Knuckle Knife Hanger & Belt made From a Chinese Dagger

[Kanemono]

This Knuckle knife is made from the hilt of a Japanese army dress saber with the blade, scabbard and hanger from a Chinese dagger. The pommel has the name R.A. Tully and the date 1945 for his service in China. Tully fought with the U.S. Naval Group China (S.A.C.O.) in the Yangtze Naval Unit which attacked Japanese river and rail traffic and ultimately severed Japanese supply lines in central China. I believe the EGA on the pommel was added for a reunion of S.A.C.O. members since it dates from the mid 1950's. The U.S. Naval Group China, S.A.C.O. had reunions from 1955 to 2015. The Chinese belt was with the group. The dealer I bought the group from said it came from a Good Will Store.

Richard Arthur Tully was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on May 7, 1918. Tully worked as a grocery clerk for the chain store grocery First National Stores. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on July 7^th 1938 in New York, New York. Tully served as the orderly to the Commandant of the Marine Corps in Washington D.C. from December 1939 to January 1941. He then served in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before being transferred to Company D, First Battalion, First Marines, First Marine Division in July 1942. Tully participated in the landing operations and capture of Guadalcanal Island, British Solomon Islands. He was involved in offensive operations against enemy forces from 7 August until 21 December, 1942. The First Marine Division received the Presidential Unit Citation. He then participated in landing operations against Japanese forces at Cape Gloucester, New Britain where he participated in the capture of the Japanese airdromes. Tully was engaged in offensive and defensive operations against enemy forces from 29 December 1943 to April 23 1944. In March 1945 Tully joined the U.S. Naval Group China (S.A.C.O.) and he served in Calcutta, Hankow, Shanghai and with the Yangtze Naval Unit. The Yangtze Naval Unit attacked river and rail traffic and ultimately severed Japanese supply lines in central China. Platoon Sergeant Richard A. Tully was discharged from the United States Marine Corps on December 29^th 1945. At that time he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal A298643. Richard A. Tully died in Mandeville, Saint Tammany, Louisiana on March 7, 2007.

 

 

[Kanemono]

Photo of Richard A. Tully.