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1 exceptionally rare Special Order World War II Japanese Samurai Army Officer’s sword available.  This Special Order sword would make a rare addition to any collection.

This sword was made by 23rd Generation Kanefusa.  Kanefusa made just a few Special Order swords with the kiku-sui crest horimono on the blade.  See photo 10 above from the Japanese Sword Index online site.  Also, photo 12 above is from Jim Dawson’s book Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945–Cyclopedia Edition.

All military fittings are of excellent quality.  The blade measures 25 9/16″ (64.9 cm) from blade tip to notch in the blade spine.  The wood saya has a leather combat cover.  This sword has a fine cherry blossom sarute.  

This sword has a beautiful temper line.

1 very rare late War World War II Japanese NCO sword available.  This super rare late War NCO sword is in exceptional condition.  The condition of this sword is in the top 1% of late War Japanese NCO swords to be found.  This WW2 sword would make an important addition to any collection

Both the blade and the scabbard drag have the same simple arsenal mark.  The blade measures 26 1/4″ from tip to top of the habaki (habaki edge that touches the blade). 

1 rare OSS SOE Escape Knife available.  This WW2 Escape Knife would make an important addition to any advanced collection.

These knives were made for the SOE and the OSS.  The knife’s master blade measures 2 7/8″.  This knife measures 5 1/4″ overall when closed. 

1 antique Cattaraugus model 22929 elephant toe knife available.  This knife still has its rare, original box!

This knife’s model number is stamped on the smaller blade.  The master blade measures 2 9/16″.  The second blade measures 1 9/16″.  

The Cattaraugus box has beautiful artwork.  The end of the box is marked in pencil with the model number ‘22929’.  Pocket knives were usually sold to hardware stores in boxes of 12, or in boxes of 1/2 dozen.  This knife is marked in pencil ‘1/12’ for ‘one’ knife. 
 

1 hard-to-find antique Frank J. Richtig aluminum-handle spatula available.  As mentioned in the title, a Richtig spatula is ultra rare.

This knife was made by a legend in knife-making.  Frank Richtig had a secret steel tempering process that allowed him to slice through railroad spikes and automobile leaf springs.  Frank would demonstrate this at county fairs–after slicing a railroad spike or leaf spring, he would slice through a piece of paper with the same knife.  Frank earned himself a spot in a ‘Ripley’s Believe It or Not’ magazine in the 1930’s. 

This rare Richtig spatula measures 8 1/2″ overall.  The aluminum handle is marked with the ‘F.J.R.  CLARKSON  NEB.‘ stamp.  

This is a Richtig piece that few others would have in their collection.  

1 Japanese World War II Army Officer’s Samurai sword available.  This fine katana was made by Yoshiharu.  This Japanese sword would make an important addition to any collection.

This is a desirable hand-made gendai sword.  This sword’s hamon is exceptional.  

This sword is signed–the swordsmith is Yoshiharu.  The blade measures 26 1/8″ (66.4 cm) from blade tip to notch in the blade spine.  

1 new in the box Buck Custom ‘Collectors Club’ model 532 Bucklock knife available.  This Buck BCCI lockback would make a rare addition to any collection.

This is a very fine Buck knife.  The handle scales are made of fossilized mammoth tooth, and buffalo horn.  The front tang reads ‘BUCK BCCI USA KNIVES’.  The reverse side of the blade is engraved with this knife’s serial number: ‘1929/85’.  The knife liners are fileworked. 

This knife measures 4 5/16″ when closed.  The blade itself measures 3″.  This knife was made in the U.S.A.

1 new in the box 2010 Case Collectors Club knife set available.  This fine Case knife set would make an important addition to any collection.  

In this set are all 3 of the 2010 Annual Case Collectors Club knives: the Lifetime Member knife, the Regular Member knife, and the Junior Member knife. 

This Case knife set was made in the U.S.A. 

Antique Russo-Japanese War/D-Guard koshirae for a Japanese kyu-gunto Army katana available.  These antique mounts would make an important addition to any collection.

A fine blade was in these mounts–a 17th century katana by Kinmichi.  So these koshirae are of high quality. 

The blade this koshirae held measured over 28″ (71.1cm) from blade tip to notch in the blade spine.  The gold gilt tsuka/handle is perfect.  The peg is made of horn.  The nickel-plated saya has a leather combat cover.  This koshirae has one gold-gilt seppa. 

This tsuka is of the more desirable 2 – 2 1/2 hand length type.  These mounts would display nicely with a wood tsunagi.

1 antique U.S. World War II OSS stiletto fighting knife.  This historic OSS stiletto would make an important addition to any collection.

The knife measures 11 5/16″ overall.  The blade itself measures 6 1/2″.  

The LF&C pancake flipper scabbard for this knife is in premium condition. 

1 antique 17th/18th century nihonto/traditionally-made Japanese Samurai sword available.  This katana would make an important addition to any collection.

This 17th/18th century Samurai katana has a number of excellent fittings.  The mixed metal and iron tsuba is signed.  The fuchi (fitting below the tsuba/guard) is signed as well.  The kashira (pommel fitting) and fuchi are matching.  Their matching motif is a dragon.  The habaki is 24kt gold foil.  The two seppa/spacers are 24kt gold foil as well.  The handsome saya/scabbard is covered in fine same/rayskin. 

The blade measures 26 3/4″ (67.9 cm) from blade tip to notch in the blade spine. 

This sword was carried by true Samurai.

1 very rare South Manchuria Railroad Company/Prototype Mantetsu World War II Japanese Samurai Officer’s sword.  This full polish South Manchuria Railway Company katana would make an important addition to any collection.

Some collectors/dealers may have seen my first Manchuria Railway/Prototype Mantetsu sword sell a couple of weeks ago.  This second sword has blade character over and above that sword (details in the next paragraph).  The nakago/tang is marked with the South Manchurian Railroad Company symbol.  The reverse side is dated.   

This sword has a straight temper line.  The polish revealed some incredible activity.  Areas of nie are visible in the hamon!  See the photos for a closer look. 

I noticed in the online Japanese Sword Index articles on Mantetsu blades the following: ‘Many swordsmiths were involved in the production of Mantetsu blades…hence it is important to judge each blade on its individual merits, not just on its signature.’  So this must explain the higher skill demonstrated in this sword–i.e. speaking to this particular smith’s more advanced skills?   

This excerpt came from those same articles, ‘Some of the mantetsu blades made in the Dairen Railroad factory may bear the stamp of the Manchuria Railroad company.  These were made in the late 1930’s and are considered relatively rare.’

The blade measures 26 3/8″ (67.0 cm) from blade tip to notch in the blade spine.  This sword has a fine pierced tsuba.  All fittings have matching assembly numbers–all 8 seppa and the tsuba are numbered ’28’.  These swords were the forerunner to the Koa Isshin Mantetsu.  Some advanced collectors of Japanese military swords refer to this sword as the Prototype Mantetsu sword. 

The nakago’s mune/spine is stamped ‘N206’.  Mantetsu swords have this same numbering system on the mune.