Sword and riffle "war trophies"

[Tino]

I was lucky enough to find some Japanese items that were bring back "war trophies " still in the original crates.
I looked for hours trying to find some information about the sword but with little luck.
It's neat showing these items as they were shipped and maybe one of you guys can id the sword and shed some light on the symbols.

Thanks,
Tino

[Tino]

.

[Tino]

close up of the characters

[Tino]

This is the original certificate that was still in the crate with the sword

[Tino]

This is the certificate that came with the riffle

[MikeB]

Sword and Rifle War trophies

Tino-
Absolutely awesome! I am impressed that you have such great pieces and that they include papers and crates!! It is really tough to find the matching papers with most items. Once they got home, the G.I. usually just threw them away in eagerness to display their item. On the other hand, some guys were not allowed to uncrate "those things" and bring them into the house by their wives, mothers, etc. When that happened, the trophy usually languished out in the garage or sat in a duffle bag. Do you have any "story's" regarding the rifle and the sword? Mike

[Banzi64]

Once in a lifetime find rare for this day and age

[web105jk]

Tino

What a wonderful discovery. The markings on the sword are called arsenal acceptance marks. The one on the far right (Star) is the 1st Tokyo Arsenal, formed in 1936. It is hard to tell from the photo, but the tassel appears to be for a company grade Army Officer.

Herm

[cbuehler]

The sword is actually an NCO's sword that has been nickel plated and the handle black painted or laquered at sometime. The officer's sword knot would not belong to this sword ordinarily.
The sword was most probably nickled after the war as the original finish is green with brown painted handle, perhaps to improve the appearance as a display piece for the vet? It is possible that it was done before the war for a presentation or something? Definitely would not have been allowed for wear by an active duty NCO.
In any case, its the first I have ever seen and a nice find.

CB

[Tino]

Mike, unfortunately the Vet passed away and have no stories with the items, currently I am reading through the letters, maybe there is some additional information in them.

Herm and CB, thanks for the addional information, it does have the brown and blue officer's tassle .
The fact that the sword came with the officer's tassle and is nickle plated caused me not to find any information about the sword.
Hard to say when the plating was done and for what purpose.
It seems that I always run into the oddball items
Again I appreciate all the input!

Tino

[MikeB]

Sword and rifle war trophies

Hi Tino-
Well, they may be oddball but they sure are nice! Thanks again, Mike

[web105jk]

War trophies

Tino-

One other "theory" on your sword....It is in such pristine condition as if it had been put away in a time capsule it is quite possible that it hasn't been chome plated after it was brought back. The fact that it has an officer's company grade tassel and a chome plated scabbard could signify that the person who owned it was an Army officer. Many Japanese officers carried Kyu-gunto swords. That's the type with the "D" handle all of which did have chrome scabbards. This owner may not have had the financial where-with-all to afford a regular gunto sword with a machine made or hand forged blade so he may have put together this variant of NCO sword, officer's tassel and chrome scabbard.

Just a thought.

Herm