WWII Katana and Wakizashi(?) Questions

[thisisthepolice0]

Hey guys. I apologize for my first post being what it us, but I've got some questions that I've had for a while. I found these in my attic when I was a young buck and my grandfather told me he got them in WWII after they raided a base in Japan. My grandfather was a doctor and he got to live by himself in the officer's quarters and the story was that he found these in there and sent them back home. It seemed they almost skipped his mind so he told me that I could have them, and I've had them sitting around for a while wrapped up, and recently I'm just worried they are worth more than I think. Any help is appreciated! I have photos of two different swords that I am posting below.

 

First, the Katana:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/195/20130106002754.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/20130106002642.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/443/20130106002606.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/713/20130106002619.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/805/20130106002802.jpg/

 

Next, what my recent research leads me to believe is called a Wakizashi?:

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/717/20130106003228.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/9/20130106003233.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/716/20130106085106.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/99/20130106003119.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/208/20130106003050.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/268/20130106003043.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/832/20130106003003.jpg/

 

If you need any more pictures I'd be more than happy to take them! Thank you in advance for the help, but I've been looking for weeks and see many SIMILAR swords but nothing like this one.

[Jean]

Mr M Smith;

 

Please sign all your posts by a real name as per the board rules.

[thisisthepolice0]

When I signed up the prompt said that an initial and full surname were acceptable. In my case, that would mean M. Smith.

[leo]

As seen on the pictures the blades are plastered with fingerprints. Remove these ASAP or they will be fixed forever as rustprints. Keep them lightly oiled and never touch them with bare fingers.

 

Best,

[Brian]

Marc,

Yep..but we need every post signed, so you can either sign each post M. Smith or just Marc.

Or..like most of us do..just add it in your profile under signature so that it automatically signs all posts.

Don't have much time right now, but at first brief glance, the shorter sword is the earlier and better one. Might be a tanto or short wakizashi, but early blade. The other sword (longer one) is WW2 and probably mass produced. Lightly oil both blades with soft tissue paper, and don't clean the tangs themselves.

I'll have a better look later.

 

Brian

[leo]

As far as I can judge from the distance the Katana seems to have late war naval mounts and a stainless blade which means non traditionally made. Close ups of tang and mounts should make it clearer.

The black signs are assembling marks. Is there a signature or a stamp on the tang?

 

The wakizashi has 19th c. handachi style mounts(tsuba is old, but non-matching) and a tanto blade of hira-zukuri shape. The tang is ubu(original shape) and is nicely shaped but looks like late Shinto or Shinshinto to me. Any signature here?

 

Both swords are average and you should not worry too much about the market value. They should have a high value for you though as they are a part of your personal family history.

 

Best,

[thisisthepolice0]

Sorry for the signature confusion, I had thought I set that up for some reason...

 

Also, thanks for the comments! To answer the questions there were no markings on the tang of either sword, with the exception of those black paint lines on the Katana. After closer look at the Katana it seems some of the parts have a stamped "3" on them. This was the one I was worried about the authenticity of.

 

It's the shorter blade, essentially, that I am the most curious about. No marking anywhere on the the blade or tang. There is just this on the inside of the Fuchi:

 

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/832/20130106003003.jpg/

 

And the habaki have those vertical marks on it that I saw on another sword I was looking at online that claimed to be earlier than WWII.

 

Edit: Also, I'm not too worried about the vaule, as I plan on keeping them for the sentimental value. At the same time I wouldn't want to just wall mount something that's worth a fair sum. I'd just like a little history behind it and some ballpark dates.

 

-M. Smith