Need help ID'ing Japanese sword and short blade

[substandard]

I received two more blades that I need help ID'ing and getting an idea on the value of the blades. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

The first one is a sword brought back by an American GI in WW2. There are no markings on the blade or fittings and the blade length is 28.75". The tip of the blade is broken off. The scabbard is leather over wood with a modern "snap" type fitting. There is some Japanese writing on the scabbard that is hard to make out. There are more images available in my Photobucket library here: http://s516.photobucket.com/user/definc/library/Japanese%20Blades?sort=3&page=1

 

 

 

 

 

The other blade is a short 7" blade that I am not sure about. It also came with some WW2 items. No markings on the blade, and a rough leather sheath/scabbard. The edge is dull almost like a letter opener, so I was wondering if it wasn't made from scrap metal by a bored soldier. There are more images at http://s516.photobucket.com/user/definc/library/Short%20Blade?sort=3&page=1

 

 

 

[Brian]

The second one could be a field made knife, a total fake...or maybe the front end of a broken wakizashi or tanto.

In this case (and ONLY in cases like this where the blade is a total write-off!) I don't think it would hurt to do a light lemon or acid etch to see if there is a hamon.

No-one is going to pay for a window on this one.

 

Brian

[Geraint]

Hi J Greene.

 

As for the first sword, it appears to be a genuine blade with the remains of a koshirae. The snap fitting is not unusual for the leather combat cover which was added for use in WWII. The hilt is missing menuki but the fuchi and kashira are genuine as is the tsuba. The blade does not seem to have lost much of its tip so perhaps worth showing in hand to someone who can advise you but it seems to be a shinto sword, not a showato. As far as I can tell your link has images of the fittings but not the blade, post some more of the blade, as clear as you can, and you might get some more opinions.

 

Have fun.

[george trotter]

a pic of the scabbard (Mouth at top) inscription reading down would help also. From what I can see the name of the owner might have been "Yamaguchi"...can't read the rest.

Regards,

[cabowen]

Did you receive them from ebay? The longer blade was there just a few days ago....

[substandard]

Did you receive them from ebay? The longer blade was there just a few days ago....

 

No, I bought this sword from a local woman getting rid of her father's estate. I have uploaded more images of the blade and the writing on the scabbard to the Photobucket library. Thanks to everyone for the valuable information.

[Andrew S]

The legible writing on the scabbard is part of an address 山口県深川町,and it is likely that the largely obliterated writing is the remainder of the address or the owner's name.