Japanese NCO Shin Gunto Sword – Universal Swords
Back Ordered
Price range: $164.99 through $199.99
- Shipping estimated at checkout
- Every blade inspected before shipping
- Class
- Battle Ready
- Blade
- 1060-1065 High Carbon Steel
- Overall Length
- 36 3/8''
- Weight
- 2 lb 5 oz
- Brand
- Universal Swords
- Culture
- Japanese
Overview
Japanese NCO Shin Gunto Sword - Universal Swords
All Japanese officers in 20th century wartime Japan were required to wear a sword as a badge of rank. Though traditional swordsmiths made exquisite blades for the highest officers, there was no way they could meet the mass demand required by the Army. The gap was filled with non-traditional smiths using non-traditional metals and techniques. The tang of non-traditional blades were stamped to distinguish them from traditional swords.
In Japan these mass-produced Showato class swords are illegal to own as they are not considered to be true Japanese swords. These mass-produced military Shin Gunto swords substituted the complex hilt construction of traditional blades with an aluminum-cast painted false Tsuka-Ito lacing. The blades were stamped with factory numbers and the hilt and scabbard feature a simple locking mechanism. The blade is made from tempered high-carbon steel and the scabbard is steel with a wood-core and drab-painted exterior. The tsuba is of brass. This replica from Universal Swords of India features reproduced markings seen on existing Shin Gunto.
Specifications
Every measurement that matters
- Brand
- Universal Swords
- Culture
- Japanese
- Pommel
- Integrated
- Overall Length
- 36 3/8''
- Blade Length
- 26 1/2''
- Blade
- 1060-1065 High Carbon Steel
- Weight
- 2 lb 5 oz
- Edge
- Unsharpened
- P.O.B.
- 5 1/4''
- Thickness
- 6.2 mm - 4.9 mm
- Width
- 29.3 mm
- Grip Length
- 7''
- Class
- Battle Ready
- Country of Origin
- India
- Type
- Katana
Reviews
What collectors are saying
Q&A
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The Maker
Universal Swords
With origins going back to 1960, India’s Universal Swords has been making reproduction swords for decades. With an emphasis on military sabers, universal produces a number of designs not found elsewhere. As the official US distributor of Universal Swords, KOA will be expanding to stock their entire line over time.
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A 80%er You will get a mostly functional, mostly accurate replica with a very reasonable price. I never handled any real WWII relic so I can’t say much about finer details about how truthful it is to the original. All of my assessments are based on photos I could find online. The sword arrived with no rattles or visible damage, feels hefty and sturdy in hand with reasonable balance. Has gradual distal taper in the blade. Brass fittings are all fresh and shining. The aluminum handle feels surprisingly not that bad for what it is. Its overal shape from the first glance is rather pleasing.
However, the sword tip is very ugly and do not match most of the photos of the WWII relic I could find. It resembles more of a sabre style tip without a pronounced kissaki. The shinogi line, if there was one, is flat and rounded, blended into the surface of the blade, makes it less aesthetically pleasing. Also, with a closer look, the paint on the saya was poorly applied, mine even comes with rust bubbles. What ever paint they used on the tsuka was of poor quality, and peels off easily even from just hand rubbing.
The sword came out of the factory unsharpened, and I can’t say I am super satisfied about the sharpening service. There is a very visible quarter-inch wide bevel running along the whole blade from the sharpening, which is downright distasteful for any sword.
Yet, despite all above, I still have to give it a 4/5 for what they have managed to get right, especially for the price.
My sword arrived in the time frame that I was told I would receive it it came and met or well above exceeded my expectations and was nice and tight all fittings well as expected……. Would buy again and recommend this sword. To others.. Also my ordering experience was great…thanks
Absolutely fantastic replica, only complaint is on a part of the sheath for the sword, the mounting ring I think it’s called has had paint chip off of it even from barely moving. Still, functionally perfect, looks, otherwise perfect.
Perfect replica for my ww2 wall. Very nice.
The sword is unfortunately a huge disappointment. The piece, the we received, has excessive and poor paintwork, the blade is more scratched than polished and the groove ( Hi ) is too long.
Our swordsmith offered to try to fix the piece somehow, but ultimately it has been shown, it’s impossible.
After removing the paint came other disastrous details to light – including the fact that some parts aren’t even properly made of metal and soldered, but simply and cheaply glued together, or partially recreated with some kind of putty or adhesive composition (e.g. the scabbard mouth / koiguchi ).
It’s easier to dispose the thing as scrap metal – any further investment is clearly pointless.