£850
A WWII Japanese Type 98 Japanese Officer's Shin-Gunto sword, polished single-edged blade of typical form. The tang with character signature. Gilt brass habaki and tsuba. Rayskin grip with floral gilt menuki wrapped in a cord binding. Contained in its brown painted steel scabbard (saya) with darkened brass mounts. Some wear throughout. Provenance. Lt. Robert Michael John (1924-1980) of the 9th Foot Regiment (under Col. Hislop) was the most senior officer when the Japanese regiment surrendered and this sword was given to him. The sword was one of two and thought to be either from Colonel Yano or Colonel Tsukamoto, brought back to the UK in 1947 when he was de-mobbed. When the war was over, the serviceman was part of "Operation Nip Off", ousting and repatriating Japanese soldiers from South Asia.
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