John4022 Posted July 24, 2021 Share #1 Posted July 24, 2021 Hi guys, I just picked up two swords from a 2nd Marine Division veterans estate sale. While I was at the sale I got a chance to talk to the veterans son & grandson. They told me that their father / grandfather never talked about the war so they didn't have any stories to pass on. I did get to see some pictures of him overseas but they wanted to keep them, which I completely understood. I also let them keep his dog tags which I managed to take a picture of. They showed me a wooden wardrobe which was in a garage that he stored all of his items. They told me everything has been there since he got home from the war. It seems like he was in the 2nd Marine Division and enlisted in 43, thats all I know. I certainly love pulling items out of the woodwork and it doesn't bother me too much that the swords have seen better days. Since these are the first swords I've ever handled / seen I'm not a expert by any means. A member from another forum was kind enough to help me with the maker of the Army sword, "Ishihara Kanetada". I haven't taken apart both handles yet but once I do I'll get some better pictures. Hope you guys enjoy! -John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILL THE PATCH Posted July 24, 2021 Share #2 Posted July 24, 2021 OutstandingSent from my moto g(7) play using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USCapturephotos Posted July 24, 2021 Share #3 Posted July 24, 2021 Wow great pieces. Good that you got as much information as you could about the vet. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John4022 Posted July 24, 2021 Author Share #4 Posted July 24, 2021 Thanks guys!Sent from my SM-G981V using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John4022 Posted July 24, 2021 Author Share #5 Posted July 24, 2021 More pictures of the other items I got from his estate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Len S Posted July 27, 2021 Share #6 Posted July 27, 2021 Great swords! I believe the sword with the ball shaped knot is for a Japanese official involved in the civil administration of Taiwan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted July 27, 2021 Share #7 Posted July 27, 2021 Very nice find. The sword knots are a big plus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M24 Chaffee Posted July 27, 2021 Share #8 Posted July 27, 2021 Very nice bringbacks and it’s special that you were able to meet and talk to his family! Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John4022 Posted July 27, 2021 Author Share #9 Posted July 27, 2021 1 hour ago, Len S said: Great swords! I believe the sword with the ball shaped knot is for a Japanese official involved in the civil administration of Taiwan. Thank you Len! It is indeed a Formosa Civil Official sword. There were three separate grades of officials and this is the middle level "Sonin" grade. I decided I'm going to pass it on since I only collect combat related memorabilia and I think someone else will appreciate it more. It really is a beautiful sword and I think I'll probably regret selling it. Our great moderator aznation was kind enough to help gather some information about Virgil. He was indeed in Japan for occupational duty so this explains how he came across the Formosa sword. Chances are he probably souvenired the type 98 there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John4022 Posted July 27, 2021 Author Share #10 Posted July 27, 2021 The final display! Hopefully someday I can add a Japanese Army helmet once I recoup some funds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted July 27, 2021 Share #11 Posted July 27, 2021 Very nice display. I've found that the standard Japanese WW2 helmets are not easy to come by. I wanted one because my dad was in the Pacific and I looked a long while before I found one. He brought back 2 nice swords but sold them when I was off to college. Win some lose some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John4022 Posted July 27, 2021 Author Share #12 Posted July 27, 2021 21 minutes ago, sundance said: Very nice display. I've found that the standard Japanese WW2 helmets are not easy to come by. I wanted one because my dad was in the Pacific and I looked a long while before I found one. He brought back 2 nice swords but sold them when I was off to college. Win some lose some. Thank you! I've been looking for a helmet for about 3 years, along with a officers sword. For some reason I didn't want to buy one from a dealer or off eBay so luckily I found this one. Hopefully luck will strike us both soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieony Posted July 30, 2021 Share #13 Posted July 30, 2021 Very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corporal Kang 0311 Posted August 16, 2021 Share #14 Posted August 16, 2021 Have you displayed the uniforms/ shirts? Thanks for sharing the items Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John4022 Posted August 16, 2021 Author Share #15 Posted August 16, 2021 10 minutes ago, Corporal Kang 0311 said: Have you displayed the uniforms/ shirts? Thanks for sharing the items Both shirts I got were trashed so I took the worse one that had paint and rips and removed the patch. That patch is in the small riker. The other shirt and blanket I have are in a box. Even the blanket has pretty large holes. I have no clue how to display them so I figured Id just box them up and keep them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcroixblades Posted October 28, 2021 Share #16 Posted October 28, 2021 Don't try to take apart the dress sword. There is no point--it won't be signed. It has a plated arsenal blade. Trying to take it apart will only damage it. By the way, the dress sword is a Japanese Colonial dress sword--for the Japanese territory (at the time anyway) Taiwan to be exact. There were also dress swords for the Japanese colonies of Korea, South Seas (Nan'yo), etc. --Matt www.StCroixBlades.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John4022 Posted October 28, 2021 Author Share #17 Posted October 28, 2021 1 hour ago, stcroixblades said: Don't try to take apart the dress sword. There is no point--it won't be signed. It has a plated arsenal blade. Trying to take it apart will only damage it. By the way, the dress sword is a Japanese Colonial dress sword--for the Japanese territory (at the time anyway) Taiwan to be exact. There were also dress swords for the Japanese colonies of Korea, South Seas (Nan'yo), etc. --Matt www.StCroixBlades.com Thank you for your comment. The Formosa sword actually made its way back to Taiwan! A collector there saw it and had to have it. I felt bad splitting the two swords apart but I thought it was neat for it to make its way back Taiwan. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcroixblades Posted October 28, 2021 Share #18 Posted October 28, 2021 No problem. Did you sell the other sword as well? —Matt www.StCroixBlades.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John4022 Posted October 28, 2021 Author Share #19 Posted October 28, 2021 Just now, stcroixblades said: No problem. Did you sell the other sword as well? —Matt www.StCroixBlades.com No, I don't think I could bring myself to sell that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stcroixblades Posted October 28, 2021 Share #20 Posted October 28, 2021 Ok. Well, you could always send me photos and listen to an offer.? —Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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