A Japanese early katana blade in mixed fittings including World War II cloth and ray skin bound hilt, reshaped at the tip, engraved characters to the tang. Provenance: bought back to New Zealand by naval Lieutenant H Prins (dental) who was serving on HMNZS Achilles at war's end after the Japanese surrender. With original linen (surrender?) tag, and translation attributing the blade to Sadamasa c.1410.