RARE**SURRENDERED SINGAPORE**WW2 Japanese Officer’s Shin Gunto Sword Smith Signed ‘KOJIMA YOSHI MICHI’ With WD Retention Certificate To British RAF FL/ LT Hindell Photos of Japanese Officers Surrendering & 1945 Mess Menu & Expert Assessment. Sn 2378 Sword

**RARE**SURRENDERED SINGAPORE**WW2 Japanese Officer’s Shin Gunto Sword Smith Signed ‘KOJIMA YOSHI MICHI’ With WD Retention Certificate To British RAF FL/ LT Hindell Photos of Japanese Officers Surrendering & 1945 Mess Menu & Expert Assessment. Sn 23783:1 - 23783:1

This sword has been assessed by a UK based Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. His assessment accompanies this piece. In exerts from the assessment he states “A Shin Gunto Army Officer’s sword. This is a good quality showato blade which is signed by its maker, ‘KOJIMA YOSHI MICHI’ not a gendaito traditionally made sword, made using one of the other methods in use at this time. Possibly han tanren abura yaki ire to (partly forged oil hardened blade) undergone the yaki ire process which produces a nioi edged hamon or temper line. Smith's real name kojima yuki Yoshi. Not much info on this man see markus sesko book on smiths p/no 378 for info. In original old polish, some finger marks & scratches. Leather covered wood saya in good used condition. Tsuba cast brass, gunto pattern with brass habaki. Tsuka, good condition all binding & skin intact + iron knot loop + Lt to Capt rank blue brown tassel. Plus scarce army souvenir retention certificate, giving Flight Lieutenant Hindell (service number on cert 51095) permission to keep this Japanese sword signed by co/officer RAF station in Seletar (Singapore, in use 1928 to 1971). Plus has couple of small black & white photos of Japanese officers surrendering in Singapore 1945/1946 period. Hard to find swords from veterans families with original documents 80 yrs after end of war”. In his illustrations he describes the cutting edge length as 62.2 cm and the overall length as 86 cm. He also translates the Smith signature & describes other blade characteristics and measurements which can be read in the images. Also accompanying the sword are the original surrender retention certificate the photographs of Japanese Officers surrendering and Xmas 1945 Officer’s Mess RAF Seletar menu which was also found with this sword. The price for this rare piece with expert assessment worthy of further research regarding Fl LT Hindell’s war service includes UK delivery. Sn 23783:1

£1,895.00