Japanese Army Officer's Shin-gunto sword and scabbard

Japanese Army Officer's sword, scabbard and two sections of hanging straps. The hilt has single dragon menuki on one side of the handle under the binding. The tsuba (guard) is a pierced type with a sunray pattern and the kabuto-gane (pommel) is complete with the sarute (knot loop). A plain brown leather tassel is attached. The kabuto-gane has a small silver mon (family crest) featuring an oxalis flower. The black lacquered scabbard has a wood base, a leather battle guard and a single hanger ring 90mm from the throat. There are two sections of leather hanging straps attached to the hanger. The handle is secured to the tang with a piece of wire.

This sword was captured by Private W A Jeffery of 2/6 Independent Company during heavy hand-to-hand fighting in Papua New Guinea. Born in Brunswick, Melbourne in 1924, William Athey 'Bill' Jeffery enlisted in the Australian Army on 23 September 1942. Private Bill Jeffery served with 2/6 Independent Company in the South West Pacific and was attached to the Murchison Prisoner of War Group at the time of his discharged in October 1946.