Authentic WWII IJA Gunto Murata-To Sword – Rare Collectible

This is an authentic and very rare WWII Imperial Japanese Army Type 98 Murata-to Officer's sword. The Inventor and the Blade:Murata-to (村田刀), or "Blades made with Murata-conceived materials" were coined by Japanese Major General Baron Tsuneyoshi Murata (村田 経芳, 1838–1921), who was a Japanese samurai from Satsuma Domain, swordsman, expert marksman, firearm inventor, gunsmith, soldier, and Imperial Japanese Army officer. He initially became well-known for having developed the famous "Murata gun." Eventually, he wanted to make improvements to military swords, too, so he made a prototype military sword out of saber steel (sword steel from Solingen, Germany) in stock at the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal. Because it cut very well, under the guidance of Miyamoto Kanenori and Yokoyama Sukekane, he cut the Swedish steel and Japanese steel into strips in a ratio of 6:4, melted them at 1,500℃, and forged them into a round shape and hardened in oil to complete the blade. The blades performed cutting tests exceptionally well, in addition to resisting rust, so the Imperial Japanese Army encouraged further mass production of these uniquely-conceived blades for officers, with production starting during the Russo-Japanese War and lasting through the end of WWII. The Koshirare (fittings)Starting with the tsuka (handle), you see the three RARE large samegawa (stingray skin) nodules on the right-hand side, which was very expensive to custom order, even 80+ years ago when the sword was originally smithed. (Every large sheet of samegawa only had one tiny, highly coveted section that had these three larger nodules clumped together, while all the rest was of a small-nodule consistency.) Secondly, you can see a slightly pronounced curvature to the tsuka that is not typically found amongst Type 94, Type 98, or Type 3 gunto. This is one of the distinguishing features of this Murata-to. (In the 16th photo I included, posing with both Type 94 and Type 98 gunto in the middle and on the left, you can see the tsuka curvature about which I'm talking on this Murata-to on the right.) Tsuka is tightly wrapped with original brown IJA-standard tsuka-maki, showing no tears or fraying. Kabutogane (pummel cap), sarute ("Monkey hands" brass loop), and fuchi (collar) are all higher-end detailed fittings. The pierced Tsuba (guard) as well as the four seppa (spacers) are all stamped with matching "45" on them. Habaki is made of solid brass. Saya (scabbard) maintains its original red-brown high-gloss finish. Thirdly, the beautiful and extremely sharp blade is 26.5" long as measured from the tsuba, has no nicks, chips, or cracks, and features a faint hamon (wave) line the length of the blade. As was common with Murata-to blades, it also features a rare bohi ("blood groove") the full length. Fourthly, the nakago (tang) is stamped with both the four-ring insignia of the Imperial Japanese Army Tokyo Arsenal (日本帝国陸軍東京砲兵工廠, or "Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Tōkyō Hōhei Kōshō), commonly known as the Tokyo Arsenal (東京砲兵工廠, or "Tōkyō Hōhei Kōshō") which was a Japanese state-owned arsenal that was active from 1871 to 1935, as well as the セ stamp underneath it. This Murata-to gunto is the real deal and is an amazing find! I’m happy to supply other photos/details upon request! Just reach out to me via Contact Seller option on eBay. I am selling my entire collection of authentic WWII Japanese Army and Japanese Navy gunto as well as authentic gunto tocho (tassels) and non-military Japanese blades (ex: tanto, shirasaya) that I have acquired over the past decade.