"Suddenly there is what sounded like a thousand people screaming all at once, as a hoard of “mad men” broke out of the darkness before us. Screams of “Banzai” fill the air, Japanese officers leading the “devils from hell,” their swords drawn and swishing in circles over their heads. Jap soldiers were following their leaders, firing their weapons at us and screaming “Banzai” as they charged toward us.

Our weapons opened up, our mortars and machine guns fired continually. No longer do they fire in bursts of three or five. Belt after belt of ammunition goes through that gun, the gunner swinging the barrel left and right.

 Even though Jap bodies build up in front of us, they still charged us, running over their comrades’ fallen bodies. The mortar tubes became so hot from the rapid fire as did the machine gun barrels, that they could no longer be used."

- Marine on Saipan

   I picked this sword up from a dealer whose specialty is Nihonto or Japanese swords.   These guys are into the conditions and the craftsmen who made the blades and not  much the combat history. 

  This sword was picked up after a banzai charge on Saipan and has  shrapnel or bullet damage thru the cutting area of the blade and scabbard.  It is a old blade with three holes in the tang as it was fitted to different handles thru its life.  It's a great piece of history and participated in combat throughout the ages.