I am currently researching the U.178 & Korvettenkapitan Wilhelm Spahr.
Last voyage was from Penang to Bordeaux,May 25th,1944.
Any information of the U.Boats in Penang and their relationship to Japanese Submarines would be most appreciated.
Please email me...........
The Imperial Naval Kai Gunto is part and parcel of this investigation. So far I have some pictures,letters and period details but would enjoy some assistance.
You will note that both the Japanese & Buddhist symbol for 10.000 and the German sign Swastika are on this stand, the symbols are of silver while the characters are some form of alloy.
TThe original traveling letters from the seller to me are included, to late to ask now but exactly what sort of boffin the man was we will never know.
U 178,Vice Admiral Ichioka & KorvettenKapitan Wilhelm Spahr. Penang,1943. Now for sale again due to non payment.
This file containsDetails on the following............
Kai Gunto swords of the IJN
Photographs of the U178 in Penang
Letters from Mrs Angela Bassett
Photographs of Admiral Ichioka & Wilhelm Spahr
Files of information on the Uboats in the far east
Files on the Uboat and Japanese Submarines in Bordeaux.
Months of work................
All for £2300
300
view this wonderfull Tanto covered in silver swatika, continue to foot of this page.
I have been asked by an elderly friend to offer this rather splendid Aikuchi/Tanto for sale. He has owned it for many years but has now reached a grand old age and needs to "Cash it in" as we all do at some period.
The blade is in remarkable condition with just some tiny old rust indents which will easily polish out in my opinion, there are, as one would expect , a few minor dents and scratchs to the lacquer which I have tried to show.
Note: The Mon, Heraldic symbol, is solid siver.....see the above Germanic swastika which is similar.
Note: Silver foil wrapped Habaki.
Although the Hamon seems to point toward the Shinto period, look at the Nakago(Tang).
As I suggested above, the Nakago has the apearence of some considerable age do you thik?.
A stunning silver mounted Edo period Aikuchi,{Japanese dagger} with swastika Mon. The Aikuchi mounts are intricately silver wrapped over copper,however the Kashira,Kodzuka, Mekugi and Mon are solid silver.
The unusual scabbard {Saya} shape (The end is in the shape of a court cap) is silver while the lacquer is of a red/brown textured lacquer.
There is old damaged section due to age and wear,however the saya{Scabbard} is solid. The Kodzuka blade {Ko Katana} a later addition and may well be Showa in origin.
The Hira Zukuri blade is 9 1/2" from Kissaki to Machi. width at Mune Machi 28mm and Sori 3.5mm.
I have placed this item on this page as the owner thinks it was brought back from post war germany by a relative, sadly proof of this is only in verbal terms.
He has no idea of current value but was valued at a major London auction house in the early 1990's at £2000. Offers at or very near this please and on a first come basis.
The Mon shown on the Aikuchi is one of the many "Manji" {10,000 symbol } used by Daimyo families. among these ar the Takayama, Tanami, Masakatsu, Hori, Matsudaira.
It seems to appear in a number of variant positions,eg, those shown in this book illustration but in Hawley the position is reversed.
SOLD
