The_Derz

Thanks to everyone who helped in this research. it is much obliged. ill return to post here if I find anything in the future that may shed more light on this as I continue to research. I want to do an "in hand" bench check on this sword in the future. Maybe a sword show or possibly WW2 history museum in New Orleans could provide other leads to "Experts" (I think y'all are likely the real experts) or something. Thanks!

There appears to be a very small. Something that I zoomed in on. It could very well be a smudge. But it’s smaller and less clear than the “Nagoya arsenal symbol”, that’s located next to serial numbers on blade. Here are pics of all sides of habaki?.

I get the skepticism. But I can assure you if any work was down to alter it. It would’ve had to be done prior to reaching America, it would’ve had to be done prior to my family arriving back to America in 1946. It has been at my grandparents house then with me for quite sometime. Likely 1950’s or 1960’s. Been with me since the 1990’s. And I read a lot of articles about Australians making fake souvenirs and selling to GI’s and also Chinese copies coming out more recently. But that extra drill hole and what not seems pretty advance for a GI to do in the field to bring home a better souvenir. Or sell to a different GI returning home. He brought back sword and flag same time which means it would’ve had to have been altered before this pic was taken and we got that date on the back. Thank you for your great continued feedback

Man that nick guy is awesome. I could spend hours reading this stuff. So if I’m reading your links correctly: - tassel represents essentially civilian like military (high clerk, accountant, adjutant, etc.). Basically civilian attached to Japanese army and did some type of “higher education” required work and was attached to an army unit to help serve the army, but not officially part of the army. He was part of that word “gunzukho”. Man I’m still learning don’t check spelling please lol. OR, it was “late war” regular army military officers got brown tassels. Leaning to first point?, but still cool. —-the blade was made at Nagoya Arsenal, to be purposed for a NCO military official. But due to arms shortage and increasing bombing pressure by Americans and struggling to keep up. They allowed army officers to “rent” some blades, and since this military civilian or military rank was of higher “officer” rank. He got to use the type 98 handle. Boom, make custom fit? —- and then it seems nick Alludes this to a “type 3” style. But not the same type 3 as “osumra” has researched? .... my brain has exploded. What other shots of tang y’all need. I got an iPhone 11 and can get more pics. I can try and upload higher res pics but just less at a time Due to 6mb cap. Just let me know what y’all need!

Been doing a lot of catching up on the links. But this link alludes to what my sword most likely is by Bangbangsan.... but it’s 100% in Japanese... the bottom has a few paragraphs in English but doesn’t pertain to that above it? Any clarification would be much obliged .

Here are more detailed pics of tang. And deeper groves of the blade. Let me know what y’all need more close angles of. I can’t thank y’all enough! Let me know what y’all think. Would cleaning rust off tang help identify any marks?

My apologies for mis reading admin rules on names. I think My name should be showing up at bottom of posts now? And added profile picture. I am still trying to figure out how to change my username (but my nickname in college was The Derz - so that has become my online profile name for alot of things from online gamer tags to other forum names). Mr. Peter, No apologies needed! I have 0 clue about how any of this works, and if this turns out to be 100% phony Then I want to know ! (which it appears to be leaning towards likley real with "during war mods" by either original Japanese Owner, or my Great uncle Bud who found one or the other and put them together), I highly doubt my great uncle put them together himself. (open to please prove me otherwise). Those holes would've had to have been drilled? and that bambo piece looked to be custom made for that new hole, as it basically disintegrated as it was most difficult to remove. Its in two peices now but much smaller just to fit the sword back together to hold. Thanks to Dave and Bruce, Brian ADmin, 16K, and Kiipu for yalls awesome input. My friend who is living in Japan is working to decipher the "good Luck flag" and has got me a name who that flag belonged to and I am hoping it turns out to be an officer who owned this sword (LONG SHOT) but possible. I definitely want to try and find a pic with GU with sword and possibly (longer shot) with Japanese officer or NCO with this sword. -From what y'all are saying: it looks like 2 possible scenarios: --1. most likely: My GU picked this up as sovenir on island and flag was separate (but sword likely authentic, just two different authentic pieces put together to make a piece?)?? --------sword came from saipan or just a "collection depot" where a GI could've been selling from a pile (but likely authentic) -------------the craftsmanship on the tang leads me to believe that original owner had to have had some help redoing the new hole, (that bambo piece was too snug and had a custom bend to it) 2. less likely scenario: A Japanese soldier starts off war as NCO, gets promoted and wants to have the "officer style" handle to show his rank, but keep his blade? or they were out of new blades when he got promoted??? (saipan was very late in war when Japan was on last leg and resources, but Saipan had civilian towns on there, so this story isn't out of context) LONG SHOT but still like to think possible.??? - how cool would it be if the flag also belonged to same guy??? (very unlikely) Thanks to all. Let me know if I'm still on target. Thanks Bangbangsman: ***and to all***: would love to get a summary of what you think story is and where it came from after we get alot of input. And lastly would love to either get a vote or consensus to ensure not a fake?

And in case y’all like the family history story. Here is pic of great uncle in 1946 when he came home.

Here is the tang as requested. Looks like no marks. Looks like the two holes seem to add up to story that blade was replaced in a new handle. But it doesn’t look recent by any means. It was likely done by the original owner or by my relative?? but any all documents you may have on this story or anything else is much obliged! Any care tips? Thanks!

First I’d like to say I am a novice. I read a lot of the threads on here and using google research as well as some emails, I believe the sword I have pictured below is a NCO Shin-Gunto sword. Back story: it belonged to my great uncle who fought in WW2 as a marine. Family history has it that he got this weapon during the fighting in Saipan (as well as a Good Luck Flag). Goals: 1. Want to make sure this is not fake. 2. Find out exactly what kind of shin - gunto this is. With estimated year of production. And location if possible. Maybe even the maker? But it looks to be factory made? 3. (Open to anything else y’all think I need to know that would make owning this blade any more fun/ interesting). 4. I would never sell because family history is more important. a rough estimate of price and appraisal would be nice. (But, not mandatory as that is not my purpose for posting here) ***noticeable notes*** - there appears to be a small Japanese emblem or stamp preceding the first digit on the blade. Any idea what that is/ means? - blade tip appears damaged? **more pics available by request, or if you need a different part or angle close up, let me know. (I May need to do more research on how to open one up without breaking) Thank you for any info! ***3.11.20 Update with tang pics requested below ***