Is this sword tag important or just an add on?

[1960katana]

I bought this navel sword about a year ago at a local antique store. It has an engraved tag glued to the saya. When I first saw it, I assumed it was just something that a former owner attached because he thought it sounded cool. I realize this is just wishful thinking on my part, but I wondered if it was more important than that. I was thinking that it could have been possible that this sword could have been a batch of swords that the US navy presented to dignitaries and higher ranking officers on the day of the signing of the surrender on the Missouri. The date is wrong and it was installed "upside-down" the way westerns would have mounted a sword. But I'm sure the navel officer in charge of this project could have screwed that up on his own. So my question; is it possible that the US Navy could have taken a batch (20? to 50?) surrendered Japanese swords and presented them to people present at the signing of the surrender on Sept 2nd, 1945? Has anyone heard of such a thing, or am I just wanting to believe it's true? 

 

Thanks,

Phil  

[Rivkin]

It feels more like a plaque commemorating the war rather than single specific event. Nice Americana but sword has to be judged separately

[PNSSHOGUN]

Difficult to confirm without knowing the history of who owned it originally. At the very least, further pictures of the mounts and blade would be helpful.

[robinalexander]

14 hours ago, 1960katana said:

So my question; is it possible that the US Navy could have taken a batch (20? to 50?) surrendered Japanese swords and presented them to people present at the signing of the surrender on Sept 2nd, 1945? Has anyone heard of such a thing, or am I just wanting to believe it's true?

Hi Phil, I am going to take a wild guess and say no.

[Bruce Pennington]

Your guess is as good as any of ours, as we're all guessing!  We've seen other ways guys etched or wrote directly onto the saya of their war trophies, along with attached labels.  I'd say, at least, this was done by the guy who received the kaigunto.  The spelling and style appear to be WWII legit.  

[John C]

Phil:

I have read of commanders presenting captured swords to their troops, however I think the other guys are correct. This seems to be someone celebrating their victory by pasting a victory note on the scabbard.

 

John C.

[1960katana]

Well like I said in my first post, I just assumed it was something that one of the first owners put on the saya to display the sword.  It wasn't until later that I thought there may have been something more to it.  If someone wants to see more photos of it I'll post them, but if you've ever seen a WWI Japanese naval sword with a brown tassel, that's what it looks like, nothing special except the tsuba, seppa AND THE FUCHI have all the same numbers stamped on them. I haven't seen stamped fuchis before. Thanks for looking and replying, I appreciate the help.

[Bruce Pennington]

If the nakago has any stamps, I'd love to see photos!

[Davis]

Back in the 80's I remember that a privately ran military museum closed and consigned it's entire contents to auction.  One of the lots was a sword with a brass plaque attached stating that it had been surrendered on the Missouri.  Whether this was authentic I don't know and I no longer have details of that auction.  Some senior officers did acquire batches of swords and distribute them.  Lord Mountbatten was one such.  Pre WW2 he had visited Japan with the then Prince of Wales and was known to have some knowledge of swords.  At wars end he acquired many hundreds of the best surrendered swords.  It seemed he enjoyed presenting them both officially and informally.  Many were fitted with good quality silver plaques screwed to the saya and inscribed with the recipients name.  Basil Robinson, then a British Army Officer, together with a Japanese Officer were assigned the task of grading some of these swords.

[1960katana]

3 hours ago, Davis said:

Back in the 80's I remember that a privately ran military museum closed and consigned it's entire contents to auction.  One of the lots was a sword with a brass plaque attached stating that it had been surrendered on the Missouri.  Whether this was authentic I don't know and I no longer have details of that auction.  Some senior officers did acquire batches of swords and distribute them.  Lord Mountbatten was one such.  Pre WW2 he had visited Japan with the then Prince of Wales and was known to have some knowledge of swords.  At wars end he acquired many hundreds of the best surrendered swords.  It seemed he enjoyed presenting them both officially and informally.  Many were fitted with good quality silver plaques screwed to the saya and inscribed with the recipients name.  Basil Robinson, then a British Army Officer, together with a Japanese Officer were assigned the task of grading some of these swords.

 

13 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

If the nakago has any stamps, I'd love to see photos!

No stamps on the nakago, but I'd like to hear your opinion on who signed it. My wife is Chinese, although she can't read Japanese, she can read the number of kanji strokes in the mei. I use my "kanji strokes" cheat sheet and between the two of us we came up with Masa Tsune. I found Amachi Masatsune in Slough's book on page 221. I'm not sure if it's correct, I'd appreciate it if someone could verify it for me.

[1960katana]

Sorry for the sideways nakago. I actually know better, just had a brain fart on this one.