Mick B

Hi All Sorry for delay, I have finally had a chance to remove handle to inspect the nakago as instructed. Was very solidly stuck in handle , but finally got free. The nakago was heavily rusted, which I have wiped back as best as possible. Please see photos attached, not sure if should keep going to try to make more legible? Hoping something obvious might stand out to maybe indicated origins of the blade. Have also attached some pictures of the tsuba with imprinted characters. Hope someone can shed some light on this. Thanks Mick

Thanks Brian. Really appreciate your comments, I am excited to check out markings. Will post once I have these. Thanks Mick

Thanks again Bruce, for clarification... seems like I have opened a can of worms for myself regarding this sword origins. Will get some better reference photos. Mick

Hi Bruce , I will follow your instructions and remove handle and see what is beneath. When you say it is a civilian sword .. do you mean it probably wasn't a WW2 NCO blade ? Thanks Mick

Thanks Ron, appreciate your comments, I will get some better photos and upload when I can.

Hi Everyone Hoping might some get feedback on Gunto I just bought from small local auction house. Have a collection of military rifles, but this is my first sword. ( starting to think it maybe a 50/50 chance of being a fake ) after reading some of these posts. Still waiting on shipping so will get some better photos when I can and update, Seller had said it was his late father's bought back to Australia in 1970's from Papua New Guina, they had said it was an infantry sword with NCO rank punched into Tsuba. Regardless, I still like the look of this sword, for collection, just hoping someone could help me any with extra information. Thanks again Mick

thanks Bruce