Original Item: Only One Available. This is something that we have never had before! During Japanese history, edged weapons had always been a symbol of authority and power, so when power was returned to the Emperor during the Meiji restoration of 1868, many new designs of swords were needed for the various new organizations that came into being as Japan "modernized". The police in particular had a real need to be armed, and various swords were designed for the various ranks in the organization. As had been seen previously in history, members of higher rank would have more ornate and elaborate swords, less suitable for actual use, and more for display.

This is a very good example of a WWII Era Japanese Patrolman & Sergeant's sword from the Imperial Police department. There were several different versions of these known, and this is known as the Third Type, which does not have a handguard or the specific police emblem on it. This specific type is described and pictured in the book Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945: Cyclopedia Edition by Jim Dawson, pages 308-309. Pictures of these pages are shown as a reference only, and are not included. As would expect for the sword of a "rank and file" member of the police, it is designed for actual use, with minimal ornamentation, with much more thought given to functionality.

This is a very fine example in lovely well preserved condition. The brass guard has a rich patina, showing that has not been heavily polished over the years. The "5-Petal" Police style cherry blossom on the pommel is still present, and in great shape. There is also a kanji marking on the cross guard, which reads 警 察 壹 貮 參, which translates to KEISATSU ICHI NI SAN, or "Police 1 2 3." This is written using the formal number kanji for 1 2 and 3, which are now considered "obsolete" after the post war reforms.

The Sa-Me (Ray skin) grip is in lovely condition, and the wire wrapping is fully present as well. These would originally have had more black lacquer between the denticles of the ray skin, but over time this has dried out and worn away. The blade is in very good condition, showing only light past oxidation, and now is mostly bright. The blade is also still quite sharp in many areas, so it should be handled with care.

The nickel plating on the steel scabbard is almost completely intact, showing just a bit of light wear and oxidation speckling, with no major finish lifting. There is just a bit of denting on the sides, and both hanger rings are present on their bolsters. The scabbard throat is intact, and still locks securely onto the hilt. The wooden inserts inside the scabbard are still present, and help protect the blade.

A wonderful example of a very hard to find Imperial Japanese police sword, ready to add to any collection of Japanese WW2 edged weapons!

Dimensions:
Overall length: 25 1/2”
Blade length: 19 1/8”
Cross guard: 4”
Scabbard length: 22 5/8”