Rich

Ok i have more pics. I'm wrestling with these terms, but I can probably describe the thing better. I did actually have it in my hands. The exposed part of the blade was 26", and the back of the blade (mune?) was 3 sided so I guess thats mitsu? I need to get better pics of the blade, the one he sent was very blurry. Like I said, I'm completely clueless about this stuff. But anyway, here's more pics if it helps-

Wow thats a great start. I looked at that link and it looks like a not so good attempt at the "Marishiten - Chases devils and enemys" charcter in that list. He sent me other pics, but the most important one of the overall blade pic was blurred. How do i change my sign in name so I don't add to the confusion? I had 5 Rich's in one of my highschool classes, the teacher stuck us all in the same row to "keep an eye on us".

Well first post here for me, really cool place. I found this place trying to research a WWII sword for a freind. He got it from his father who got it from Japan in 1945. It took 2 days just to understand some of the terms used, so bear with me. There are NO markings on the tang (nakago?) at all...zip..nadda. No small punch marks or anything. The handle (Tsuka?) has the army ornaments and seesm to be a type 98?. There IS a marking on the blade itself, and he sent me a picture of that. I hope it works. Anyway, if anybody can at least give me an idea about this that would be great.