Japanese Bolo, with capture paper

alvin · 04-25-2010, 06:16 PM

Unusual. Saw a few Bolos claimed being so, stories only, no paper. First time seeing one with paperwork.

Found in an arsenal in Japan. Dated Oct 24, 1945.

http://www.am-firearms.com/viewer.as...m10-650bap.jpg

Ron Smith · 04-25-2010, 06:53 PM

The document doesn't look right to me. Maybe I'm just being sceptical,
but it just doesn't appear to show ageing, outside of the folds.The paper and ink look too fresh. It also looks home made. There aren't any document or form numbers pre-printed on the form. I could be wrong, just an observation.

suum cuique · 04-25-2010, 07:57 PM

24 October 1945, why not : October 24, 1945 ?
24 October 1945 is the European way to write the date.

FNorm · 04-25-2010, 08:05 PM

25 April 2010. that's the way the military did it.

FN

alvin · 04-25-2010, 08:21 PM

First time seeing a paper like this.

The guy is still alive. Was the whole purpose to pump price a few hundred..... plain gun like this market price is $1k - $1.1k, plus this piece of paper asking $600- 700 more, including dealer's 30% profit?

-----

[Edit] Have you noticed its bottom half is duplicate of the top half?

MikeP · 04-30-2010, 02:13 PM

Paper looks kinda fresh.

Personally I could care less-it only shows the pistol was cleared at one time as a souvenier-so what?

I have a couple pics of vets holding items they brought back.
That interests me.

I'm getting a Nambu and sword later today from a 94 year old friend.
Getting pics of him.

That is a nice pistol you posted.

c3006 · 04-30-2010, 03:23 PM

I believe the paperwork may be correct. I have a set that looks very simular that I know is good.

alvin · 04-30-2010, 05:37 PM

Somehow, the Japanese oriented Broomhandle stories were all around Bolos. Maybe accidentally, maybe not.

James Brown's book "Imperial Japanese Handguns -- Studied Again" presented a rare long barrel prewar Bolo claimed being surrendered on famous battleship USS Missouri in 1945. I had an original salt blued postwar Bolo, the folklore said it was carried back by a U.S. Army Major served in occupied Japan, no paper though. This one is also a Bolo, claimed being captured from Japan as well. Historical period picture showing two IJN landing troopers fighting in Shanghai with Bolos in hands..... May all these inspired by that photo.... lots of myth.

Roadkill · 05-02-2010, 02:28 PM

The paper is interesting. USAFFE (United States Army Forces in the Far East) was in the Phillipines. The 132nd Infantry Regiment was detached on 14 January 1942. On 21 February 1942 the division was re-designated the 33rd Infantry Division. The division formed part of the occupation forces of the Japanese home islands and was inactivated there on 28 February 1946.
Wonder why its still listed the 132nd on the paper when it was re-designated the 33rd in 1942? There was no HHC 132nd when the paper was signed/dated.

The division served in the south Pacific, fighting in New Guinea and in the Philippines. In 1944/1945 the division contained:

123rd Infantry Regiment
130th Infantry Regiment
136th Infantry Regiment

HHB Division Artillery
122nd Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
123rd Field Artillery Battalion (155mm)
124th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)
210th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm)

33rd Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized
108th Engineer Combat Battalion
108th Medical Battalion
33rd Counter-Intelligence Corps Detachment
Headquarters Special Troops
Headquarters Company, 33rd Division
33rd Military Police Platoon
733rd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company
33rd Quartermaster Company
33rd Signal Company
33rd Band

alvin · 05-02-2010, 03:02 PM

132nd was pre-printed on paper, not filled in. As we have noticed, unlike guns captured in Germany, those guns captured in Japan seldomly came with paper. Assumption could be so few papers were issued, old blank paper was still available and one was used.

On my intuition, I felt this one most likely being right. First, the gun is healthy. No doubt about that. Second, the story is not colorful, fake story is supposed to be more complex. The paper itself does look too new for its age, could be a re-print.

The good thing about this one.... the soldier is still alive, story can be verified.

alvin · 05-04-2010, 07:53 PM

Sold. It's a good buy. If not because I have already gotten many Bolos, this could have come to me. Bolo grip size was right for Japanese. A popular C96 there, relatively.

04-25-2010, 06:16 PM	#1
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Japanese Bolo, with capture paper Unusual. Saw a few Bolos claimed being so, stories only, no paper. First time seeing one with paperwork. Found in an arsenal in Japan. Dated Oct 24, 1945. http://www.am-firearms.com/viewer.as...m10-650bap.jpg

04-25-2010, 06:53 PM	#2
Ron Smith User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 4,243 Thanks: 118 Thanked 245 Times in 150 Posts	The document doesn't look right to me. Maybe I'm just being sceptical, but it just doesn't appear to show ageing, outside of the folds.The paper and ink look too fresh. It also looks home made. There aren't any document or form numbers pre-printed on the form. I could be wrong, just an observation. __________________ I Still Need DWM side plate #49... if anyone runs across a nice one. What ~Rudyard Kipling~ said...

04-25-2010, 07:57 PM	#3
suum cuique User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: MD / Currently about 9000 klicks east of the Potomac Posts: 497 Thanks: 108 Thanked 47 Times in 35 Posts	Hm 24 October 1945, why not : October 24, 1945 ? 24 October 1945 is the European way to write the date. __________________ Regards, Andy There's No Place Like Home (Wizard Of Oz)

04-30-2010, 03:23 PM	#7
c3006 User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: east tn Posts: 526 Thanks: 5 Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts	I believe the paperwork may be correct. I have a set that looks very simular that I know is good. __________________ Men Accustomed unto thier arms and their liberties will never endure the yoke. James Harrington 1776

04-25-2010, 08:05 PM	#4
FNorm Patron LugerForum Patron Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Colorado Posts: 978 Thanks: 68 Thanked 127 Times in 108 Posts	25 April 2010. that's the way the military did it. FN

04-25-2010, 08:21 PM	#5
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	First time seeing a paper like this. The guy is still alive. Was the whole purpose to pump price a few hundred..... plain gun like this market price is $1k - $1.1k, plus this piece of paper asking $600- 700 more, including dealer's 30% profit? ----- [Edit] Have you noticed its bottom half is duplicate of the top half?

04-30-2010, 02:13 PM	#6
MikeP User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: ILL Posts: 686 Thanks: 36 Thanked 452 Times in 198 Posts	Paper looks kinda fresh. Personally I could care less-it only shows the pistol was cleared at one time as a souvenier-so what? I have a couple pics of vets holding items they brought back. That interests me. I'm getting a Nambu and sword later today from a 94 year old friend. Getting pics of him. That is a nice pistol you posted.

04-30-2010, 05:37 PM	#8
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Somehow, the Japanese oriented Broomhandle stories were all around Bolos. Maybe accidentally, maybe not. James Brown's book "Imperial Japanese Handguns -- Studied Again" presented a rare long barrel prewar Bolo claimed being surrendered on famous battleship USS Missouri in 1945. I had an original salt blued postwar Bolo, the folklore said it was carried back by a U.S. Army Major served in occupied Japan, no paper though. This one is also a Bolo, claimed being captured from Japan as well. Historical period picture showing two IJN landing troopers fighting in Shanghai with Bolos in hands..... May all these inspired by that photo.... lots of myth.

05-02-2010, 02:28 PM	#9
Roadkill User Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,634 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 17 Posts	The paper is interesting. USAFFE (United States Army Forces in the Far East) was in the Phillipines. The 132nd Infantry Regiment was detached on 14 January 1942. On 21 February 1942 the division was re-designated the 33rd Infantry Division. The division formed part of the occupation forces of the Japanese home islands and was inactivated there on 28 February 1946. Wonder why its still listed the 132nd on the paper when it was re-designated the 33rd in 1942? There was no HHC 132nd when the paper was signed/dated. The division served in the south Pacific, fighting in New Guinea and in the Philippines. In 1944/1945 the division contained: 123rd Infantry Regiment 130th Infantry Regiment 136th Infantry Regiment HHB Division Artillery 122nd Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 123rd Field Artillery Battalion (155mm) 124th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 210th Field Artillery Battalion (105mm) 33rd Reconnaissance Troop, Mechanized 108th Engineer Combat Battalion 108th Medical Battalion 33rd Counter-Intelligence Corps Detachment Headquarters Special Troops Headquarters Company, 33rd Division 33rd Military Police Platoon 733rd Ordnance Light Maintenance Company 33rd Quartermaster Company 33rd Signal Company 33rd Band

05-02-2010, 03:02 PM	#10
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	132nd was pre-printed on paper, not filled in. As we have noticed, unlike guns captured in Germany, those guns captured in Japan seldomly came with paper. Assumption could be so few papers were issued, old blank paper was still available and one was used. On my intuition, I felt this one most likely being right. First, the gun is healthy. No doubt about that. Second, the story is not colorful, fake story is supposed to be more complex. The paper itself does look too new for its age, could be a re-print. The good thing about this one.... the soldier is still alive, story can be verified.

05-04-2010, 07:53 PM	#11
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Sold. It's a good buy. If not because I have already gotten many Bolos, this could have come to me. Bolo grip size was right for Japanese. A popular C96 there, relatively.