WW2 JAPANESE NAVAL SURRENDER SWORD WITH AUSTRALIAN PROVENANCE.
The Sword Description
This WW2 Japanese Naval sword comes in a black lacquered scabbard with the rare End Chape with a Drag, the numbers on the drag are patent numbers, it also has the tie down string that was added security against the sword falling out of the scabbard and is also rarely seen. The blade is maker marked on the Tang to KANESHIGE a WW2 Sword-smith who started making swords on the 08 Oct 1939, the blade also has the steel type registration stamp and Seki stamp. The blade has a good edge with no nick sand prominent temper line, it does show some staining but no corrosion.
The Sword Provenance
The sword was acquired from the family of the Officer it was surrendered to who served with the Australian 56 Battalion from 1942-44 then with the 37/52 Battalion until disbandment in 1946. He served in Papua New Guinea (Huon Peninsula and New Britain including Rabaul), after the surrender of Japan he was supervising Japanese prisoners in Rabaul which I presume is where he attained the sword. Full details will be available on request.
There is also a cloth tag with Japanese inscription which has been translated to read the following ' This sword belongs to Ensign ATSUSHI TATEMOTO of Navy Commanders KIYAMA Units, Sub Unit Commanded by SAKAMOTO which was probably a Navy assigned to shore duty at Rabaul 1945.