and tang measurements & characteristics which can be seen in image 2. The price includes UK delivery. ED 3016 £1,695.00 |
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C1800 – 1840’s Japanese Yori Doshi (Armour Piercing) Aikuchi (Dagger Without Tsuba), Scabbard & Kodjuka (Side Knife) & Expert Assessment. Sn 19377:7 - 19377:7 This Aikuchi has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written notes and illustrations accompany the knife. In extracts from his notes he states “C1800 – 1840’s Japanese Yori Doshi (Armour Piercing) Aikuchi (Dagger Without Tsuba). This is an unsigned mumei piece. It is in bright condition but has lots of fine scratches which are obscuring the forging details. Can see an undulating notare hamon line with what looks like a nioi crystal edge. Grain is not visible needs a polish (professional) to see what its like. Saya is speckled black lacquer with dark Buffalo horn mounts & a sentoku-Do (brass with golden hue) Kodjuka side knife in fitted pocket. Unsigned blade, hilt decorated with copper & shakudo leaves good condition with a few marks and scratching. A simple tsuka hilt of brown speckled lacquer with line banding decoration & Buffalo horn fuchi & kashira. There is no sign of menuki hilt ornaments ever being fitted NB small bit of damage horn bottom mount. An attractive looking dagger”. In his illustrations of the blade he observes ‘ cutting edge 7” (length) Total length 9 ¾”, Sujikai right slant file marks (on tang), ridge line (blade spine) is iroi mune, mune is flat (tang)’. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 19377:7 (tanto box armoury floor) £895.00 |
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WW2 Era Japanese Type 32 Army & Mounted Infantry Trooper’s Sword & Scabbard. Sn 23353 - 23353 This is a very good original WW2 Japanese Type 32 Army & Mounted Infantry Trooper’s Sword & Scabbard (see Chapter 11 page 119 of Swords Of Imperial Japan By Dawson). The sword has a regulation steel and wood chequered hilt. It has its regulation steel guard with cord slot & its spring loaded scabbard release catch works correctly. It has a 32 ½” fullered curved steel blade with serial number 28584 at the ricasso together with faint indistinct arsenal inspection mark. The blade has just small areas of staining consistent with age and has no damage to the cutting edge. The blade has its original leather hilt washer. The guard has no visible inspection marks which are sometimes found on these swords. The inside of the guard has its original leather thumb loop often absent on these swords. It is complete with original steel scabbard with single steel hanging ring. The scabbard has some small dents consistent with service carry. The shoe of the scabbard has an arsenal inspection mark (illustrated). The price includes UK delivery. Sn 23353 £575.00 |
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**RARE VARIANT**SURRENDERED TROPHY OF WAR**Late WW2 Emergency Issue Japanese Navy Petty Officer Or Senior NCO’s Kai Gunto Tachi Sword With Arsenal / Or Private Sword Shop Numbered & Marked Tang, Scabbard & Expert Assessment. Sn 22877 - 22877 This sword was received direct from the family of a British Sailor who served in the Pacific Fleet during WW2. The family described how this sword was surrendered by a Japanese Officer to their Sailor relative when he boarded a Japanese War ship (no other details known). The sword was brought home after the war and has been in storage & un-messed with since then. The sword has been examined by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His assessment accompanies the sword. In his notes he states “A late war possible emergency issue sword looks like for Japanese Navy. A varient of a kai gunto tachi. A basic arsenal product with either a murato or machine made blade. No folding or forging – rolled bar stock with all over temper and quenched in oil. No proper hamon (put on with stones, un-signed). With arsenal or sword shop inspector’s stamps. Scabbard / saya: basic wood covered with tight canvas combat cover & leather drag which is black for navy? Plus has two ashi suspension rings – also navy feature. Tsuba is blackened oval iron + one brass seppa (no marks). Navy used black iron in late war. Tsuka / hilt: basic late war with black soft metal fuchi + copper kashira (bright) wrapped in leather (black) simulating ray skin, black ito wrap Navy style. No menuki fitted. A basic cheaply made weapon but a rare Navy? varient. Never sen one before in un-touched collector’s condition. NB Possible Navy Petty officer or Senior NCO’s sword? Needs more research”. In his illustrations Bill describes the cutting edge as 62 cm length and full length 84.5 cm, he also identifies a number 10 arsenal number, an un-identified Arsenal or Private sword shop mark & describes other blade characteristics and measurements which can be read in the images. The price for this rare variant WW2 Japanese Navy sword worthy of further research includes UK delivery. Sn 22877 £975.00 |
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