NCO's sword

[Beater]

In over 30 years collecting, this is my first NCO's sword, which for some reason I have avoided before now, preferring to collect gendaito.
It is not minty but has some history, which is what swung it for me. The leather cover and tassel are quite fragile and little of the paint remains on the hilt. The blade had some surface rust which I had a friend, who is a coppersmith by trade, give a sympathetic hand polish. Some light pitting remains but his advice was to leave that as it would need too much metal removal to completely get rid of them.

Thanks to WAF member Bruce Pennington for the following info:
This is a Type 95, version 1, or as Ohmura says, "Initial Type", made by Ijima Token Seisakusho, a contractor for the Tokyo Arsenal, administered by the Kokura Arsenal. Matching serial numbers 76789 puts it no later than 1942 but could be as early as 1937-39.

The sword was accompanied by a Certificate of Retention Battle Trophies issued to Sgt W.R. Turner, R.A. and dated 24th June '45. It states the sword was acquired from POW F/Centre, Changi - the notorious Changi Jail.

[BruceP]

That's a real beauty, Beater! Nice touch with the light polish!

I'd buy that tassel with buckle if you need to get rid of it!!!!!

[Phronsias]

Hi
Beautiful display, I really like the matched Sika antlers, nice size! not easy to to find and hard to work with. I've never seen English bring back paper before. If you sell the tassel and buckle to BruceP, I'll buy the antlers.
Good looking NCO
Thanks for posting
Frank

[oldhonda]

Because of the certificate, we know the sword was taken from a Japanese P.O.W camp, where it is notorious for the Japanese brutalities.

Imagine a stubby (or whatever Japanese played by Mickey Rooney) Japanese NCO carrying this sword making his rounds day in day out.... The wear on this sword shows it.

[oldhonda]

Nice sword by the way. The bohi is well cut. See both ends. It's the way it should be.

Can we see a picture of the end of the leather cover? Thanks.

[larry]

Great sword

Great sword, thanks for sharing

[ROBB]

Fantastic set congratulations, removing the tastle would be a terrible thing to do imo . Rob

[BruceP]

Fantastic set congratulations, removing the tastle would be a terrible thing to do imo . Rob

Seriously, I was joking!

[Phronsias]

Seriously, I was joking!

Im not joking Id like the antlers!!!!!!!!

[Shamsy]

Oh I am drooling over this one! The biggest issue is the lack of history that accompanies a sword, but this one has not only evidence to back up the history, but a very interesting one at that! I don't have either the Kokura or Tokyo 1st stamped Iijima in my collection yet, so to say I am salivating at the mouth is a gross understatement. I'd happily trade a gendai for a sword like this any day. Thank you so much for sharing!

Oh! One more thing with the leather... to preserve it the very best product you will find is called Accessible Preservatives Leather Restorer (used to be known as Triple Crown Fredelka Formula). You can buy direct off website or through ebay.