MINT RARE SURRENDERED SINGAPORE 1945 WW2 1940 Dated Japanese Officer\'s Type 98 Shin-Gunto Sword With Gendaito Blade Dated and Smith Signed ‘YOSHI SHIGE’ Rank Tassel, Scabbard Surrender Cert & original Photo Of Surrender Swords

**MINT**RARE** SURRENDERED SINGAPORE 1945**WW2 1940 Dated Japanese Officer's Type 98 Shin-Gunto Sword With Gendaito Blade Dated and Smith Signed ‘YOSHI SHIGE’ Rank Tassel, Scabbard Surrender Cert & original Photo Of Surrender. Sn 19742:9 - 19742:9

An original rare to find near mint surrendered WW2 Japanese Officer's Sword with surrender certificate and original photograph of the sword being surrendered and the 2 officer’s involved. The sword has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written notes and illustrations accompany the sword. In extracts of his notes he states “A type 98 model shin gunto army officer’s sword in metal parade scabbard with original retention certificate and photograph of the owner on surrender of the sword. The scabbard in practically mint condition. It has all of its green speckled paint, all the metal mounts have brown finish and gilt edging. One small crease across the side otherwise perfect. Tsuka has also got the finish & gilt to its mounts and has sarute loop fitted with rank tassel cord (Lieut-Capt). The ray skin is intact and clean with ito binding intact with wear in only a couple of places.. It also has its intact and working locking catch. Tsuba has all of its gilding & is complete with 8 Seppa all with original finish. The 25 ¾” blade is well balanced & light with good curve of 21mm a nice shape. Signed 2 kanji name ‘YOSHI SHIGE’. Only man in my books used this name, real name Komi Yama Ryozo working in Gifu. War time listed 1944 as working Seki arsenal.. The blade has over 95% original polish showing a typical gunome midare hamon with ashi legs and edged with nioi crystals. It has muji or Pear grain hada typical seki trait. There is one forging flaw just past the Ha-mach on one side which indicates this is Gendaito hand forged blade (no arsenal stamps). I bought this & other swords from a deceased collector’s estate. His son told me that his Father bought it from this veteran nearly 50 years ago. It has the original veteran’s name and number 186554 rank LAC RAF J.E. Gabbutt on the retention authority slip dated 21/11/1945 and also a very rare photograph of the named Japanese officer surrendering to this man with an ink marked arrow pointing to Lieut T. Hasegawa dated 1945 Singapore. He is a long serving Officer with a chest full of medal ribbons. An extremely rare thing to find all together”. In his illustrations Bill translates the Smith tang signature as above and ‘1940’ date. He also details measurements and characteristics of the blade and tang which can be read in the images. The price for this superb WW2 surrender piece worthy of further research includes UK delivery. Sn 19742:9

£2,750.00