My PTO Japanese bring-backs

[24th_infantry]

Thought I'd post my WWII Japanese bring-back items. The katana and dagger were brought home by the same guy. The Japanese artillery officer sabre was from a guy in the 544th Amphibious Engineers. I was wondering if anyone has ever seen a hand-decorated scabbard before like the one picture. I'd love to know what the blue and yellow cords on the katana mean. Any help is appreciated. Enjoy!

This is a Hawaiian dagger (as told by the New Haven, CT Peabody Museum)


This is the artillery officer sabre Type 32


And here is the NCO katana with combat cover

[Stu W]

What length is the blade on the "artillery" officer sword?

Regards,
Stu

[24th_infantry]

What length is the blade on the "artillery" officer sword?

Regards,
Stu

Its about 30 inches and both swords are stamped with the Nagoya arsenal.

[Stu W]

Its about 30 inches and both swords are stamped with the Nagoya arsenal.

For those who may be interested here's some more info on the Type 32. They came in two versions. The first, "ko" and the second "otsu".

The "ko" has a blade length of 32 3/4 inches. The "otsu" has a blade length of 30 1/2 inches.

The ko was issued to NCO and EM in Cavalry whereas the shorter otsu was issued to NCO and EM in Military Police, Transportation Corps and Master Sergeants in Infantry, Engineers and Artillery.

Info taken from Swords of Imperial Japan 1868-1945, Cyclopedia Edition, by Jim Dawson.

Regards,
Stu

[Stu W]

... I'd love to know what the blue and yellow cords on the katana mean ...

The leather knot on the Type 32 is an NCO knot that can also be mounted on the Type 95 you have. I've never seen colored tassels on the Type 95. They look like post war embellishments.

Your Type 95 has the top latch and iron tsuba and if memory serves me they began production of that variation mid 1941.

Regards,
Stu

[24th_infantry]

Stu,

Thanks for that information! I'll make sure to keep it with the swords when I use them in my displays.