Looking for WWII Newspaper Ad Calling for Sword Donations

[Bruce Pennington]

Forgive me for starting a thread just for this, but my forum searching skills have failed to turn up the newspaper articles that requested the donation of swords for the war effort.

 

If anyone has a copy of those articles, or can link to where they were posted, I'd appreciate it!

 

Thanks

[Bruce Pennington]

I have this copy of a "leaflet" that was to be circulated to the newspapers, but I seem to remember seeing an actual ad taken from a newspaper. The blade was in the center-top of the ad and horizontal.

 

[16k]

Bruce, I don’t have my books with me, but wasn’t there one in the Fuller and Gregory books?

[Dave R]

 The problem here is that if you don't read old style Japanese you are stuck. However, a reference that might encourage you, or give a lead ...  

[Bruce Pennington]

Bruce, I don’t have my books with me, but wasn’t there one in the Fuller and Gregory books?

I just took a quick browse through the latest F & G and didn't see it. When I can get my hands on my early F & G, I'll check.

 

  

The problem here is that if you don't read old style Japanese you are stuck. However, a reference that might encourage you, or give a lead ...

 

That's a great article David, thanks!

[16k]

Yes, I was thinking the early one, with the green cover. I seem to remember an ad for officer swords, so maybe it was with it. 

[IJASWORDS]

An example of Dave's article. Shorter family blade, kurikata still in place, a suspension ring nailed on the wood saya, and would have had a leather cover over the antique saya. 

[Bruce Pennington]

That was interesting to read about how the old, ancient handles would crumble in their hands!

[Dave R]

That was interesting to read about how the old, ancient handles would crumble in their hands!

 

 I think it's why you see some quick and dirty fixes, like metal shims under the Ito, and shrunk on permanant leather covers stitched over or in place of the Ito.

[george trotter]

2 points...

A. I can see no date on this article...does anyone know it?

 

B. In the text within the box (I haven't translated it) it says roughly, that the value/cost of the sword will be to a maximum of 500 yen...so is this a 'donation" request or is it a call to sell the govt. your old sword?

Just asking,

[Bruce Pennington]

2 points...

A. I can see no date on this article...does anyone know it?

 

B. In the text within the box (I haven't translated it) it says roughly, that the value/cost of the sword will be to a maximum of 500 yen...so is this a 'donation" request or is it a call to sell the govt. your old sword?

Just asking,

George, this was an Army program to buy swords. Here's what Nick said about the flyer, and a pertenant section of his post about buying:

 

"The flyer is titled "About serving your nation with Guntos" and would have been delivered in the newspapers or passed around as a neighborhood round robin.

 

The leaflet is not dated, but it can be told from the name of the issuing authority that it was issued after February 1942."

 

and

 

"The 1942 program that relates to that leaflet is strictly an army program, managed under the Chief of Army Weapons HQ and evolved from the earlier 1938 program which was indeed a army/navy joint program. This appraisal organization was established on 19th February by Army Regular Ordinance 990.

 

It was a program supported by the local Veterans Association as well as the Taiseiyokusankai Political Party. Municipalities would announce the dates and venues of the appraisal sessions and the army sent its appraisers to do preliminary screening. Only the swords that passed this screening were sent further to the HQ of the Officer Gunto Appraisal Committee 将校軍刀監査委員会 for a full screening to determine a fair price. Owners of swords that passed got a notice of appraised value through their local municipal office and the money was remitted by the Gunjinkaikan. Those swords were polished and set into proper new Koshirae and sold to Army officers.

 

Yes, the maximum blade quality for this program was 500 Yen, which meant that they would sell at much higher prices than the Rinjiseishiki specials. If there were swords that got dropped in the second appraisal, they got returned to owners with detailed explanations as to why.

 

The program only required the blades, but owners who wished to sell the swords complete with Koshirae was paid for the Koshirae as well.

 

I just checked the original army/navy joint buy-up program rules announced in the fall of 1938 and discovered that the blade length criteria of minimum 54.5 cm was already in effect from that time. The 1942 rules are more streamlined and easier for the public to follow and contribute, but otherwise it is the same program, just without the involvement of the navy."

 

Quotes from this discussion: http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/Japanese-militaria/family-short-blades-gunto-688110/

[PNSSHOGUN]

A interesting document claiming to be a letter of appreciation for a sword donation: https://page.auction.../auction/o1166207607

[Bruce Pennington]

That's great, John!  Looks like it's dated June 8, 1943. 1942 (Thanks Steve!)

[PNSSHOGUN]

@Kiipu @SteveM is there anything of particular note here?

[SteveM]

As advertised, its an official letter of appreciation (from Japan's Military Officer's Hall), given in thanks for the donation of a sword. 

It doesn't mention the sword maker/type, etc... 

Year is 1942. 

[SteveM]

I guess the official name of the policy through which the government solicited swords from the public was Guntō Hōkoku (軍刀報国), and this name appears in both the appreciation certificate, and in the leaflet that Bruce posted a picture of on June 28, 2020 (at the top of the thread). 

[Kiipu]

The emblem at the top center of the letter is for the Imperial Military Reserve Association 帝国在郷軍人会.  This was a joint Army-Navy association and hence the star over the anchor symbol.

在郷軍人会

 

Thanks for sharing as I have never seen one of these letters before.