WW2 Japanese Katana, Veteran Bring-Back Sword from the South Pacific

For today's posting, I'll be posting a follow-up photo album of my Japanese Katana sword that dates back to WW2.  Before we get on with the new photos and some updates on the history, here is a link over to the original blog page giving the back story on this unique Katana:

sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2010/07/ww2-japanese-katana-sword.html

After consulting with several experts on the old Japanese swords, it seems that this particular Katana is most likely a military sword from before WW2.  The only way to tell for sure would be to disassemble the sword by tapping out the two pegs on the grip and pulling things apart.  But to do this, I would have to first unwrap the string wrapping on the grip, which would completely destroy the original "patina" of the grip!  So for now, it will stay as found and I will just enjoy the story behind it and the great patina that it has acquired through the years.

It does appear that the sword is most likely a NCO grade sword (Non-Commissioned Officer).  The leather wrapping over the scabbard denotes that it was set up for field combat use.  The two hanger loops are usually found on the older, pre-WW2 swords.  After the war begins, we see single hangers on the scabbards.

With all of that said, here is a complete album of photos........... if anyone has any insight or or information on this type of sword, I would love to hear from you!

At the end of WW2, the US GI's captured truck loads of the swords.......... literally!  These were the number one war souvenirs sought out by the returning US soldiers.

Swiss Alpenflage Backpack, 1971

On Saturday, Sweet Pea and I took a quick trip out on the town.......... we stopped at the local Goodwill Store to see what kind of treasures we could scare up.  After a quick cruise through the store, I left with an unexpected item............ a vintage Swiss Alpenflage backpack!

The backpack is in new and unissued condition and is dated 1971.  I have seen these backpacks for sale on the surplus market for some time now and it appears that they are the packs that came with the M70 Alpenflage BDU set-ups.  The only difference that I can see is that the end of one strap has had a D-ring type adjuster sewn on so that both straps can be clipped to the upper snap clips to make two shoulder straps.  The stitching on the D-ring matches the rest of the stitching in the pack, both in size and color.  This makes me think that the Swiss Army may have had these packs converted from excess stock.......... or maybe they are a civilian conversion so they can be sold on the surplus market as a functional unit.  Either way, it was a great find........... especially at the $2.99 !!!!!!

Here's a link to my blog page on the original M70 Alpenflage BDU's:
 
sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2011/07/m-70-swiss-alpenflage-jacket-backpacks.html

Here's the pack:

Chinese Aircraft Carrier Shi Lang Spotted!

Here is an interesting bit of current news that touches on all kinds of topics and issues................

The company DigitalGlobe, a civilian spy satellite company, spotted the proverbial "needle in a haystack", when they chanced to photograph the new Chinese Navy aircraft carrier Shi Lang on it's second sea trial cruise through the Yellow Sea. 

It is amazing that such a clear photograph could have been taken in the first place, but even more amazing that a human analyst detected the ship in a cloud covered surveillance shot.

The Shi Lang was originally an unfinished ship owned by the Soviet Union.  After the Soviet Union breakup, it fell into the hands of the Ukrainian Government.  In 1998, it was auctioned off to the Chinese Government.  The Chinese Government then built it into it's first aircraft carrier.................. to be used for "research and training".  I am sure we will hear more about this new ship in the years to come.

Here is a link to the website for the company DigitalGlobe, that brought this great story to the world:

http://www.digitalglobe.com/


Here is a link to the CNBC story about this sighting:

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/14/9447273-satellite-spots-chinas-first-aircraft-carrier-at-sea

Bundesgrenzschutz Truppenfahrrad / Dienstfahrrad, BGS Bicycle Revisited

It has been quite some time since my restored Bundesgrenzschutz Truppenfahrrad has appeared on this blog.  I refer to it often, but to many, it may still be a mystery........... so, here is a quick, mid-week refresher!

I won't repeat all of the history and story on the bike, but I will give you a few links to some of my past blog entries that featured it:

http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2010/03/bgs-biycle-number-helmet.html

http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2010/03/bgs-bike-is-one-step-closer-to-done.html

http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2010/03/ammo-can-for-bgs-bike.html

http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2010/02/bundesgrenzschutz-bikemore-info.html

http://sharky-fourbees.blogspot.com/2010/02/1948-bundeswehr-german-army-bike.html

The bicycle restoration was based on one of the only known photographs of a Bundesgrenzschutz bicycle in actual use.  I have been searching for several years now, and I have only found this one photo from the 1960's,  and a second photos that may be a BGS bicycle in use in the 1950's. 

Many expert collectors and even most of the old BGS veterans that I have contacted, did not know that BGS bicycles ever existed!  The bicycles were assigned to each unit for use around the base.  They were maintained by the units armorer.  My bicycle caries the number plate of one of the BGS training academies.

During my search for the original documentation and proof that these bicycles existed, I came across a collector in Florida that had an original Bundeswehr Army bicycle that had been used on a German training base in Canada (in the photos above).  The bicycle was original German issue from 1960.  The bicycle was a newer version of the bicycle that I have........... the most interesting thing was that the rear rack was identical to mine and the original saddle on my bike is dated 1960!  The saddle and rear rack on my bicycle both appear to have been added about 1960 to my bicycle.  Here are a couple of photos.  The original saddle (with restored leather) is in the first photo and is pictured on top of the new saddle that I have installed on the bike at this time:

With all of that said, here are the photos......... enjoy the album!