Japanese Army Officer's Shin-Gunto Sword and Scabbard : Brigadier J Field, 7 (Militia) Brigade, Australian Army

Japanese Shin-gunto Army officer's sword and scabbard. The hilt has the standard army style gilded brass Shin-gunto fittings with cherry blossom menuki (hilt ornament) on each side of the handle under the binding and a scabbard button catch on the collar. The pierced tsuba (guard) is rectangular in shape with cherry blossom motifs in the corners and has two spacer plates on each side. The kabuto-gane (pommel) with a blue/brown cord tassel, has snapped off, and is retained only by the cloth binding. The slightly curved, single edged blade has a wave pattern harmon temper line. A gilt copper habaki (collar) is attached to the blade. It has an olive green painted steel scabbard, with Shin-gunto mountings to match the hilt and a single strap hangar with a loose ring 70 mm from the throat. An engraved brass plaque soldered to the scabbard reads:
'SURRENDERED TO BRIG.
J. FIELD 7 AUST. INF. BDE.
BY COLONEL TOYADI MUDA
13 JAP. INF. REGT. BOUGAINVILLE
September 1945.'

This sword was surrendered to Brigadier John Field, 7th Australian Infantry Brigade by Colonel Muta Toyoji (named in the Official History as 'Toyoharu' and on the sword plaque as 'Toyadi'). Colonel Muta was the commander of the Japanese 13th Infantry Regiment at Bougainville in September 1945. Colonel Muta's 13th Infantry Regiment opposed Brigadier Field's 7 Infantry Brigade during the Bougainville campaign, notably at Slater's Knoll in March-April 1945.