Suggestions on replacement of the Kashira or end cap

[anejohn]

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

[ChrisW]

Someone here should definitely have one.. but if no one responds after a few days, you might try eBay.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Welcome to NMB, John. I would start looking in the NMB fuchikashira orphanage, http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/13286-the-fuchikashira-orphanage/

[Dave R]

I think the first thing is to identify what it is exactly. It looks very like one of the "mystery swords."

 http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/22400-nlf-gunto-discussion/

[anejohn]

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

[vajo]

You need one of these SLF (Landing) swords that sometimes pop up.

 

If you look on ebay you will find one, but this will take some time.

[anejohn]

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.

[Bruce Pennington]

John,

You did a nice job restoring that piece, congrats!

 

Looks like you did some reading on the history of these, possibly at the NMB thread "NLF Gunto Discussion" - http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/22400-nlf-gunto-discussion/?hl=%2Bgunto+%2Bdiscussion

 

You will find, though, that we are 99% sure these were made post-war by Toyokawa for the US Army PX. There is a letter on that thread where a contractor was complaining to the US Army about delays on his production order of the 8,000 blades. I believe the mix of Army & Navy parts was intentional to get around prohibitions on making and selling war weapons. This arrangement is WAY out of military specs and therefore would not have been used as a weapon of war and could be classified as a "souvenir" (which is how the item was called on the other document, signed by the Asst Commander of the PX, on that thread).

 

You didn't show a picture of the name. If it is a 2-kanji name struck on the nakago, it very well is the smith. Some of these do come signed by the smith. Many are not signed.

 

Edit: It would be very important to learn if the original Marine who got this, returned to the US before war's end, or was still in the Pacific at the end of the war. Maybe this guy fought on Guadalcanal, but was still in the theatre at the end of the war and returned home with the souvenir. Any way to confirm that?

[vajo]

You complete a sword with the right pieces - good job! 

[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

[Bruce Pennington]

John,

That's the letter, alright! It says these were made "after the war". I cannot speak to the original G.I.s facts or story, but all the evidence we have, factual evidence, is that these were made as souvenirs after the war. Here's another document provided by a member with one of these, and the PX document came with the sword. Dated 1950.

 

If such a story were to be corroborated somehow, it would really shake things up on this topic. Now, we do know, for those of us who know some marines, that they can be capable to stretching a yarn on unsuspecting folks sometimes.

[IJASWORDS]

John, it's a post war souvenir sword as Bruce has indicated. Never saw military action.