Ganko

Pretty flashy, that is a lot of muneyaki, almost hitatsura.

Edges resting on hard threaded fasteners, unbelievable.

I believe they are chrysanthemum leaves to go with the kiku in the center.

Unusual combination of characteristics. First thoughts, Hoju, Satsuma. Maybe Etchu?

Looks like a Chinese Knock-off.

Best suited to chopping weeds.

Avoid it like the plague, looks like a Chinese knock-off to me.

Here is another. This guy did some really nice work. There is a two part article on Shonai Kinko in the NBTHK Token Bijutsu vol 55 and 56/57 in English.

Good work, looks like a koto period nakago.

Nobukuni Minamoto Heishiro Yoshimasa. A Shinto Chikuzen swordsmith circa 1661. Hawleys YOS 1322

Only the impeachment Dems care about hearsay. Guys use your head for something besides a hat rack. Most of these swords were typically under $200 in 1970.

Nice tsuba, very interesting pattern. Looks as if the steel was rolled up like a newspaper, sectioned and then hammered flat. Very creative. I like it.

I believe it is Kiyomiya a Seki smith

The book the image is from is Herman Wallinga's "Gendaito Made at the Minaotgawa Shrine"

I agree with Peter, it looks like cleaned spider rust to me.

All I got was the mitsu on that one

Most of us don't care how sharp the sword is unless it is to be used for Batto. I knew a fellow once who used a wakizashi to cut his wedding cake, buy it didn't need to be too sharp for that.:-)

"the Sword of Japan" by Joeph Bott is a good one $16 on Amazon.

Maybe Kanemasu?

Do not put pliers on it as it looks like a decorative ferrule for the peg. If you can see all the way through it to the other side then the peg is gone. The only thing holding it on should then be the rust on the tang, however I have seen swords that have had the handles glued on by unknowing individuals. Read the link from Grey Doffin above before you do any harm to it.

The handle should be held on with a pin which goes through the silver ferrules just to the rear of the hand guard(tsuba). If you look through the ferrules and you can see light through them, then the pin is not there. If there is a pin in there it must be removed to take the handle off, also the handle may still be stuck very tightly. Removing the handle should be done carefully or you may cause damage to it. You should take it to a person familiar with Japanese swords. It appears to be a koto sword(pre 1600) to me.

I believe the buyers state that receives the tax.

The length of the saya may be due to the fact that short sayas can easily fall out of one's obi when walking about. Some tanto koshirae even have lead added in the saya near the kojiri to help retain it in the obi. It may be more of a problem with yoroi doishi which are heavier near the tsuka.

All I've ever seen were dated. It may be that some seller might add a star to an undated item to increase it's value?

There are no laws written or unwritten regarding your quandary. After having observed many old original mountings for a number of decades, I find there is frequently no apparent rhyme nor reason for menuki choices. Non-Japanese individuals have an inclination to make all the fittings ensuite which may have not been the original configuration. The original choice may have related to personnel preference, zodiac year of birth or availability? Late Edo period mountings where all the fittings are by the same artisan, would most certainly have had matching menuki. In your situation I feel the dragons would be fine as long as they are of a comparable quality/time period relative to the rest of the fittings. You should definitely have the tsuka wrapped by a properly skilled individual. (Incidentally, your images have the menuki oriented improperly) My two cents worth.