I purchased this sword two weeks ago from the 73 yo. son of the U.S. Army veteran that brought it back. Obviously the Japanese Officer did not make it and was KIA by a hail of machine gun fire as evidenced by his sword.
The sword itself is a 26 1/2" long blade dating to the mid 14th, to mid 15th century (verified by my Japanese sword polisher and other Token-Kai members). It is unsigned but flawless for a blade of it's antiquity. It was slightly shortened sometime during it's lifetime but is a magnificant example!
The Officer obviously had this sword drawn when he was cut down, one bullet hitting the back strap of the hilt taking with it a chunk of wood just missing the tang. Other bullets creased the metal scabbard in 3, possibly 4, different places, each scar measuring roughly 5 inches apart from one another, the worst of which is on the opposite side, two inches or so above the drag and actually piercing the scabbard (a definate indicator of the sword having been drawn).
The G.I. who brought it back was the Battalion Surgeon but unfortunately the son can't remember what unit his father served in however the sword was taken during the fighting for New Guinea.
What a story this sword could tell.......!
The sword itself is a 26 1/2" long blade dating to the mid 14th, to mid 15th century (verified by my Japanese sword polisher and other Token-Kai members). It is unsigned but flawless for a blade of it's antiquity. It was slightly shortened sometime during it's lifetime but is a magnificant example!
The Officer obviously had this sword drawn when he was cut down, one bullet hitting the back strap of the hilt taking with it a chunk of wood just missing the tang. Other bullets creased the metal scabbard in 3, possibly 4, different places, each scar measuring roughly 5 inches apart from one another, the worst of which is on the opposite side, two inches or so above the drag and actually piercing the scabbard (a definate indicator of the sword having been drawn).
The G.I. who brought it back was the Battalion Surgeon but unfortunately the son can't remember what unit his father served in however the sword was taken during the fighting for New Guinea.
What a story this sword could tell.......!
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