All About Pocket Knives

Hello

Here is my Dad's Japanese Sword from WWII. This sword was given to him by one of his high school classmates who Served in the US Marine Corps. This Marine had been in a few campaigns in the South Pacific Theatre and was in Tokyo post-VJ Day for a bit. The way I was told is there literaly piles of Japanese weapons being destroyed and/or dumped into Tokyo Bay. This Marine grabbed a handfull of swords and other itmes and brought them back to the States. He kept a few for himself and gave the rest away to people he thought deserved them.

He had developed a great apprecciation for people like USN Corpsmen and USN Pilots/Air Crew. My Dad was a gunner in a TBM Avenger, so he got a sword. Here it is:

Thank You
Mark

Blade outside the Scabbard. The clear green "funk" near the hilt is cosmoline that reacted with the brass, it has been there since at least circa 1945.

Mark

Another photo, bit closer up. I have not seen any markings what so ever on this sword.
Mark

Blade and scabbard tip.

Last Photo.

If you look a few posts down you will see the term "Gunto", or army sword pattern 1933-34.The fittings were mass produced,and vary in quality.Yours look in pretty good shape.You can push the retaining peg in the tsuka"handle" out and take it off,most of the time,but not all,there is a signature or"mei" on the "nakago"(tang)Do not clean or polish anything,one step at a time here.If you can kinda wrap you hand around the handle,butt it up against the swordguard(tsuba)and try yo wedge it off.If to tight,grasp the bottom of the handle with your left hand firmly,edge away from you and strike the area on your hand between your thumb and wrist.Bottom line in doing all of this is to remember,this is a blade desighned to do very serious damage.If neither of these methodes work there are alternatives(do not put it in a vice)
Greg

some examples of "mei"

the one one the left is an old blade remounted in police furinture for the reformation....1868.

the other knife is odd...leafspring? indonesia? genuine od green paint and uncle sam's eagle...notice the scabard and combat cover carry the same engraving.
all three of these weapons still maintain their edge.