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

alvin · 01-17-2010, 02:59 PM

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

alvin · 01-17-2010, 03:08 PM

(2/2) Scabbard.

alvin · 01-17-2010, 03:17 PM

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

Curly1 · 01-17-2010, 05:55 PM

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

Heinz · 01-17-2010, 06:13 PM

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.

Edward Tinker · 01-17-2010, 08:15 PM

Outstanding, I like the pacific theatre too

nhdblfan · 01-17-2010, 08:22 PM

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

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

Dave

Jasta2 · 01-17-2010, 08:57 PM

Any idea on value of these WW2 era imperial swords?

alvin · 01-17-2010, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasta2

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.

alvin · 01-29-2010, 04:50 PM

Yet another one. Enjoy

Jasta2 · 01-29-2010, 08:28 PM

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

alvin · 01-29-2010, 09:01 PM

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.

newluger · 01-30-2010, 10:30 AM

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.

alvin · 02-26-2010, 07:56 AM

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

Jack Lawman · 02-26-2010, 08:51 AM

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

Ron Wood · 02-26-2010, 09:52 AM

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

01-17-2010, 02:59 PM	#1
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	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 Attached Thumbnails

01-17-2010, 03:08 PM	#2
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	(2/2) Scabbard. Attached Thumbnails

01-17-2010, 03:17 PM	#3
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Finally, seems there is nothing that GI did not want..... (probably except documents) Attached Images

01-17-2010, 05:55 PM	#4
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,229 Thanks: 111 Thanked 702 Times in 364 Posts	If he only knew he was sitting on a pile of gold 65 years later __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

01-17-2010, 06:13 PM	#5
Heinz User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Greenville SC Posts: 1,004 Thanks: 377 Thanked 410 Times in 180 Posts	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. Attached Thumbnails

01-17-2010, 08:15 PM	#6
Edward Tinker Super Moderator Eternal Lifer LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: North of Spokane, WA Posts: 15,911 Thanks: 1,987 Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts	Outstanding, I like the pacific theatre too __________________ Edward Tinker ************ Co-Author of Police Lugers - Co-Author of Simson Lugers Author of Veteran Bring Backs Vol I, Vol II, Vol III and Vol IV

01-17-2010, 08:22 PM	#7
nhdblfan User Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 17 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ed, and others interested in the Pacific theater,have you read Flyboys by James Bradley ? http://www.amazon.com/Flyboys-Story-.../dp/0316159433 Dave

01-17-2010, 08:57 PM	#8
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	Any idea on value of these WW2 era imperial swords?

01-29-2010, 04:50 PM	#10
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Yet another one. Enjoy Attached Thumbnails

01-29-2010, 08:28 PM	#11
Jasta2 User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Lakeland, Fl. Posts: 514 Thanks: 349 Thanked 101 Times in 52 Posts	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

01-29-2010, 09:01 PM	#12
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	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.

01-30-2010, 10:30 AM	#13
newluger User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Franklin Tennessee Posts: 119 Thanks: 22 Thanked 10 Times in 7 Posts	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.

02-26-2010, 07:56 AM	#14
alvin User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: US Posts: 3,843 Thanks: 132 Thanked 729 Times in 438 Posts	Pistols and swords did not contribute much to war, but attracts people's attention because they were icon weapons. Attached Thumbnails

02-26-2010, 08:51 AM	#15
Jack Lawman User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Near NYC Posts: 428 Thanks: 30 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	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 __________________ Why do you guys hate black circles so much?

02-26-2010, 09:52 AM	#16
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 6,988 Thanks: 1,067 Thanked 5,090 Times in 1,675 Posts	It is ray (fish) skin. Kind of like shark skin, thin but tough. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction