While waiting people posting Lugers.... snack is a Showato
 

Showato, i.e. Showa era sword, refers to any sword made during the Showa era, 1926 to 1989. "Showato" is used by collectors to also refer to non-traditionally made swords of the Showa Era. It also implies a lower grade of blade not usually of interest to Nihonto collectors.

But Showato of IJA could be interesting to war relic collectors. Show-off here is such a thing. Enjoy.

(1/2) The sword

(2/2) Scabbard.

Finally, seems there is nothing that GI did not want..... (probably except documents)

If he only knew he was sitting on a pile of gold 65 years later

Here is one in the context of the Solomon Island campaign. My father took this photo. Pocket camers were not then what they are today.

Outstanding, I like the pacific theatre too :)

Ed,
and others interested in the Pacific theater,have you read Flyboys by James Bradley ?

http://www.amazon.com/Flyboys-Story-.../dp/0316159433

Dave

Any idea on value of these WW2 era imperial swords?

Varies big time from a few hundreds to a few thousand, depends on condition (like guns), era, and the maker (handmade, semi-handmade, arsenal made, etc). Ordinary Type 98 Officer Shin-gunto in decent shape can be found around $1200-$2000. Type 95 NCO Shin-gunto is usually a few hundred.

Since this thing is relatively simple, there are tons of "Japanese Swords" made by Chinese on the market, usually priced at less than $100. When Americans boost an item (a gun, a sword, etc), the common practice is refurbishing a worn item to make it look newer. Chinese practice is opposite, a newly made item is soaked in acid, soil etc to create rust, patina so it look older :) It does not take long to recognize those. But quality of fake stuffs is also improving.

Yet another one. Enjoy

OOPS!! Did I say WW2 era Imperial swords!! I bet some got a good laugh out of that one. For sure I ment WW1 era Imperial swords. I have a nice 1915 german mounted artillery sword.
Sorry, Bill

Imperial did not have to be Germany related :) Imperial Germany started late. Too late, probably that's the reason this world experienced two world wars -- new power chanlleging old ones. After maybe another 500 years, that will be the way historians looking at this, and how many people getting killed, how much damage was done will become less important detail.

Movie Gladiator starting scene was Roman Legion conquering "Germania", not sure that's Germany or not. But Imperial Germany, or 2nd Reich was as late as 1871, almost 100 years younger even than the U.S.

When we were living in the San Franscisco Bay Area, about 10 or 15 years ago, there was a group from Japan looking to recover swords captured during WWII. I understand that they were paying a pretty hefty price on some that were recovered.

Pistols and swords did not contribute much to war, but attracts people's attention because they were icon weapons.

What is the white pebbly stuff on the handles of the swords? I looked at a short Japanese sword once and guessed it was fake because that material was cracking and looked cheap. Now I know beter.

Jack

It is ray (fish) skin. Kind of like shark skin, thin but tough.