anejohn

Wish I have the opportunity to go back in time and ask that Marine a few more questions but unfortunately that’s not a option. As the story goes he won it in a poker game at Guadalcanal and shipped it home. That conflict took place late 1942 and ended in early 1943. The military put a stop to war trophies being sent home sometime in 1943. So, he could have just been telling my dad a good story to sell a sword or it actually came from where he said it did. Here’s another look at the writing on the tang of the blade next to the stamped number. It looks like it was painted with a brush and if anyone can translate it that would be great. I also attached is a copy of a letter given to me while researching this topic. Unfortunately its unreadable as a picture. Can this site upload PDF files so it can be read by all? It’s dated 1946 and addresses souvenir swords of WWII you mentioned and complications in distribution of the Army PX and the postal service. Regards John

Hi all Just a follow up and conclusion to my WWII sword end cap or Kabuto gane request to the forum. I contacted Mark at “Japanesewarriors.co.uk” who was a very helpful and a wealth of information. This is a forged (not hand crafted blade) Naval landing force sword as per the black color and gold insignia of the sheath on the sword. Roughly 8,000 of these blades were produce for the Imperial Navy & Army forces. A number stamped on the tang of my blade is 1588. There’s also a name that I was told is that of the solder it belonged to. Though the missing pieces were not cheap, they are authentic for this sword. I elected to go with just the Kabuto gane, pin, Sarute but not the Naval Officers Tassel. Thanks for your suggestions.

Hi again and thanks for your suggestions. Followed up on Ken’s link (Mahalo) but the sword cap I have looks deeper then the ones I saw posted. I attached a sword handle picture I lifted from from the web that looks like it might fit and a rough measurement of my swords exposed end cap. Thank you “Big” for this link www.japanesewarriors.co.uk. On their web sites there are several swords assembled in the host picture and the first two to left of the central figure closely resembles the sword I have. I will certainly follow up on this site. Thank you all again for your help

This is a Japanese military sword my dad purchased from a retired Marine who got it while deployed in Guadalcanal. I would like to find a Kashira or end cap for this sword and wondered if anyone here in the forum would have suggestions on a authentic or replacement Kashira. Thank you John