Help ID family sword

[Horcrux]

Hello, I was wondering if any of you would be kind enough to simply shed some light on my sword. 

 

The story my father always told me and still defends to this day is that his great uncle served in WW2 and was lost in Japanese forests for 6 months with nothing but the sword. 

 

I was just looking for help Identifying who would have carried this sword as it looks much simpler than the elbaborately decorated swords I've seen here.  I believe the Menuki to be a dragon but its not clear and I don't want to ruin the braiding to find out.

 

I would also like to ID the maker's mark on the tang and know anything about the materials it is made from please.

 

I don't plan on ever selling it as its been ij my family for a long time and I intend to keep it as an heirloom.

 

Side note: neither my father or I am responsible for the black tape on the sheath! I believe generations before us put that on, as the condition of the sheath is rather poor.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Mifune?

Your sword is signed, I believe, Morimichi.  It is a wakizashi (medium length sword) from the Shinto (new sword) period, somewhere between 1600 and 1850 maybe.

Here is a care and handling brochure you would be smart to read at least once:

http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php

Do not try to extract the menuki; doing so will damage the handle wrap.  Make sure there is a pin through the hole in the handle and tang of the blade; without this pin the blade can fall out of the handle and shatter its point, either in the scabbard bottom or on the floor.  If the pin is missing whittle a new one from a chopstick and do it ASAP.

If you'd like to call with questions feel free to ring me sometime; glad to help.

Best,  Grey  218-726-0395 central time

[Bruce Pennington]

Brian, the guys at the Nihonto thread would likely be able to help Mifune and would likely enjoy seeing this!

 

Mifune,

Many Officers and NCOs carried old, family blades during the war.  Usually, the scabbard (saya) is covered with a leather cover, but these are quite often missing as the leather takes a hit over 80 years.  Now, of course, this one may have never been fitted for the war at all, but it might have at least had the saya fitted.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Mifune, welcome aboard. Any red rust on your blade is active rust, & should be removed as soon as possible. You can use a piece of bone, or anything made of ivory, but please don't use anything that can scratch the steel.