General Patton & His Swords

[Ray Singer]

Recently encountered this quote and I have heard in the past that General Patton owned several Japanese swords. Are there any photos of General Patton with the Japanese swords he owned, or information about those he acquired?

 

"The day before they departed, Patton casually remarked to his exhausted wife, “I hope you remembered to pack all those swords under the bed.” Walking into the bedroom, Beatrice discovered dozens of swords and scabbards of which she had been completely unaware. Frustrated that her husband had not appreciated her efforts or informed her of the swords he had been collecting, she angrily picked up one of the weapons and began chasing him around the house. A frantic Patton scurried over chairs and tables, pleading with his furious wife, “Don’t! Don’t! Please don’t!” Beatrice eventually brought the sword down on a table, missing her husband, but hard enough to embed the sword in the edge of the table."

 

Best regards,

Ray

[Mark S.]

Are you positive about his collecting Japanese swords? He was an old cavalry man, so I can see him collecting U.S. cavalry swords, and his overseas military service was European based, so I can see him collecting European military swords, but I had not heard he collected Japanese swords. Interesting...

 

Mark S.

[Ray Singer]

That is what I have heard, but lacking specific details. Hoping for some evidence either way. 

 

Best regards,

Ray

 

 

 

  On 7/19/2017 at 7:53 PM, Mark S. said:

Are you positive about his collecting Japanese swords? He was an old cavalry man, so I can see him collecting U.S. cavalry swords, and his overseas military service was European based, so I can see him collecting European military swords, but I had not heard he collected Japanese swords. Interesting...

Mark S.

[EdWolf]

Patton loved fencing and he was quite good. He also joined the Olympic team in 1912. If he collected Japanese swords his collection should be build up in de period between the two great wars. He died in 1945 just before most swords where brought back to the US.

[PNSSHOGUN]

I would suspect his collection would be cavalry and other European sword based. I wonder if any of his collection remains intact or on display somewhere? I see no mention of it at the Patton museum beyond the Sabre he designed.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

I really can't imagine the "iron general" escape his furious wife that was seriously angry.

Age destroy even the strongest... or are wifes that do so ???   

[Hoshi]

No idea if he owned Nihonto, but I did find one of the swords he owned. 

 

http://www.hermann-historica.de/en/general_george_s_patton_jr_1885_-_1945_-_a_de_luxe_model_1913_cavalry_sword_a_sp/l/154520?aid=154&Lstatus=0&ord=result_d&currentpos=2 

[NihontoNewbie]

Little side note about Gen. Pattons son... I met with him when I was young in my home state of Massachusetts. He owned a farm and was pretty good friends with my father. We lived 15 minutes from Pattons farm.

 

My father and I would go to his farm and buy cords of wood for the long cold New England winters. George Patton IV was a very friendly man, although he was a bit eccentric as you can imagine. I can remember his friendly face and warm greeting every time I had a chance to meet with him. He passed on 04, but I will never forget him or the crazy/amazing stories he would share.

 

Here is a little info on the farm

http://www.nshoremag.com/November-2016/general-pattons-fields/