| Place | Oceania: Pacific Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, New Britain |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL29723.001 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Edged weapon or club |
| Place made | Japan |
| Date made | c 1944-1945 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Japanese Knife : Sergeant K T Bilney, 14/32 Battalion
Description
Japanese knife having a plain wooden handle attached to tang with a wooden peg. There are three asterisks in black ink on the obverse. The blade is of a Tanto shape with a single edge and a steel habaki. The tang is short and unsigned. There appears to be no temperline on the blade although the blade may have been hand forged.
History / Summary
This knife was acquired by VX138232 Sergeant K T Bilney of 14/32 Battalion, on 17 March 1945, on Bacon Hill in the Mount Sugi/Waitavalo area of New Britain. A Japanese soldier had used the knife to kill himself.