Japanese Type 19 Cavalry Officer’s Saber (Kyū-guntō) Ray Skin Hilt Meiji c1886 Sword LS109

Early Type 19 “transitional” Japanese Army officer’s kyū-guntō (company-grade), Meiji 19–22 (1886–c.1888/89).
A scarce, short-run variant produced immediately after the Army Uniform Regulations of 6 July 1886, this sabre bridges the earlier Type 8 and the standardized Type 19. The gilt-brass hilt combines the new open-work floral guard of the Type 19 with Type-8 DNA (the wide, flat knuckle-bow and ray-skin, wire-ribbed grip). The company-grade backstrap is partially decorated: sakura on the side-ears and a cherry-blossom cartouche toward the pommel; the pommel’s blossom-and-scrolls panel is the distinctive pattern illustrated by Dawson, Ch. 6, Plate 6-11. A small circular family crest (kamon) is inlaid on the backstrap, adding personalization typical of private-purchase officer swords.

Blade & scabbard: Curved, single-fullered blade seated with its habaki; steel scabbard (single suspension ring) with honest Meiji-period patina. Overall presentation matches Dawson’s documented transitional company-grade examples (Pls. 6-8 to 6-12), which the author explains as the brief 1886 redesign phase when the Type 19 floral guard was adopted but before the hilt/backstrap ornamentation fully standardized.

Why this piece matters:

• Narrow production window (c. 1886–88/89)—a short-lived transitional form seldom encountered compared to later Type 19s.

• Documented motif—the pommel/backstrap blossom panel corresponds to Plate 6-11, providing a strong literature anchor.

• Company-grade specificity—partially decorated backstrap (as defined by Dawson for company grade), distinguishing it from field-grade examples with fully decorated backstraps.

• Private-purchase quality—gilt-brass furniture, crisp chasing, and an inlaid mon medallion reflect officer personalization and the elevated finish of late-Meiji commissions.

Condition highlights: Crisp openwork guard and sakura details; intact rayskin and wire; blade bright with scattered peppering; scabbard complete with service wear; tight hilt-to-blade fit.

In sum: A reference-worthy late-Meiji transitional kyū-guntō, desirable for its brief production period, well-preserved floral iconography, and direct match to Dawson’s plates—an ideal addition for collectors focusing on the formative years of Japan’s modern military swords.

Identification / Attribution

• Object: Japanese Army officer’s sabre (kyū-guntō), company-grade.

• Type / Pattern: Early Type 19 with Type 8 carry-over details — the recognized “transitional” hilt.

• Date: Meiji 19–22 (1886–c.1888/89). This hybrid appears immediately after the 6 July 1886 regulation change and seems to have persisted only a couple of years before fully standardized Type 19 furniture became the norm.

• Construction & Features:

  • Gilt-brass hilt with open-work floral guard (Type 19 trait) and wide, flat knuckle-bow (a hold-over from Type 8).

  • Rayskin (samegawa) grip bound with twisted wire ribs.

  • Company-grade backstrap—partially decorated, with sakura on the side-ears and a cherry-blossom cartouche near the pommel; pommel panel with blossom-and-scrolls motif closely matching Dawson Plate 6-11.

  • Small circular family crest (kamon) medallion inset into the backstrap (unidentified).

  • Curved, single-fullered blade; steel scabbard with one suspension ring.

• Literature parallels: Jim Dawson, Swords of Imperial Japan, 1868–1945 (Cyclopedia ed.), Chapter 6, esp. Pls. 6-8 to 6-12; the pommel/backstrap blossom panel aligns with Plate 6-11.

Condition Report

• Hilt: Even, attractive patina to gilt/brass; pierced & chased floral work remains crisp. Rayskin intact with age toning; wire wrap complete and tight. Sakura ornaments on side-ears and the pommel well-defined. Backstrap mon medallion present.

• Guard / Ferrule: Sound with minor handling marks only; no breaks in the openwork.

• Blade: Bright overall with scattered peppering and light cleaning scratches; edge shows typical use contact; straight in hand. Habaki present; tight seating.

• Scabbard: Steel, honest service patina and freckling; single ring mount secure; throat and drag with expected knocks.

• Fit: No notable play between blade and hilt.

• Overall: A well-preserved, original late-Meiji transitional officer’s sword showing genuine period wear.