Measuring 36 1/2 inches overall, with a 26 inch blade showing a tight wavy hamon fitted into a copper habaki. The furniture is of the World War II standard "shin gunto" pattern, with the addition of a two piece canvas cover, one piece covering the black lacquered saya up to the throat with a cutout for the suspension band, and the other covering the hilt and enveloping the tsuba. The lower cover has been hand signed with an untranslated marking, which has been partially marked over, and "19 - IWO JIMA - 45" above. The tang has a single mekugi-ana and a 6-figure signature attributed by the consignor to the Showa-era smith "Kanetada". No documentation on the history of the sword is available at time of description

Fine overall. The very fine blade shows some light nicks at the tip and along the upper third of the edge, evidence of light polishing, some light spotting and handling marks, and a generally attractive hamon and grain. The furniture is good, though showing evidence of field repair, with the tassel loop being fabricated from wire and the fuchi taken off a shin-gunto sword equipped with a spring-loaded retention clip. The cover is in very good shape, with mild staining and a few small rubbed-through holes at the high points.