Japanese Zero prop help

[blademan]

Greetings,

A friend of mine asked me if I wanted to buy his Wwii Japanese Zero Prop today. I'm very interested and wanted to bounce it off you all to get your thoughts. 

 

It seems this zero may have been left on the battlefield a while until someone harvested this prop as a momento.

 

It seems to be cut short at the bottom likely about a foot. 

 

It has what appears to be a bullet hole on one side and painted flags on the other side. Any idea on the meaning of the flags?

 

His price is pretty hefty and I am writing to see what it may be worth  and if it is in fact a a zero prop.

 

Thanks for your input in advance. 

[sundance]

The flags look like British Union Jacks. Any idea what is written on the yellow rectangle shown on your last pic?

[blademan]

36 minutes ago, sundance said:

The flags look like British Union Jacks. Any idea what is written on the yellow rectangle shown on your last pic?

The picture is bad but it is some type of label written in Japanese. 

[USCapturephotos]

Neat piece! I’ve seen one other bring back Japanese prop like this sell at a house estate auction maybe 5 years ago. The GI who shipped it home was an Air Corps mechanic so I assumed he was working on a captured Japanese airfield. I was the underbidder at 800 if that helps you with a possible value.

I was bummed I lost but hope that you’re successful with this.

Paul

[USCapturephotos]

By the way, I just noticed that it has the writing about where it came from…makes it so much better in my mind. Good luck!

Paul

[blademan]

Paul,

Thanks for your insight. Your input helps.

 

My friend also found his at an estate sale some 30 years ago. He wants considerably more.  I think he may have seen one of the big dealers online sell one for $4500 some years ago and got stars in his eyes. 

 

I also think the writing on the prop is interesting as are the painted on flags and bullet hole. 

 

I suspect the fact that a good chunk of the base is cut off would also negatively effect the value. 

 

Thank again

[AustinO]

Here is a quick shot of mine, which I purchased direct from a vet's estate sale.  Per his widow he brought it back from Wake Island in the early 1950s while flying transports in the Reserve. He had flown P-47's in the ETO during WWII. 

 

I think $4500 is a nutty price for a cut down propeller blade.  

 

[atb]

The flags look like Japanese rising sun flags with the offset "meat ball" and rays, not the Union Jack.

[blademan]

1 hour ago, AustinO said:

Here is a quick shot of mine, which I purchased direct from a vet's estate sale.  Per his widow he brought it back from Wake Island in the early 1950s while flying transports in the Reserve. He had flown P-47's in the ETO during WWII. 

 

I think $4500 is a nutty price for a cut down propeller blade.  

 

AutinO,

Thanks for the pic of your prop blade and input. 

 

II agree $4500 is nuts!

 

What value would you put on these props? 

 

I was thinking value somewhere in the $1500 range but it is a total wild a__ guess. The seller wants $3200 but is open to "reasonable" offers. I doubt we are even in the same ball park. 

[manayunkman]

Very cool good luck.

[AustinO]

There was someone with a minty zero prop blade at the SoS a few years ago for around 2,000. I'm pretty sure they went home with it.  It had original paint and a nice label on it. 

I wouldn't sell the one I have, but if I needed to - I'd be happy to get 1,500. 

[blademan]

2 hours ago, AustinO said:

There was someone with a minty zero prop blade at the SoS a few years ago for around 2,000. I'm pretty sure they went home with it.  It had original paint and a nice label on it. 

I wouldn't sell the one I have, but if I needed to - I'd be happy to get 1,500. 

Great info AustinO!  Thank you!

[RayRay]

This is where your friend probably got his numbers from. 

[blademan]

3 hours ago, RayRay said:

This is where your friend probably got his numbers from. 

 

3 hours ago, RayRay said:

This is where your friend probably got his numbers from. 

I think your right! Hard to explain to him that number doesn't necessarily reflect the market. Thanks

[RayRay]

Ima has cool stuff but they are 10-20% higher than retail but I’ve had to return a lot of items original and repro back to them due to quality issues. 

[AustinO]

Only 10 to 20%?  I would say closer to 50% more than retail. They specialize in high end items and groupings and can afford to sit on inventory until it sells at higher than retail prices. 

 

That may in fact be the same prop blade I saw at SoS years ago. 

[RayRay]

I would say 75% of my purchases I returned due to quality, paying for hand selected and getting torn up gear, and even gear with mildew. 

[blademan]

I would agree, IMA is often 50% over market on high end stuff. I have purchased a number of repro items and parts from them with no problem. The problem is sellers often look at their sales, and other "high end dealers" as a sign of the market value to the detriment of both buyers and sellers. 

[blademan]

I got a call from my friend and ended up buying this prop for a little over $800. Thanks everyone for your help. I'm pretty happy with the purchase. I know he didn't pay much for it.  I think he was happy.  This will work well with my school displays 

[easterneagle87]

Could the prop have been in an Ops Shops and the flags note "kills" made by the squadron? Like AK's hanging on the wall as trophies? 

[blademan]

7 hours ago, easterneagle87 said:

Could the prop have been in an Ops Shops and the flags note "kills" made by the squadron? Like AK's hanging on the wall as trophies? 

 Thanks for the response. 

 

I was told it was salvaged shortly after the war. The prop shows signs if sitting the elements long enough for one side to be pretty faded and one side of the tip to become corroded. 

 

I think you may be correct about it being in an ops room with recorded squadron kills. 

 

Being found in Luzon, I suspect it had been on the ground from earlier in the war due to the early brown paint. They were bright latter in the war as I understand. Someone with more knowledge may be able to provide better conjecture. 

 

Thanks again