Artifact Friday: Type 32 Ko Cavalry Saber

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To maintain this week’s theme of rodeos, today we have a cavalry saber. This sword was originally made in Japan and adopted by the Japanese military in 1899. The Type 32 came along during Japan’s rapid modernization. Its design is indicative of its Western counterparts. The hand guard and curved blade are commonplace among sabers. Without the Japanese inscriptions at the hilt, it would be easy to mistake the Type 32 for a European or American sword.

After being adopted by the Japanese military, these swords would go on to serve in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 and 1905. This would mark the first time in history that a major Western power was beaten in a traditional war by an Eastern power. Later on, the Type 32 would also see use in the First World War, where Japan served as an Allied Power, a frequently forgotten fact about Imperial Japan.

Many of the Pacific Islands held by Japan at the very start of World War II were colonies taken by Japan from Germany. The most notable battle was over a German territory in China, the Siege of Tsingtao. The Type 32 began to phase out only at the dawn of World War II when Japan began abandoning Western styles to preserve its own culture. However, some Type 32s were still in use during World War II.