July 12-14, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/13/2022
Measures 25 - 15/16" from tip of kissaki to munemachi. Shinogi zukuri form with a very shallow sori, iori mune, and a low shinogi. Yokote has been polished out. Features indistinguishable due to the state of polish. Habaki with vertical striations and a punched "GWB", probably the initials of a GI. Nakago with single drilled mekugi-ana, katte sagari yasurime. Tsuba with florals at corned, standard fuchi, kabuto-gane, and sarute with floral-and-roe pattern decoration. Tsuka woven in traditional fashion over rayskin same, menuki are late casts in the form of Chrysanthemums. Saya with single hanger and wrapped in leather, with a bullet strike approximately 11" up from the koijiri. Based on comparisons to various cartridges, it appears to have been a .30 caliber round. Interestingly, the sword does not have any marks on it consistent with bullet strikes, leading this cataloguer to the conclusion that the shot landed while the sword was out of the saya, possibly during a charge. CONDITION: Sword is heavily out of polish with surface scratches and areas of mossing and oxidation. Mounts have rubbing throughout, same has shrunk, exposing wood, with tsuka moving along with same. Leather is very good, pliable, with a few nips through the leather and bullet strike. A neat example. PROVENANCE: Roger Bender Collection. EMW