Interesting !

[Bencld]

I thought showato were illrgal in Japan ? There is clearly a showa stamp on this.

 

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/ANTIQUE-WW2-GUNTO-Japanese-LONG-SWORD-KATANA-KANETSUNA-signed-w-KOSHIRAE-NR/254389432316?hash=item3b3acaaffc:g:w~0AAOSwSRRdpSw1

[16k]

Yes, and clearly oil tempered too!

[Brian]

"This is an antique made in many decades ago."

Who wants to inform him and see what his response is?
 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Well many decades have passed......

 

Not unusual, there's many of them on yahoojp auctions with registration papers. Once registered the sword is "kosher" for all intents and purposes it seems.

[IJASWORDS]

I am stretching the memory cells here, but I think I bought from this seller some time ago, and the sword was shipped from USA. Sword was good. 

[David Flynn]

Here's my take.  Not all the swords confiscated in Japan, at wars end were destroyed and not all swords were surrendered.  So, these swords were already in Japan as opposed to imports.

[vajo]

Showa-to Illegal or not - sword is nice 

[Stephen]

He sells on Yahoo as well. His read more is formatted the same.

[Bruce Pennington]

Something has changed, but I don't know exactly what. They are papering Mantetsu blades, and registering war blades. I know a shop owner who has a showato. If I buy it, he says he'll get it registered before he ships it to me. Next time I get a chance, I'll bring a speaker with me and see if I can find out what changed and when it happened.

[Stephen]

Military blades are becoming very collectable in Japan. Watched auctions

Going for high prices.