Ace

Man, that would be something. I don't have the money to polish it up and probably won't for a few more years until I graduate. I'll definitely make a repost if I find out.

Thanks. I'll see what I can do. However it could be my untrained eye but it appears the a lot of the stuff on the blade is more dirt than rust. I'm too afraid to start rubbing on the blade with what I have available though.

Thank you Cris, Thank you Grey. I'll grab some oil and see about protecting it and maybe see if it'll rub off any of the thinner surface rust spots. I live in Louisiana so I doubt there are many licensed polishers around here I can show it too in hand although I imagine that would be best. Is the rust too bad as it is to signify anything about the blade? Obviously you won't be able to see as much in the pictures as I can see when I look at it personally but my untrained eye isn't really aware of what to look for. I definitely plan on getting it fully polished one day by someone licensed but in order to afford it I'll have to wait till after I graduate in 2 years.

I haven't ever tried to authenticate it but it was also passed down to me. I have no reason to believe it isn't. Its well constructed and seems old enough.

Not yet. As of 48 hours ago I didn't even know this sword was actually worth putting any effort and time into. Since then however I've become very very enticed by the entire culture. I do not have any sword oil or any other things to maintain it with although I plan on getting some one day soon.

http://imgur.com/a/OLScs http://imgur.com/a/Q7IRK Hi. My grandpa passed away about a year ago and left me his old Wak he picked up in the war. He never really went into much detail as to how he got it other than it was while he was in Iwo Jima. I don't believe he had any idea how old the piece actually is and neither did I until 2 days ago. I originally expected it to be maybe a fairly early war shin gunto (I think thats right) until I managed to expose the nakago and found the inscription. I couldn't translate it myself so I posted some pictures on the sword subreddit and was responded to by a man who seemed very very knowledgeable on these things and he directed me here. We talked all day yesterday as he was trying to help me piece together the story that is the blade. It was very improperly cared for so its definitely got some rust on the blade which makes it hard to recognize the hamon or the hada but after I sent him the second set of pictures posted above I think we've decided that it is a suguha hamon. Any information ya'll think you can maybe shed on the subject would be hugely beneficial. I have no intention of EVER selling this sword as it is an heirloom but I would love to have it polished up properly one day so it can be put on display. Thanks!