Overview
This Antique WWII Japanese Police 1908 Commissioner Grade Kyu-Gunto Sword was photographed for, and is the actual sword in the John Plimpton book "Swords of the Emperor - A Guide to Identification of Imperial Japanese swords 1873-1945" appearing on pages 338 &339.
This is a Commissioner Grade Model 1908 Police Kyu-gunto sword. This is not a dress sword; dress swords have thin, non-weapon ceremonial blades, and also have a thinner, smaller handle.
It has a nicely polished blade with bohi/fullers, .251" blade stock and 1.013" blade depth, hidden tang construction. The handle has a decorated brass habaki, fileworked brass seppa, pierced and engraved brass D-guard, stippled and engraved brass handle fittings, black/orange fluted grip with twisted brass wire inlays. Comes with the matching plated steel scabbard. The scabbard has some light scratches and minor pitting, and a dent near the tip. The sword has some light scratches and patina on the blade, overall excellent condition for its age.
Plimpton noted in his book that Police Commissioners were considered equivalent in rank to Army Generals. All fittings are of the finest quality, the blade has a boli groove; Bohi-grooved swords are coveted for their cutting ability. The tang is unsigned.