Hope I'm not wasting your time and this is at least a bit interesting...
My grandfather was in the Philippine Army and fought the Japanese in WW2. After a battle in Cebu he captured a sword which has been in my family since then. For decades it was kept on the wall and the tropical environment got it pretty rusty. When I got it a few years ago I had it restored. It appears to be hand-made, and I always wanted to learn about it's origins.
- Yes, I realize that my grandfather "ruined" it when he etched his name on the blade. Understandably, he wasn't a big fan of Japanese culture.
- I also realize it probably isn't worth much. I'm not selling it, I'd just like to learn about it.
So, if the readers here can shed any light on this sword's history (or can otherwise get me pointed in the right direction), I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
http://www.james-sanchez.com/katana
http://www.james-sanchez.com/sword