BRINGBACK JAPANESE GUNTO IN CRATE WITH A SIGNATURE FOR SECOND GENERATION OMI DAIJO TADAHIRO.

Blade measures 61.1cm nagasa (cutting edge) with a 22cm nakago which ends in a kuri nakagojiri. Two mekugi-ana, signed tachi-mei "Hizen Kuni Omi Daijo Fujiwara Tada" with last character cut off; consignor states that the signature has been shown to Roger Robertshaw, the author of "The School of Hizen Tadayoshi" and runs Hizento.com, dedicated to Hizen blades, who opined that the signature is genuine. Silver foil habaki with carved designs of falling rain. Classic gunto mounts as used by the army. Housed in a painted wood crate that appears to be repurposed from an Army piece, as there are white painted numbers on the interior, one end with the shipping information when it was sent to Virch in New York City from Marquette, Michigan. Accompanied by a typed letter indicating that the sword was brought back by Captain Kenneth Virch of the 127th Infantry, 32nd Division. He served in New Guinea and in the Philippines as a Captain Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army, passing in 1990. CONDITION: Sword is out of polish with oxidation, heavier towards the boshi, consistent with water damage or a humid enviroment. Mounts with scrapes and rubs commensurate. Crate with evidence of age, including some missing chips. A good example of a family mounted sword sent to war, as the belief was that the family sword would help protect them during the war.

Name

Value

Accessories

Crate

Blade Length

24"

Overall Length

38 - 5/8" in mounts

Paperwork

Letter