@Bruce Pennington The picture of the other side of the nakago is even worse. It is dated but impossible to read. I'm visiting the seller next week. Keep you posted if I know the actual date.
Bad picture but for now it's the only picture the seller is providing. Hopefully the quality is good enough to read the mei. Thanks in advance.
Regards, Ed
I have only one picture to work with and the quality is unfortunately bad. To my untrained eyes a part of the mei reads kuni ju sadatsugu. Hope you guys can fill in the gaps. Thanks in advance.
Regards, Ed
Likely local smiths but there was also a Dutch production plant in Bandung (Java). They were producing the Klewang for the KNIL. The Klewang is a mix between a sword and a machete. Everything was available to produce swords even skilled workers.
@Bruce Pennington the picture of the mark is taken from a Dutch site.
https://www.marktplaats.nl/v/verzamelen/militaria-tweede-wereldoorlog/m2307382007-japans-officiers-showato-katana-1940-1945-gunto-stijl