An outstanding Japanese katana in better quality wartime mounts with an excellent blade in full polish with a wavy hamon. The sword has a wooden tag on the scabbard ring. It belonged to U.S. Navy Captain Kenneth Washburn Hines, who was present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay, where this sword was given to him. He was Serving on the cruiser U.S.S. St. Paul, the ship which fired the last big-gun naval shots of the War in the Pacific.  On the tang is a large. 16-petal chrysanthemum stamp, indicating either a smith who was granted use of the chrysanthemum such as 17th century smith Kami Kunisada, or Noboyushi, or others. Or, it could also denote a sword with an Imperial connection, such as that the officer who carried the sword was either a member of the Imperial family, or it was presented to him by a member of the Imperial family. This is also reflected in the better quality of the mounts. The habaki is two-piece, and the tsuba is pierced. Many of the other mounts are either engraved, or of better quality. This is an extremely rare sword of highest quality, and a definite Imperial connection. (Comes with a typed reminiscence by the son of Captain Hines). Processing and shipping within the continental United States $55.00 plus 1.5% replacement cost insurance.