Tensho

The barrel screw for the kabutogane/sarute is also missing.

Looks legit to me. If you zoom in you can see fissures in the steel. Attached is a similar one posted by a member here:

Honoki, which is a Japanese magnolia. I've heard of people using basswood, alder and poplar in the U.S at least for saya and tsuka.

Restorable for a couple thousand dollars yeah. This is assuming its nihonto(and worthwhile to polish) and not non-traditionally made. May possibly be a zoheito w/ that bo-hi

Early dirks shared common characteristics, according to John Wallace. The lower edge of the hilt was curved and without metal reinforcement. The blades were long and single-edged with the tang peened over "a large burr or button." Some examples show "gimping" of the blade spine, an effect that makes the spine of the blade look like it has dull saw teeth. Blades of the old single-edge tapered form made solely for dirks still existed, though cut-down sword blades (often imported from the blade-making centers of Solingen and Passau) became increasingly common. This could be an early example of recycling for cost purposes, though most experts agree it was done more because the imported blades were better tempered than those of local manufacture. Disarming acts such as the one issued in 1716 "seems only to have encouraged the cutting down of worn-out sword blades to be remounted as dirks" according to Forman.

Thank you!

Incorrect, Dirk, deriving from the highland dirk was originally a single edged weapon.

Would appreciate some help on this one. Thanks

Sword was purchased directly from the vets family. Army air corps. Stationed in Japan from 45-46'. Not sure exactly how it was acquired but was definitely never carried or used. Perhaps being slapped together to sell to GIs like the PX swords? But its definitely not a newly put together.

Looks fine to me Sam. I think a lot of people really don't understand how rough some of these fittings can be. Attached is a gunto that most would call fake on first glance.

Looks perfectly fine. I don't see anyone putting a kamon on a fake one. The fake ones are pretty obvious looking. These come in all forms of quality, and even very crude ones.

The Ha and Mune machi don't line up. Pretty typical on Chinese made swords. Along with the quality and "wrongness" of everything else as Jean pointed out this doesn't look genuine at all.

Yes, I completely agree. If I am remembering correctly most of the photos of soldiers with Wakizashi are in China. Well, I bought the photos in China at least. I think I have a few more photos somewhere...

Any markings or stamps on the nakago? My guess is this is a zohei-to.

I'll post some of mine.

Unless its really hard to get gunto where you are that price is too steep.

Thank you!

Help on 2 Fuchi please. Thank you.

Interesting! A much nicer example. Thank you!

Thoughts on what the motif is on this tsuba? "Worm eaten" is only thing that comes to mind. Also, a similar pair I found mounted on Daisho.

Did EMS stop again? I had a koshirae, and 2 tsuba shipped to me without issue within the last 2 months.