This is a real find, something you just never see! We have a Japanese WW2 Army Officers Shin Gunto Sword that is still in the original box it was sent back to the states in as a Captured War Trophy from the Pacific. The sword was carefully disassembled and a box was fabricated to send it to the wife of Army T/4 Earl Fryman, in St Louis MO. The capture papers were glued to the top of the box. and the sword was carefully and thoughtfully packed for the long trip back home. The sword it’s self is a pretty standard mid war production example. The sword was produced in March, 1943 at the Gunto Factory of Fukomoto Amahide and was signed by his son, Kanemune, a low to medium grade smith. The blade shows some slight age staining and has one small nick but it is in very fine condition. The mounts and the sword are all numbered to match and are in good condition as well. There is a hang tag in the box and it is possible that it is the factory tag for the sword, it certainly belongs with the sword as it was carefully packed with it but that is all we know.
The Japanese “Samurai Sword” was the most prized War Trophy of the Pacific Theater and they were avidly sought and cherished by every soldier from Douglas MacArthur down to the lowest private. To find one in this state is a real find and would make a tremendous display piece for any advanced Japanese Collector.
