Scott JM

From my experience, this is not only probable, but likely. From my collection of I think eight or so non-parade type 19 Kyu gunto, most have old blades and are all functional weapons. Also most have silver mon. I would also say that your friend did rather well and I hope he takes good care of what he has. ---Scott M.

I'm no expert but this looks like a Shinto Wakizashi that was beaten up and the tsuka broke in half, probably when someone was beating it up. Still looks restorable though. ---Scott.

It looks to me to be Japanese at least, mostly from the alternating wrap and shape of the blade, but is probably more something just for show. Pretty neat though. --Scott M.

Was it kanji that was mostly removed a long time ago and only these traces are left?---Scott M.

Am I just being paranoid or do those auction blades look oil tempered? I'm not seeing alot of hamon activity there. ---Scott M.

I know others will probably echo this, but I really think it's best to start with books. I fortunately was too young and poor to afford to waste any real money on actual swords, and had to buy and thoroughly read books about swords before I could actually buy one. I think this saved me alot of money and disappointment. --Scott M.

With no mekugi-ana or habaki, this is the dress version, so doubtful it would have been used in any combat capacity. ---Scott M.

I once received as a gift a very nice parade Kyu gunto that was in an umbrella stand at one of my college professors' houses. I was there visiting, and he said I could keep it if I wanted, and that his father brought it back from the war. It was a good day. ---Scott M.

I have purchased from Andy before and was quite pleased. Very safe and satisfying buying from him.---Scott M.

Beautiful, I love these. Thank you. ---Scott.

Maybe I'm seeing things but I see grain and hamon there. Nakago shape, color, and how the width of this compares to the rest of the blade would be nice to see though. ---Scott.

To me this looks like a bad fake. Although the ito is very worn, there are signs that it has been wound wrong, and everything else looks wrong. My one word to describe this would be 'eeeewww.' ---Scott.

If I'm not mistaken, I have seen this reproduction before and for quite some time. It's almost as if it's a kind of 'standard' reproduction for kyu gunto. ---Scott.

Sorry but this is a reproduction. Everything about this whole package is off when compared to real kyu gunto. ----Scott.

My money would be on this being a showato, from the signature and looks of the hamon and boshi. I'm sorry if this was already covered but was there a check for any stamps? Some are rather small and/or faint. ---Scott.