Help please

[William Jennings]

Hello all, I have the chance to purchase this sword at a decent price. The owner says he bought it from his friend whose father brought it back from the war. The owner isn’t comfortable taking the handle off. Just wanting some experienced eyes to take a look at it. The Saya appears to have a lot of the original paint but seems to be missing the sarute, the semegane, and maybe the ishizuke. The Ito wrap looks traditionally wrapped. Blade looks to be in good polish. Im not sure from the pics if it is traditionally made or not. Seems to have a suguha hamon but not sure from the pics if it is oil or water quenched. Any other things that catch your eye, please let me know! 

[William Jennings]

[William Jennings]

[Ian B3HR2UH]

It doesn't look like it is even tempered . The hamon looks like the acid etched or scratched fake hamon that they put on parade sabres . If he won't let you take the handle off then he is probably hiding something . I would walk away from this piece.

Ian Brooks

[Brian]

I think it's had the heck buffed out of it, hence the look.
But blades in those mounts (saya) are almost always Showato. Looks like it was rusted and pitted, and someone cleaned and buffed it. Pass.

[Bruce Pennington]

There is a slight chance of this being a Mantetsu blade.  Show him this video.  It's extremely easy to remove the tsuka.  They were made for easy removal.

https://youtu.be/oFT5OMQr2vw

[PNSSHOGUN]

Looks like a Yoshiharu Showato, nothing to get too excited about.