Joefriday22 Posted June 2, 2011 Report Posted June 2, 2011 Hi folks, brand new guy here and I would greatly appreciate any info on this sword. About a month ago I was at my favorite local militaria shop and a gentleman walked in with a WW2 Japanese sword (I'd been looking to add one to my collection). I struck up a conversation with him to find out that his father had brought back the sword along with several flags and various other items. He wanted to sell it all as his kids were not interested in the items and he knew that they would only sell them some day themselves. As much as I wanted to negotiate a deal with the man I did not want to step on the toes of the shop owner (he's always been fair to me). So anyway, I left and returned a week or so later to discover that the guy had left the items there to be auctioned off. This shop has an auction about once per month. Long story short, they split the items up into several lots and of course I wanted to win all of them to keep the collection together...and I did win them all but they weren't cheap. The toughest fight was for the personal paperwork (there is more than is shown in the pics below) but I wanted it all to tie everything together. The items are from US Army Sgt Edwin Reed of Co. A. 182 Infantry, Americal Division. Sgt Reed served in the Pacific and the items I bought include Americal patches, rank insignia, CIB & ribbon bars, service records, group photo, record of service, maps, greeting cards, USO memorabilia, address book, handbooks & manuals, photos of the him and his wife, pay records, IDs, discharge and other paper goods. A prized possession was his pocket Bible - complete with a GI Condom inside! There is also the Purple Heart and notice of Reed being wounded on Cebu Island March 29, 1945 after a Japanese ammo dump exploded. Reed's unit was digging foxholes on a mountain and the ammo was burried in tunnels below. The Japanese detonated the ammo dump which took out practically everyone on the mountain. Co. A. existed on paper only for some time until replacements could be gathered to re-form the company. He was discharged from the Camp Pickett, Va. Convalescant Hospital September 11, 1945. The shop owner actaully tried to talk him into keeping the items but he was determined to sell them. Here is the sword and some of the other items that I received: Thank you for looking, Rob Quote
Joefriday22 Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Posted June 2, 2011 Thank you very much for any information that you may be able to provide. Rob Quote
kaigunair Posted June 2, 2011 Report Posted June 2, 2011 Nice. Ita dated Showa 19, 4 nen or June of 1944. I'm sure someone will chime in with the maker. Quote
cabowen Posted June 2, 2011 Report Posted June 2, 2011 Believe the maker is Yoshitsugu and dated April 1944. Quote
Joefriday22 Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Posted June 2, 2011 Thank you very much Sirs. What does Showa mean? I am almost affraid to ask but what's the approximate value please? Rob Quote
cabowen Posted June 2, 2011 Report Posted June 2, 2011 Showa is the name of the period used in Japanese dating. It corresponds to the reign of the Showa Emperor, Hirohito.... Sword is probably worth $1000-$1500..... Quote
Joefriday22 Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Posted June 2, 2011 cabowen said: Showa is the name of the period used in Japanese dating. It corresponds to the reign of the Showa Emperor, Hirohito.... Sword is probably worth $1000-$1500..... Aahh, thank you for the education Sir. I did OK on the price then but to me having the paperwork and history to go with it makes it more desireable to me. I have spoken with the son who sold the items and he has provided me with info on his father regarding his service, injuries, and stories behind the above items. Pretty interesting and great fun to research. Thank you again, Rob PS. Just a little more to look at: Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted June 2, 2011 Report Posted June 2, 2011 This is a great historical collection and i am happy you managed to get it !! Collections like these, including paperwork, background stories, photos, medals etc are hard to find and even harder to keep together. I especially like the Telegram with the misspelled Ceb®u location. The sword looks well kept ! Great find ! KM Quote
Joefriday22 Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Posted June 2, 2011 Thank you very much KM. Yes, I noticed the mispelled Cebu the first time I read the telegram. I have a lot more paperwork with this group and it's very interesting to read. Rob Quote
Brian Posted June 2, 2011 Report Posted June 2, 2011 Rob, The sword alone is worth what Chris told you, but together with all the paperwork and other items you were smart enough to keep together, I think a militaria collector would pay more than double that. Nice find, and well done on keeping them together. I have a similar grouping with a remarkable amount of Chindit stuff, propaganda and other papers. Always makes the highlight of a militaria collection. Brian Quote
Ronin Akuma Posted June 2, 2011 Report Posted June 2, 2011 Congrats on winning the bids and glad you were able to keep the collection together! Quote
xxlotus8xx Posted June 2, 2011 Report Posted June 2, 2011 A very nice story and I'm really glad that you kept it all together as a living testament to one story in the US WW2 Pacific campaign. There is value in this way beyond money. I have a very similar story having inherited several Japanese WW2 flags, headbands, and an extremely ancient Wakizashi along with several other artifacts from my grandfather who was in the Marines and landed several islands including Iwo Jima. He actually came in on the second wave of soldier transport boats and fought through blood and guts and lived! He also witnessed the historic flag raising! I am the only one in my family of whom he told his battle stories. The stories of his friends and comrades whom have fallen. And I know he did this in trust because I would remember and honor him and his memories. But all in all it is the story of the warriors, both Japanese and Allied and their testament that you hold. Please try and keep all these items intact and together as much as you can. And please make sure that whoever ends up with these artifacts know the history behind them. Quote
Joefriday22 Posted June 3, 2011 Author Report Posted June 3, 2011 Thank you very much guys. Jo Jo. Sounds like you've got an awesome group and from a family member to boot. In reading his records it appears that he served at New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Bouganville, Leyte, Soloman and Cebu Islands. There are several Forts in the US listed and several other overseas areas but I can't read the writing. Under "Engagements" is listed Bougainville April 9, 1944-Jan 1945, Capul Jan-Feb 1945,Samar Feb-Mar 1945, and Cebu Island from March - March 29, 1945 (when he was injured). Interesting reading about the Americal Division in WW2 here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/23rd_Infan ... ns_summary Here are some more items from the group. And I've got plenty more. I was trying to stick to the sword only since I know this is a sword forum but it seems that some are interested in seeing some of these other items as well. Thank you all again for the information and kind comments. Rob Quote
Moley Posted June 7, 2011 Report Posted June 7, 2011 Dear Gentlemen, Please forgive me for hijacking this thread. I have been browsing this Forum for quite a while now but this is my first post. I too have a YosheTsugu (Yoshi Tsugu) which by all appearances is identical to the one shown here. It has even the same kind of Habaki and also has the Nagoya stamp. Mine however is Sho Wa (Period) Ju Hachi ( 18th ) Nen (year = 1943) Ju Ichi ( 11 th November) Gatsu (Month). The reason why I am posting here is to ask about the sword and the smith. When I had the Tsuka re-wrapped (It came without ito) The craftsman said that the Same was plastic and not real. However it is such a good imitation you would think it's good quality Same. Also I can't seem to see a hamon in the blade and don't want to spend a lot of money on a re-polish if it's stainless steel. Can anyone shed more light about the type of Gunto that Yoshe Tsugu Produced and what steel did he use? Is the sword pictured on this thread with a hamon? What is the Same. Any info about smith and or sword greatly appreciated. Thanks Gwyn Quote
Joefriday22 Posted June 7, 2011 Author Report Posted June 7, 2011 Hi Gywn, I can only tell you that my sword does not appear to have a hamon or if so it is very faint. Also the grip on mine could be plastic as well but I can't tell for sure. Rob Quote
Moley Posted June 8, 2011 Report Posted June 8, 2011 Moley said: Dear Gentlemen,Please forgive me for hijacking this thread. I have been browsing this Forum for quite a while now but this is my first post. I too have a YosheTsugu (Yoshi Tsugu) which by all appearances is identical to the one shown here. It has even the same kind of Habaki and also has the Nagoya stamp. Mine however is Sho Wa (Period) Ju Hachi ( 18th ) Nen (year = 1943) Ju Ichi ( 11 th November) Gatsu (Month). The reason why I am posting here is to ask about the sword and the smith. When I had the Tsuka re-wrapped (It came without ito) The craftsman said that the Same was plastic and not real. However it is such a good imitation you would think it's good quality Same. Also I can't seem to see a hamon in the blade and don't want to spend a lot of money on a re-polish if it's stainless steel. Can anyone shed more light about the type of Gunto that Yoshe Tsugu Produced and what steel did he use? Is the sword pictured on this thread with a hamon? What is the Same. Any info about smith and or sword greatly appreciated. Thanks Gwyn Thanks for the reply Rob. I wonder if any of the learned gentlemen on this forum can enlighten us more on Yoshe Tsugu (Yoshi Tsugu) and the steel he used? Quote
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