Ww2 Sword- Need Help

[PsychoMantis95]

Hi, I have a sword that my great grandad brought back from WW2 and it has been in the family ever since but we were hoping to get more information on it if anyone could help in any way as we know nothing about this topic. The sword is 24 inches long and came in this leather cover but the sword doesn't really fit in it at all.

 

Any help would be appreciated

 

Michael T

[SAS]

Looks like a wakizashi....nihonto are measured from the tip to the machi, the part just before the handle area starts (cutting edge length). It looks to be missing the scabbard and handle; the leather cover goes over the scabbard, but not the handle. Sometimes shorter family swords were carried in longer regulation length scabbards, and shorter tanker or aviator swords are known. Yours looks like a sword made before WW2; it is important not to touch the blade with bare hands, as the oils attack the steel finish. Others can translate better than I the signature, but it looks well cut. Sword should be protected in a shirasaya (resting scabbard made of wood). A copper habaki (blade collar) keeps the sword from sliding too fr down into the scabbard, in conjunction with the  handle, guard, and pin. Was the sword brought back in its current state?

[PsychoMantis95]

Steve, Thank you for the information, what you've said is really interesting. So the scabbard may well have been used with this sword? I will make sure not to touch the blade... I didn't know that.  I believe it did have a handle when it was brought back but nobody in my family can remember what happened to it which is a shame. 

[SwordGuyJoe]

X X shi masatoshi. Not sure on the X’s but I’m sure someone will be along to help further. There were a few smiths that used the masatoshi (正寿) kanji on your sword.

[Stephen]

Still looking for toshi

 

i thought this

 

MASATOMO (正儔), Kansei (寛政, 1789-1801), Musashi – “Toyoshima Minamoto Masatomo” (豊島源正儔), “Bushū-jū Minamoto Masatomo” (武州住源正儔), real name Toyoshima Iwajirō (豊島岩二郎), student of Masashige (正繁), some sources list his name also with the characters (正俦)

[John A Stuart]

It looks like  雲竜子源正儔  Unryu ko Minamoto Masatomo. John

[k morita]

Unryushi Minamoto Masatomo.

not Unryu Ko.

[PsychoMantis95]

Thank you so much for your replies. I really wouldn't have thought it was that old. Everyone's knowledge on this topic is very impressive.