From Iwo Jima, Feb. 1945, Showato or earlier?

[lambo35]

This sword was captured by CPL. Jack First, USMC, 2/28/5/E company. Jack passed away in Oct. of 2017. He said the sword came from a Japanese NCO. The Tsuba received a AP round from Jack's Garand which pierced the Nakago. Part of the copper jacket and lead outer core are still inbedded in the perimiter of the bullet hole, the hard steel core having passed through. I would like to X-ray the Tsuka to see if any remenants of the bullet still remain in the Tsuka. Any information on the smith who made the blade and about when in was produced would be greatly appreciated by tha familly.

[Shamsy]

Owww. Not my field, but looks old... This should be interesting.

[Ray Singer]

Can you show a clear photo of the mei?

 

Looks like 長州豊浦住二王清盈作之

Chōshū Toyoura ju Niō Kiyomitsu kore o tsukuru

 

https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KIY276

[ChrisW]

That's a heck of a story! Poor blade, but at least it has a story that still is known.

[Bruce Pennington]

Ray is amazing!

 

Do you know the year or battle he captured it? NCOs were permitted to carry privately owned swords, officially, late in the war. Though we know from pictures that some carried them earlier, too.

 

Here’s a screenshot of the smith and year timeframe from Ray’s link:

[lambo35]

Ray, Many thanx!  What an interesting history this blade must have. A quest has begun!

 

Bruce, He landed on Iwo Jima with the second wave on 2/19/1945. Jack was an Armorer in E company, 2nd Batallion, 28 Regiment, of the 5th Marine Division. They landed at the Southern most end of the island, a few hundred yards North of Mt. Surabachi. He was among the Marines that raised the flags three days later. He accidentally left his personal Colt first generation .45 single action in a fox hole on the slopes of Suribachi the night prior to reaching the crest. The Colt was not in the fox hole the next day when they again went up to the top, Jack thought it might still be there under the sand or that it got picked up by a Japanese soldier who was one of several in a gun pit several yards away from their previous night's fox hole [Not noticed during the night, but the reason they rapidly left the next morning].

 

I did not ask him where on the Island he was when he got the sword. He fought across the neck of Iwo on the first day, three +/- days on Suribachi then the next thirty+ days up the west side of the Island. He was one of only 16 members of his original Regiment who was able to walk off the Island when they were relieved in late March. He was an interesting person to talk with.

 

Chuck.

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Chuck! That fits nicely with the order permitting NCOs to carry privately owned swords.

[paul griff]

Hello,

Great bit of history..thanks for posting..

Regards,

Paul..