Looking For Info On This Nihonto

[Bob-K]

I don't know if this is a good blade or not. It has an unusual tsuka. The nihonto is as I received it. I did not clean the nakago. I'm wondering if it is a keeper or a loser and if there is anything else that you can tell me about it. Sorry if I used the wrong terms. I'm still very new at this.

 

[Surfson]

Looks modern to me, and possibly machine made.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Imo, oil quenched, mass produced, at best.

[16k]

I agree that it is oil quenched. Possibly WWII?

[DRDave]

Bob,  I'm reluctant to categorize anything as a loser.  I think it's likely a genuine, WW II era sword that is non-traditionally made.  The file marks in the area I have circled cause me to suspect that an arsenal stamp has been removed; but having it in-hand, you are better able to judge.

 

 

[Dave R]

 Somehow, you have managed to miss most of the useful diagnostic features. But it looks to be a Japanese blade, probably non traditional. More useful would be pictures of the overall shape, the end of the tang and both sides of the full tang, blade to the top.

[Bob-K]

I should have better pictures up this weekend. Thanks for the help thus far.

[Bob-K]

Additional pictures of the blade

[16k]

I own something very similar, so I go with my first opinion. Oil quenched gunto, probably seki factory.

[Dave R]

I own something very similar, so I go with my first opinion. Oil quenched gunto, probably seki factory.

 

 My thought as well. Here is a composite picture of the Nakago of one of mine. No stamps or engraving, cursory Nakago-jiri, but decently shaped.  

[Peter Bleed]

This is a mid-War gunto that seems to wear a bit of history. It looks to me like someone may have removed an arsenal stamp. The carving on the tsuka looks like post-War tarting-out done with Japanese tools if not to "sword taste."

Peter