A Showa-period katana classed as gendaito, mounted in Imperial fittings. The blade measures 26.25 inches, is in very good polish, and shows a very active gunome hamon along the edge. The tang is signed Kane Kuni. The seller describes the Imperial mounts as very nice, and notes that the silk wrap on the tsuka, the handle, is fraying.

This is a sword for a New Jersey collector of Japanese arms rather than for cutting practice: a signed, polished blade with a lively hamon, in a complete set of Imperial mounts. The fraying tsuka silk is a cosmetic point that a rewrap would address, and it is the only flaw the seller lists. Study the signature and the hamon in good light; the 26.25-inch blade length and the mountings are the facts to compare against other Showa-era examples.

Key features

• Showa period katana, gendaito
• 26.25-inch blade, very good polish
• Very active gunome hamon
• Tang signed Kane Kuni
• Imperial mounts; tsuka silk fraying

The sword ships to your door in New Jersey where state law allows.