CMD

Thank you all so much for the information. I figured it was a military piece, but I was a little thrown because of the clear hamon and what look like patterns in the blade (not positive because of rust). I knew about the stamped blades and obviously the traditional, but I didn't know anything about the not stamped but not traditional, which it seems like this one is. So that's interesting. How would a blade like this have been made? Traditional but non-Japanese steel? I've included some better photos of the signature and especially the blade.

I have recently inherited a WWII era sword from a great uncle who served in China. It looks like a forged blade, and has a signature on the tang, and also another symbol on the other side of the tang. The blade is slightly rusty and the tang enough so that it's hard (for me) to make out the characters. I'm interested in any information anyone can provide. Thanks very much. Chuck