Guns, Ammo, and Militaria Auction
Lot 2025:
American GI bring-back Japanese sword, with lacquered wood scabbard and leather combat cover. Blade measures 25.75”. Long point tip is sharp with some scuffs and darkening spots. Blade edge is clean and exhibits wear and some darkened spots, but no nicks. Temper line is a dip and a dot at its peak pattern. Overall sword length is 36.75”. The habaki (collar) is solid. Tsuba (guard) is bronze with four flowers on the corner of each side. There is a 6-character signature on one sides of the tang, and what looks to be the number 8 stamped near the tang base on the other side. The tang base is an uneven U shape. The tsuka (handle) is traditional wood covered in shark skin and wrapped. The bronze pommel hardware retains a good amount of its light brown finish and functional swivel. Two characters on it translate as “Shibata” (via google translate) The peg that secures the handle to the tang needs to be replaced. Affixed to the sword is a loop, brown and blue, with no tassel at end. The scabbard is traditional lacquered wood, and is in a leather combat scabbard cover that has laced enclosure to secure it. The leather is in poor to fair condition overall, with multiple scattered abrasions throughout and loss of material above the loop near the neck. The surface of the wooden scabbard has also suffered from the lack of protection the leather afforded. The scabbard measures: 27.5” long. Inside the opening is written in pencil “061” on either side. The leather strap that would secure the sword into the scabbard is missing as well as the area of the leather cover that it would affix to. Overall length of sword in scabbard is 37.25”.
T3 George Cyril Hanley was a Surgical Technician in the 41st Infantry (Sunset) Division, and was serving in the Pacific Theater of Operations when his unit was sent to Japan for occupation duty. For his service he earned a Asiatic-Pacific theater ribbon w/one bronze battle star, Philippine Liberation Ribbon Victory Medal, Good Conduct Ribbon, Army of Occupation Medal-Japan. Included with the sword is 1) an original 2.25”x3.25” photo print of T3 Hanley in uniform, in front of his ambulance. 2) A copy of his WG AGO Form 53 and 55 which details his service. 2) Copy of 3 page essay he wrote on the end of the war and occupation duty in Japan for a public speaking course in 1953. 3) Statement from consigner of where and how her father acquired the sword. This is a nice signed sword that should be a rewarding research project for its next caretaker. Please see photos.
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