Hello everyone,
I'm hoping someone here can help me with a sword I acquired about two years ago from a coin shop, which had three of the same style — I believe they were a WWII bring-back lot.
What I have:
Full-length katana with round brass tsuba, brass fuchi and kashira
Leather-wrapped handle (currently unwrapped) over a wooden tsuka core
Leather-over-wood scabbard with suspension hardware
Matching number "76" stamped on the tsuba AND inked on the wooden tsuka core, accompanied by what appears to be a kanji character
Two small circular punch marks on the habaki that may be arsenal inspection stamps
Shinogi-zukuri blade geometry clearly visible
What appears to be a hamon still visible along the edge zone
Woodworm exit holes in the tsuka wood consistent with age
My problem:
I cannot locate the mekugi. I am a woodworker with a good eye for grain anomalies and foreign objects in wood. I have examined all four sides carefully, used raking flashlight angles, and carefully removed some lacquer in spots — nothing. The sword acts as a complete rigid unit when tapped. The tsuba has slight play but the handle and blade feel like one piece.
My questions:
Could anyone help identify the specific type — Type 94, Type 98, or other?
Can anyone identify what the kanji character alongside "76" might be?
Can anyone identify the arsenal from the two punch marks on the habaki?
Most importantly — is there a disassembly method specific to this construction I may be missing? Is it possible there is no mekugi and it relies purely on friction fit? Could the pommel come off independently giving access from that end?
I have extensive photos of the blade, habaki, tsuba, tsuka wood, markings, and hamon activity and am happy to share whatever is needed.
Thank you in advance for any help.
