Help Identifying and Appraising Japanese Sword – Unusual Features

[Dyan7ross]

Hello everyone,

 

I’m hoping to get some help identifying and appraising a Japanese sword. It appears to be a WWII-era piece, possibly a Type 95 NCO sword, but it has some unusual features that don’t quite match standard examples.

 

Here are the key details:

 

• The handle is solid brass, not painted aluminum or leather-wrapped.
• The scabbard is copper/brass with kanji and symbols, some of which appear to be plated in brass.
• The markings on the tang include 昭和十五年, indicating a 1940 production date.
• There are raised, not stamped, markings on the blade and scabbard has matching markings in brass plating.
• There is some minor corrosion on the scabbard, but overall the sword appears to be in good, unrestored condition.
•  

 

 

My questions:

 

• Has anyone seen a similar version of a sword like this?
• Could this be a high-ranking officer’s or a presentation/ceremonial sword?
• Does the raised kanji indicate anything specific about the manufacturer or unit?
• Recommendations for preserving it (e.g., museum wax?) before I proceed with an appraisal?

 

 

Photos are attached (or I can provide more on request). I’d appreciate any input from collectors or historians familiar with Japanese swords of this era. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Dyan7ross]

[Dyan7ross]

[Dyan7ross]

[Conway S]

Hi Dylan, 

 

It’s a a Chinese reproduction. Similar examples can be found on eBay being sold from China. These are very common. Here’s a linked thread in the military section of the forum that details other examples of fakes: 

 

Conway 

[Dyan7ross]

Thanks for the response, can you let me know what it is a reproduction of? I haven’t seen any examples of this. Also can you let me know what you see that confirms to you it’s a reproduction?

[Scogg]

Unfortunately I have to agree with Conway. Below is a link with some helpful tools to spot fakes. 
 

I think it’s trying to be some type of gunto. I’ve seen nearly identical versions over the years, and I suspect they were made to deceive.

 

Sorry for the bad news,

-Sam  

 

https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

[Bruce Pennington]

Hi Dylan!

You'll have to show us the handle (tsuka) and the face of the handguard (tsuba) to tell if they are faking an NCO or officer sword.  I have many example of this faker factory work, both officer and NCO.