Neo-army - Shin Gunto - Sword The sword consists of the handle and blade and a separate scabbard. A: Sword, L: 36.5". The handle or hilt (Tsuka) is wood and is covered with a piece of manta ray or shark skin and this is wrapped with a copper cloth cord. The cord is twisted on each side as it wraps around leaving a space on the handle. The end of the handle is covered with a copperish metal end piece, pommel at base or kashira, with cherry blossom and leaf designs. There is an open space on each side through which a tan cord is strung. A metal boss is on either side of the hole for the cord. There are two other hilt ornaments or menuki with cherry blossom and leaf designs on either side of the handle, under the cord. On one side it is 1/3 of the way from the top and on the other it is 2/3 of the way. A 1/4 of the distance to the hilt is a hole in the fish skin and a wooden dowel is present. At the top of the hilt is a copperish metal band, pommel or fuchi with cherry blossom and leaf designs. Within this is a silver metal button which depresses a clip on the other side of the hilt. There is a metal spacer on each side of the guard or tsuba. The tsuba is copperish metal with a bracket outline design and four cherry blossoms in the interior. There is a metal collar or habaki at the top of the blade which provides a snug fit into the scabbard. The blade is slightly curved with a thick back nd a wide groove which extends for most of the length of the blade. B: Scabbard, L: 28.5", is painted copperish metal with similar pommels at the base and at the end as those on the handle. Just below the opening are two silver metal bands with a silver colored boss attached to the inside edge. On this boss is a ball shaped nub with a hole and there is a ring through this hole. About six inches from the bottom of the scabbard is a copperish metal decorative ornament of a vine and leaf design. The paint is coming off of the scabbard.

1999.034.001