PNSSHOGUN

The only way to know for sure are swords with: direct provenance to a battle or incident swords with Kiritsuke Mei noting a specific engagement ikido-tameshi (cutting test on a live body) signs of battle such as multiple Kirikomi or Hakobore Anything beyond this is well within the realms of idle speculation. Swords carried during WWII may hold a higher chance of being used to kill people, especially those carried during the China campaign. Once again true evidence is required to confirm this. Sword in a real fight: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/katanainfight.html Kiritsuke-Mei: https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031925/https://yuhindo.com/osafune-motoshige-katana/ China campaign recollection (not for the faint of heart): https://zzwave.com/cmfweb/wiihist/confess/spies.html

Agree with 兼-Kane.

Still searching.

At the very least it gives a very comprehensive resource of Kunimitsu Mei for future research. Perhaps it's the photos but your example just doesn't feel good in its overall execution, so we all await the verdict from Tanobe Sensei and hope for good news.

Rust only forms on iron, it's advisable to clean the inside of a Habaki with tissue to remove accumulated gunk.

Best to research further into Soshu-Den and Masamune before purchasing anything, unfortunately new collectors are the prime target for such forgeries. In the unlikely event a true Goro Masamune was offered to the open market (not ebay or yahoo auctions), it would be hundreds of thousands of dollars. https://markussesko.com/2015/03/20/masamune-his-work-his-fame-and-his-legacy/ https://nihonto-museum.com/blog/goro-nyudo-masamune

At any given time this sellers inventory rivals that of the Tokyo Museum, and all for pennies on the dollar....

It's shameful if any respected Asian studies departments delivered these results, sincerely hope you receive your money back.

Anyone with a passing knowledge of real Japanese swords could tell you this is a very poor fake in a matter of seconds.

Unfortunately this is an absolutely appalling fake, the certificates are complete nonsense and worthless. Seek an immediate refund. https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

Agree with Jean, it has all the hallmarks of Shinto Takada. The Bonji is a nice touch, it appears it was always meant to be under the Tsuka.

The geometry for a Yokote is there but it's been worn down from the looks of it.

You will probably have better luck finding a set of Type 3 fittings that will fit this Sugata. It will be somewhat of a wild goose chase with high potential of spending more on the fittings than you have on the blade.

There is a channel that does destructive tests on modern martial arts swords, striking the sword on the Mune against a hard object causes catastrophic failures in a very short time. https://www.youtube.com/@Matthew_Jensen/videos

Given the early nature of the fittings it would more likely to have been taken to China.