Japanese Army Officer's Shin-gunto Sword and Scabbard with wooden surrender block

Japanese Shin-gunto Officer's Sword and scabbard, accompanied by an attached surrender block with black Japanese characters. 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. The tsuba (guard) is rectangular in shape with cherry blossom motifs in the corners and has two spacer plates. The kabuto-gane (pommel) is complete with a sarute (loop) to which the surrender block is tied with cotton cord. The characters on the surrender block translate as, 'YUKIO MARUYAMA, KUROSAWA UNIT OF THE MATSUURA UNIT'. The steel scabbard is protected by a worn, heavy leather, battle guard that is laced at the throat.

Associated with the service of NX52885 Lieutenant A C Harris, 2/3 Anti Tank Regiment, AIF. It is understood that Lieutenant Harris acquired the sword, while engaged in duties with Nantura Force, at the end of the Second World War. Primarily made up of men from 2/3 Anti tank Regiment, Nantura Force was responsible for carrying out the surrender arrangements of the Japanese forces on the Nantura Islands, located off British North Bornea. Born in Orange, NSW on 19 December 1926, Allen Charles Harris enlisted in the AIF on 8 July 1940. Harris served with the 9th Division's 2/3rd Anti Tank Regiment and saw action in the Middle East and the South West Pacific Area. Lieutenant Harris was discharged in February 1946.