cplnorton Posted July 15, 2012 Share #1 Posted July 15, 2012 I have a knife that I just in a huge grouping of stuff from a Marine in the 5th Amphibious Corps during WWII. He was on Saipan and Iwo and carried this knife thru both. The grand daughter said that her gandpa told her he used the knife on the Japanese who owned the flag below. So he saved the flag to go with the knife. She said he got the flag on Iwo as well. There is a video made of an interview with the Iwo Marine before he passed where he documents the knife story to the flag. She said she will get me a copy so I can keep with it. So I don't think it's just a story. Here is the knife. It reminds me of an Arkansas Toothpick in a way. But I can find no markings. Theater made maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted July 15, 2012 Share #2 Posted July 15, 2012 I don't find the knife in Buerlein's book "Allied Military Fighting Knives", but that doesn't mean it's not a fighting knife. I like the knive, flag and story!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cplnorton Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share #3 Posted July 15, 2012 The black spots on the flag are very hard and crusty. I'm pretty sure it's dried blood. It seems to be anyways. I'm going to have to get it around, but I also got photo albums and about 200 original pictures that he took of Iwo. He has a ton of Surabachi, which he called Hot Rock in the photos. He has pics of the beach, the airfield, dead japanese, downed Japanese planes, field hospitals, the cemetary's. Just a ton of pictures. It's so incredible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uplandmod Posted July 15, 2012 Share #4 Posted July 15, 2012 Wow! I would love to have a digital copy of those pictures for private use! Leonardo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony-in-NH Posted July 15, 2012 Share #5 Posted July 15, 2012 I don't find the knife in Buerlein's book "Allied Military Fighting Knives", but that doesn't mean it's not a fighting knife.I like the knive, flag and story!! Blade looks similar to this theatre made. No, I do not own it but would love to as I know where it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted July 15, 2012 Share #6 Posted July 15, 2012 Good morning cplnorton, You and I (see pictures below) have a WWII Australian fighting knife. Not a lot is known about them, although I understand that someone is compiling information that should come to light soon. The only documented reference on it so far appears on Ron Flook's "British and Commonwealth Military Knives," Plate 418, page 177. Maybe Dutchy357 can expand when he finds out more. PS Tony, that's a beauty! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted July 15, 2012 Share #7 Posted July 15, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted July 15, 2012 Share #8 Posted July 15, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted July 15, 2012 Share #9 Posted July 15, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted July 15, 2012 Share #10 Posted July 15, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted July 15, 2012 Share #11 Posted July 15, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cplnorton Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share #12 Posted July 15, 2012 Yeah that's mine exactly. Except your's has a stamp on the sheath and mind doesn't that I can see. I wonder how he came across it? I don't believe he was ever in Australia. But maybe he traded/bought it from a Marine who was on Australia as that was a huge staging point for the Marines in WWII. Or as people were wounded or killed, they would a lot of times reuse there weapons. I read a book once where a father sent his son a revolver in the mail on one of the island campaings in the Pacific, I can't remember which one. By the end of the campaign the pistol had switched hands like five or six times as people were wounded or killed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cplnorton Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share #13 Posted July 15, 2012 He also brought back another knife. But I think it's one of cheap tourist knives that the Japanese sold to the Americans after the war during the occupation. He also liked to draw and I have a lot of drawlings he made. But this one is my favorite. You probably can't read it, but the Marine that is throwing the satchel charge is saying Peekaboo. lol Classic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack's Son Posted July 15, 2012 Share #14 Posted July 15, 2012 Good 'Ol GB to the rescue! :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted July 15, 2012 Share #15 Posted July 15, 2012 He also brought back another knife. But I think it's one of cheap tourist knives that the Japanese sold to the Americans after the war during the occupation. cplnorton, I believe it's much better than that. This guy sure had a good eye for cool military blades. I believe it's a Nationalist Chinese Officer Dagger. They were quite popular souvenirs/bring-backs from the CBI and highly collectible. Here is a book written on them: http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/nati...ese-dagger-book You can do more research online. Hope this helps. PS Thanks, JS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cplnorton Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share #16 Posted July 15, 2012 cplnorton, I believe it's much better than that. This guy sure had a good eye for cool military blades. I believe it's a Nationalist Chinese Officer Dagger. They were quite popular souvenirs/bring-backs from the CBI and highly collectible. Here is a book written on them: http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/nati...ese-dagger-book You can do more research online. Hope this helps. PS Thanks, JS No kidding huh? It feels Chinese. lol So that makes sense. I will have to research that. Just out of curiosity anyone know what either blades are worth? I have 0 interest in selling them, but are they worth a lot? I was going to hang them on my wall but might have to reconsider and put them in the safe now. I'm a former Marine so these items are sacred to me, and priceless. Plus the family was so incredible, they shared everything, told me stories, and are even making copies of the video of him being interviewed by them. They made me feel like part of the family. They are awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uplandmod Posted July 15, 2012 Share #17 Posted July 15, 2012 I have a knife that I just in a huge grouping of stuff from a Marine in the 5th Amphibious Corps during WWII. He was on Saipan and Iwo and carried this knife thru both. The grand daughter said that her gandpa told her he used the knife on the Japanese who owned the flag below. So he saved the flag to go with the knife. She said he got the flag on Iwo as well. There is a video made of an interview with the Iwo Marine before he passed where he documents the knife story to the flag. She said she will get me a copy so I can keep with it. So I don't think it's just a story. Here is the knife. It reminds me of an Arkansas Toothpick in a way. But I can find no markings. Theater made maybe? I noticed he wrote his own personal information on the flag in japanese the right side says 1943 while the left side says 1946 most likely when he left the service or wrote the info. I would have to think the bottom kanji are city names where he part of the occupation. If he wrote this info on the flag in 1946 I don't think it's blood as its ontop of the info on the flag. Also Japanese tend to use the 17昭和 (17 year of the reign of the showa emperor) during the their numbering at the time. Leonardo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cplnorton Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share #18 Posted July 15, 2012 I noticed he wrote his own personal information on the flag in japanese the right side says 1943 while the left side says 1946 most likely when he left the service or wrote the info. I would have to think the bottom kanji are city names where he part of the occupation. If he wrote this info on the flag in 1946 I don't think it's blood as its ontop of the info on the flag. Also Japanese tend to use the 17昭和 (17 year of the reign of the showa emperor) during the their numbering at the time. Leonardo Yeah he entered in 1943 and left in 1946. Then went back for Korea in I believe 1950 to 1953. Huh I would have never guessed that. That is neat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbarrel Posted July 15, 2012 Share #19 Posted July 15, 2012 Just out of curiosity anyone know what either blades are worth? I have 0 interest in selling them, but are they worth a lot? Dang it, man, we can't tell you everything. Go research it! Oh, and by the way, you are welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cplnorton Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share #20 Posted July 15, 2012 Dang it, man, we can't tell you everything. Go research it! Oh, and by the way, you are welcome! LMAO! Will do. I can find some on the chinese one, but that Australian I can't really find anything about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uplandmod Posted July 15, 2012 Share #21 Posted July 15, 2012 Ok I translated everything on the flag, it's definitely in relation to his career. The left side says 軍曹 which means sergeant in Japanese The right side says 陸我隊 which translates roughly as "land group" or a ground soldier. Still trying to figure out what コツク kotsuku or コシク koshiku means. Who knows where he got the flag from but a Japanese person definitely helped him write his own info on the flag. I would think the crusty stain isnt blood but rust. An execellent flag and I wish I could know the full story of it. Leonardo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hc8604 Posted July 15, 2012 Share #22 Posted July 15, 2012 The army Chinese dress dagger is probably worth 200 give or take 50. If that is rust on the scabbard, that would decease the value. The design you have is a common one. Since you mentioned you were in the Marines, there is a Marine themed version with an American/Chinese flag; but that will cost a lot more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cplnorton Posted July 15, 2012 Author Share #23 Posted July 15, 2012 Upland Mod, can you read Japanese at all? He's got a tag off a Japanese plan that wrecked on Iwo. He has the tag in his scrapbook and then has a pic of the plane below it. If I get you a close up pic of the plaque, can you read it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uplandmod Posted July 15, 2012 Share #24 Posted July 15, 2012 I can translate a little, if I can't figure it out I have two great Japanese co workers that can assist me. Leonardo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suwanneetrader Posted July 15, 2012 Share #25 Posted July 15, 2012 I can translate a little, if I can't figure it out I have two great Japanese co workers that can assist me.Leonardo Leonardo: You translated some Japanese for me but when I tried to copy and print it the Japanese characters came out as zeros. Did I do something wrong or is a special program needed to print their writting? Poster of this thread sorry I jumped in with my question. When you are looking at the Iwo photos if any are 21st Marines or Airfield #2 I'd love to see them as always looking for my Dad. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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