Help me identify and date this sword?

[dignanimity]

My son recently found this sword at an estate sale. It’s sharp all the way to the hilt, the blade attracts a magnet, and the leather feels like it was applied over a traditional handle. The blade is 28.5” to the tsuba. The sword is 41” long overall. We cannot translate the mei or figure out if it’s authentic or anything. Would love some help! :)

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Aaron,

I believe this is a Chinese sword by Paul Chen, a modern reproduction of sorts.

Grey

[dignanimity]

39 minutes ago, Grey Doffin said:

Hi Aaron,

I believe this is a Chinese sword by Paul Chen, a modern reproduction of sorts.

Grey

interesting… what stood out to you that led you there?

[Bruce Pennington]

Can't speak for Grey, and I only know of Chen from other discussions, but this is not a WWII Japanese sword.

1.  Damascus steel - No one used damascus steel for swords during WWII.  Ok, the Japanese did not.

2.  The Japanese almost never wrote on the blade.  There are rare exceptions, but this one is not one of them.

3.  The tsuba (handguard) is clearly an attempt to copy the WWII Japanese tsuba.  You can see legitamate ones on Ohmura's site here:

The outline of a Guntō metal parts (ohmura-study.net)

 

Hope I'm not coming across as rude, just stating the facts.  

 

Hope your son didn't drop too much money on it. 

[Tensho]

4 hours ago, Grey Doffin said:

Hi Aaron,

I believe this is a Chinese sword by Paul Chen, a modern reproduction of sorts.

Grey

Paul chen doesn't make anything of this low quality.

 

Here is their gunto replica. 

[Grey Doffin]

The reason I called this Paul Chen is the signature of the Chen I saw once included Chu Koku (Middle Kingdom or China) Dairen (city in China). The signature on this sword looked close. Any case, it isn't Japanese; that's for sure.

Grey

[ROKUJURO]

Additionally, the inscription on the blade is upside-down. This would not be seen on a Japanese sword. Clearly a bad fake, made to deceive potential buyers.