SOLD - Japanese Type 98 Army Officer’s Sword by Ido Hidetoshi

Description

3/3/25 - This is an excellent Japanese Type 98 Army Officer’s Sword with a handmade blade by a swordsmith who is discussed in the best reference book on World War II era swordsmiths. This sword was made by smith Ido Hidetoshi in 1942 or 1943. Hidetoshi (1915 – 1989) learned the trade as an apprentice to famed swordsmith Fukumoto Amahide. Prior to 1940, Hidetoshi became an official smith, but he continued to work for Amahide in the latter’s sword factory in Seki. The Amahide company produced large quantities of mass-produced factory swords, but it also turned out handcrafted traditional swords in limited number. Ido Hidetoshi, and Amahide’s swordsmith son Minamoto Kanemune, both made handmade blades for the Fukumoto Amahide Sword Factory. Many of the blades made by Hidetoshi and Kanemune were signed “Amahide” and the tang stamped with the Amahide family seal (kokuin). It is likely the Amahide family seal added to the blade denotes that Fukumoto Amahide inspected and approved the blades actually made by Hidetoshi and Kanemune. The tang of this sword’s blade is hand inscribed: “Amahide a person living in Noshu [province] Seki [town] forged this”; the tang also has the Amahide family seal applied. The fact that Ido Hidetoshi made this blade can be deduced by the style of his tang inscription or “handwriting” (see John Scott Slough’s reference book, An Oshigata Book of Modern Japanese Swordsmiths 1868 – 1945 (2001), pages 25, 27, and 33). The workmanship exhibited in this sword blade is exceptional with no forging flaws. The length of the blade remains unaltered with a cutting edge of 62.4cm / 24.6in). The blade has a prominent grain (hada) and the tempered cutting edge (hamon) is visible along the entire length of the cutting edge and point (kissaki). The style of hamon is irregular wave (notare). The blade’s condition is excellent +. This sword uses standard Type 98 sword fittings and metal scabbard introduced in 1938. The assembly number “3516” is stamped on the brass handguard (tsuba), spacers (seppa), button release catch, and forward grip cap (fuchi). The pommel (kashira) and blade collar (habaki) are not stamped. The fittings and dark green painted scabbard are in very good condition, though they do show evidence of handling and use. The silk wrap on the grip has one repair, but it is well done using the prescribed method of a diluted organic glue solution. Another spot of surface wear on the silk has also been stabilized using the same glue solution. These repairs are done to keep the silk grip wrap from unraveling. This is an excellent opportunity to own an uncommon Japanese Army officer’s sword with a quality hand forged blade from a smith identified in the best reference book! Also, the sword exhibits just enough wear to show that it is a World War II veteran – perhaps brought home from some Pacific Island battlefield by a US Soldier or Marine.