eBay dispute sword analysis

[Maple Creek]

Here's what I understand about sword from our earlier discussion thread. I'd welcome corrections, additional information or opinions.

 

This was one of a pair of swords found by a friend in the home of a WWII vet. The vet was in the navy in the Pacific. My friend discovered the swords wrapped in cloth and stuffed into the rafters in the basement of the home. The swords were as-found relics, probably in exactly the same condition as when they were brought back to the States after the war. They had never been in a collection before.

 

If you followed the earlier discussion thread, you know that a potential buyer removed the leather combat wrap or tang on the handle in order to remove the handle and examine the markings on the upper part of the blade. The stitches, therefore, are not original. The stitching on the tang when I got it was not original either because it didn't match the imprint on the leather, but given the history of the piece, my guess is that this was a period adjustment.

 

I’m not a sword expert (learning ), but the collector who examined the piece provided some information. It was made by Hiromitsu a Showa during the war. This was a lesser known sword smith. The 28” blade is rare for a Showa piece. The handle under the leather is in very good condition and is all complete. The hole in the handle does not match the wooden handle where the wooden pin goes. This suggests the handle was replaced at some point, but because of the history of the piece, my feeling about it is that the handle was most likely a WWII period replacement. When found, the handle was pushed on firmly and did not separate from the blade.

 

Additional photos: http://s1008.photobucket.com/user/maple_creek/library/Japanese%20Sword

[cisco-san]

Maybe this smith (from Markus´s book):

Hiromitsu (広光), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – „Hiromitsu“ (広光), civilian name „Ido Jin´ichi“ (井戸仁一), born February 6th 1900, he worked as guntō smith

[Surfson]

Did you relist it? If so, is it still active?