Product Description

Stunning reproduction of the historical Shin Gunto, translated as "new military sword", which was carried by Imperial Japanese Army Officers during World War II. This katana design succeeded an earlier Japanese military sword style that was more reminiscent of saber swords.

Our modern reproduction features intricate details from top to bottom. The metal tsuba (guard) is accented by matching metal fittings on the handle, pommel, and lining the scabbard. The tsuba design is unique to the Shin Gunto.

The hardwood scabbard is fitted with a carry handle made of interlaced wrapping, different than that of the sword handle. A section of the scabbard is also wrapped to match the sword's handle, which has a traditional samurai wrapping with diamond pattern.

Specifications:

Carbon steel blade.
Hardwood handle with emerald green wrapping.
Hardwood scabbard with black painted finish.
All metal fittings.

Measurements: 26 in. blade, 39 1/2 in. overall.



About Shinwa:

Shinwa swords are made by hand using traditional methods in the ancient sword-making township of Lonquan. The sword-making history of this town can be traced back to the twentieth year of the Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty – exceptional sword making continues there still today. The swordsmiths of Lonquan can apprentice for up to six years before they begin to forge these functional works of art on their own.

Each Shinwa sword is hand forged at temperatures of up to 1,100 °F and continuously heated, folded, hammered and shaped before being oil quenched and then straightened. Damascus steel blades are folded as many as ten times to yield up to 2,056 layers of premium Damascus steel. After quenching the blade is then ground and hand sharpened and polished by the swordsmith on a series of wet stones. Each set of these wet stones contains a finer level of silicate particles, which produces an even sharper edge. In the final stages of this painstaking process, the tsuka is wrapped and tsuba and other fittings are added before a thin coat of oil is added to the blade to prevent corrosion.