OT, yet again: WWII Japanese sword

zmudshark · #1 10-20-2021, 04:28 PM

My Father passed away awhile back, and my sisters and I were able to get together to take some personal belongings out of his home.

One of the things I got was a WWII Japanese sword. It seems to be in the Nan'yo style, but slightly different from what I've seen online.

He was Navy, served combat, and picked the sword up in Japan after the war ended, 1945-46.

I'll post more pictures if anyone knows anything. I'm not selling, but passing on to my oldest son, he asked if there was any war mementos and I'd like to know if it's a knock off or the real deal.

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JedB · #2 10-20-2021, 05:09 PM

That would appear to be the real deal.
The white part is stingray leather.

Guessing there are serial numbers on it, as it looks like an occupation sword.
Those were issued to japanese soldiers in places they occupied (phillipines, etc.)

Gunto is, I believe, the proper term.

fmradio516 · #3 10-20-2021, 05:18 PM

So cool! My wifes grandpa left a bunch of cool stuff from the 40s/50s/60s but one thing stood out. His personal WWII M1 Garand Bayonet. Also his army-issued sleeping bag is pretty cool as well. Love this stuff!

KJMUNC · #4 10-20-2021, 05:22 PM

Amazing piece of history. Cue the social commentary in 3, 2, 1.....

Kidding aside, my grandfather also brought home all kinds of stuff from his stints in the Pacific including his combat used M1 Garand, but sadly left it to a son with a drinking problem who sold it for $25 to buy a bottle of cheap booze.

zmudshark · #5 10-20-2021, 05:33 PM

Thanks, all.

You guys always pull through.

gdw · #6 10-20-2021, 05:38 PM

A friends father gave him a very similar sword that he picked up after Japan's surrender. We did a bit of amateur sleuthing and thought it might be a Naval kyu gunto sword.

https://griffinmilitaria.com/product...u-gunto-sword/

zmudshark · #7 10-20-2021, 05:45 PM

I just got back from a 15 hour non-stop drive, and will take a few more pictures for posterity. My sword blade seems to be more 'used'.

Ozz · #8 10-20-2021, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fmradio516

So cool! My wifes grandpa left a bunch of cool stuff from the 40s/50s/60s ... Love this stuff!

My dad was USN during the mid-late '50's and spent a bunch of time in Japan. He loved it...

He purchased his USN Officers sword there, as well as a bunch of really cool woodblock prints (Hasui Kawase, Koitsu Ishiwata, & Henmi Takashi), an ivory (pre ban) chess set ....as well as the fine china my parents still use for special occasions (Xmas, Thanksgiving, etc)....

jpritchet74 · #9 10-20-2021, 06:19 PM

That sword is so cool!

zmudshark · #10 10-20-2021, 06:33 PM

I'll post up some pictures tomorrow. I need a shower and sleep!

rustychisel · #11 10-20-2021, 06:55 PM

In no way do I question the provenance here.

My uncle Doug served in Australia's 2/48 battalion during WWII, including in New Guinea, and used to tell stories of US engineers at Port Moresby (REMFs) hammering out Willy's jeep leaf springs for sword blades. Said they knocked up hundreds of dodgy 'banzai' swords, as they were known, each one with an individually crafted back-story.

According to Doug the best customers were young officers of around Captain or Majors rank who spent just enough time to qualify for the combat zone pay grade and to pick up an authentic souvenir.

JedB · #12 10-20-2021, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zmudshark

I'll post up some pictures tomorrow. I need a shower and sleep!

Some additional information:

Looks like it's a naval sword with a unique scabbard. The profile view you showed looks pretty spot on to the one in the link below.
I believe the 5 petaled flower has a tie in with the production house where the sword was made, but don't have a name.

https://thebestantique.com/product/i...scabbardplain/

verticaldoug · #13 10-21-2021, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JedB

Some additional information:

Looks like it's a naval sword with a unique scabbard. The profile view you showed looks pretty spot on to the one in the link below.
I believe the 5 petaled flower has a tie in with the production house where the sword was made, but don't have a name.

https://thebestantique.com/product/i...scabbardplain/

The 5 petaled flower is a sakura (cherry blossom). It partly derives from the 'kamon' use of family crests. It may tie in to the production company, but by this time period, the kamon were purely decorative.

Does the scabbard have one or two hangings on it?

If it has two, it is a type 94 which was made earlier probably pre-38. If it has one hanging, it is a type 98 and made after 1938. As the war progressed and metals became rarer, the scabbards became simpler. Since this one still has some ornaments, it is at worse an early type 98.

JedB · #14 10-21-2021, 01:05 AM

Thanks for the information, Doug.
Always cool to learn additional things.

verticaldoug · #15 10-21-2021, 01:26 AM

This is conjecture on my part, but the cherry blossom on the sword scabbard is poignant. The blossom's life is short but beautiful and meant to be cherished.