Features:

A rare and refined example of a General’s grade Type 19 kyu gunto with unique locking mechanism. The blade was made by the well-known samurai, swordsman, and firearm inventor, Baron Murata Tsuneyoshi. As with this example, he was known to sign blades with his art name Kanemasa. This sword was once in the collection of John Plimpton and published in his book Swords of the Emperor, 1873-1945 (pg. 104-105).

The blade shows a rare hira-zukuri shape with bo-hi and soe-hi grooves on both sides. The blade is signed Shoju Kanemasa and dated Meiji Ni Jyu San Nen Jyu Ichi Gatsu (November, 1891), with a serial number of ‘426’. The blade includes a suguha hamon that finishes in a maru boshi.

Along with superior General’s grade Type 19 kyu gunto koshirae. The tsuka features a high quality tortoise shell with full backstrap decoration and a unique locking mechanism. The koshirae also includes a general grade gold bullion knot, featured in Plimpton’s book, pg. 517.