Unknown Japanese Sword

[Byrddawg]

Newbie here and could use some help. I bought this sword 20 years ago from a friend of a friend. I have no idea how old or what it’s worth. I wouldn’t mind at all paying to have it completely restored, unless it’s junk. Thoughts?

 

https://imgur.com/a/wuBgo1Q

[chinaski]

No signature (Mumei)

There appears to be a glue like substance on the Nakago (tang), it also has an odd shape.  

The Habaki is very crude

The Kissaki isn't very well defined.  

 

This could be a mass produced WW2 era blade, but I am not knowledgable enough to determine and I am still learning myself.   

[Bruce Pennington]

Adding a couple photos for ease of discussion

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Jason,

Did it come with any fittings? Handle? Scabbard?

[Byrddawg]

No scabbard and the handle he gave me was something that was just lying around so I didn’t include in the pics

[Byrddawg]

I keep thinking it’s a WW2 era blade but I’m no expert. 

[Byrddawg]

Also blade measures about 29 inches. I’ll get a full measure including tang as well. 

[chinaski]

Bruce is that flat Mune indicative of Arsenal produced swords?  You seem to be the resident expert here on these.   

[Bruce Pennington]

Well, you got me there!  I assume you're talking about the blade mune, not the nakago, right?

 

It's not something I've ever paid attention to.  I checked my files on my own gunto, but none of them show a good view of the blade mune.  I'm away from home, or I'd just go look.  Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

 

The nakago looks to have been reshaped, maybe to fit a specific tsuka?  You can see there are 2 older ana, and then the one closest to the machi has a new hole in the edge of it, likely for the latest tsuka.  

 

Just speculating, but there were many farmers in S.E. Asia that used WWII blades and refitted them with home-made handles for their farm work.  This could be something like that.

 

Another option is the old - Island-made sword.  I've tried to see a hamon, but it's either obscured by decades of environmental effects, or there isn't one.  Lack of a hamon would point to island-made (or fakery).

[Byrddawg]

I think you may be right about it being an island sword. I came across an interesting post regarding an island sword from the Philippines and he noted his handle was glued on as well.

[PNSSHOGUN]

It's a Chinese junker, don't give the poor fellow false hope.

[Tohagi]

Sorry byrddawg,

I must agree with PNSSHOGUN.

10 year ago chinese copies looked liked that, they improved since...