Japanese WWII sword and prayer flag

DRESDEN24 · 10-30-2011, 06:24 PM

Hi everyone, this is my first post. Glad to have found you all.
After a year of negotiating a price, I was able to purchase this sword and prayer flag yestarday from a guy I work with. His uncle brought it back from the Pacific, though he doesn't know exactly where. It had been in his family since the end of the war. I don't mind telling what I paid...I will never sell it, so it's worth the amount to me no matter what it's actually worth. I paid $600 U.S. dollars total for both items. Anyone who can help with the date and signature information on the tang please help. Anyone who can estimate the value, feel free to let me know how I did. Thanks so much.
I dusted the writing in some of the photos with flour so the writing would show up better.

The prayer flag has already been translated, as shown in one of the attached photos. It is made of silk and is about 36" X 27" and still has the leather corners attached.

**Teutonicknights** · 10-30-2011, 07:19 PM

Welcome to the forum, thanks for sharing!!

**Little Mermaid** · 10-30-2011, 07:22 PM

Beautiful sword!

- and welcome!!

**Alan M** · 10-30-2011, 09:37 PM

Hi Rob and welcome to the forum , Firstly , the sword is dated the twelfth month of Showa 19 which translates to December 1944 , not sure of the sig at this time , the flag is a beauty , i really like it

. Pricewise , i think you`ve done ok as the flag is gonna be $140 -$200 so that leaves $400 for the sword of which the fittings are not in the greatest condition so the value is in the blade , i`m glad to hear you are going to keep hold of these items , they deserve a good home .

**BOB COLEMAN** · 10-31-2011, 04:44 AM

The signature reads "Naosuke." From your pictures, the blade appears to be a typical factory made blade. It is interesting to see a blade dated this late in the war mounted with the shingunto form of handle and tsuba and not the Imperial Japanese Army 1944 pattern mounting.

DRESDEN24 · 10-31-2011, 11:24 AM

I don't know a lot about these swords, from what I've read online , didn't the factory swords all have serial numbers on the blade and fittings? I'm new, so I'm not doubting what you posted, I'm asking.

**BOB COLEMAN** · 10-31-2011, 02:50 PM

Serial numbers are only found on the NCO swords. Officer swords never have serial numbers on the blade. Assembly numbers can at times be found on the sword fittings for both factory and traditional hand made blades, both antique and modern.