This is very scarce example of an early version of the Japanese Army Company Grade Officer's Kyu-gunto sword, referred to as the Type 8. It was identified for me by Jim Dawson, the published expert on Japanese Military Swords. This is a unique version which has a silver plated brass hilt as opposed to a gilt one.

Sword with scabbard is 23 1/2" long overall, with a blade length of 16 1/16".

As you can see, the handle is an early Japanese military style, silver plated instead of gold plated (definitely a period job). A few examples have been found with a silver plated ferrule, but this is the only example I know of that is all silvered. The Mon on the handle is a 5-petaled Cherry Blossom. The Mon has a peg on it so that the blade can be removed in the traditional manner. One of the combined Mon/peg is missing.

The blade is an original, hand forged Wakizashi, which has never been shortened. The original peg hole was hand punched, while a new hole was drilled to in order to remount it into Police fittings. There is a two character signature under the Habaki, as well as some notches. The blade has an old polish which has some clouding and stains, tiny edge nicks, etc. There are two spots where the blade is "tired" circled in the photos.

The scabbard is in pretty good shape, no splits or cracks, with the Kojiri end cap missing. It originally had a leather scabbard cover which has been lost over time.