Handle with care

[John C]

Folks:

This label was inside a serviceman's bring-back box with two swords.

John C.

[ChrisW]

Big yikes.

[Bruce Pennington]

Wonder what the half-life of DDT is?

[Bugyotsuji]

46 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Wonder what the half-life of DDT is?

A quick rule-of-thumb says sniff it; if in doubt, administer the good old taste test.

And Bob's yer uncle!

[mdiddy]

I wish these boxes were old enough for radio-carbon dating. I've had them before and they always seemed janky. The nails were either too new or too dangerous (i.e. tetanus shot dangerous).

 

I like the WW2-era Japanese style box...

 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Mmmmm, love that presentation box, worthy of the Japanese boxes thread! 

[vajo]

John was that two swords inside the box?

[John C]

4 minutes ago, vajo said:

John was that two swords inside the box?

I assume so. I was researching souvenir swords (see the bottom sword) when I came across this pic.

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

8 hours ago, John C said:

(see the bottom sword)

John,

That date of March 1945 - I'm pretty sure WWII wasn't over yet!  Do you have a close-up of the other document?

[PNSSHOGUN]

Matt is right, the GI boxes are hard to verify what the original contents were. 

[Kiipu]

The date is 18 March 1946.  The document needs to be downloaded though to read it.

[Bugyotsuji]

Can't tell much except that it was originally screwed down, so probably made up specially for shipping.

[John C]

2 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Do you have a close-up of the other document?

Sure. Here it is with the same date; also listing the contents as two swords. But my intent of the post was about the use of DDT.

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

Oops (sorry, but I've been saying that a lot lately)!

 

I misread the date on the first certifcate.  1946 is much better!

[Jcstroud]

Can anyone read the writing on exterior of the boxes for clues?

[Bruce Pennington]

Matt's box isn't in question, as it doesn't contain a souvenir sword, and I just misread the label on the OP box.

[Jcstroud]

The more you know, the more you know you know?????

[SteveM]

The box is from July, 1931. It indicates the sword was presented as a gift to a graduating student of the Military Cavalry Academy.

 

I wouldn't freak out about any residual DDT from that box. Don't lick it. Don't put it in the baby's crib. But also don't overthink it. 

[John C]

3 hours ago, SteveM said:

Don't lick it.

Now you tell me!

 

John C.