Help with sword

[Butch]

I have this sword and it is totally different to any sword I own .

There is no marks on the tang only two stampings and painted in red the number 23

which matches the fittings.

I have found something similar on line which mentions Murata-to?

which talks about a mixture of European steel with a percentage of Japanese steel .

The tsuba is very thick with cut outs and looks like it is made of  Bronze ..

Any help would be gladly appreciated..

Many thanks Gareth

[Butch]

Pics 2 

Forgot to mention the handle is a totally different to my other sword by the curvature of the handle?

[Butch]

Pic 3

[Butch]

Pic4

[Stephen]

Looks like someone added a NCO blade to above avg mounts.

[Bruce Pennington]

The thick tsuba is typical for Type 94s.  

[Butch]

There is no evidence of any number stamped or ever being on the blade ?

[Stephen]

Polished?

[Butch]

Stephen a friend of mine had a good look at it and he said like Bruce a early Sword with a 

Murata-to type blade ?

Gareth

[Butch]

Stephen the blade fits the saya like a glove and everything is so tight?

[Bruce Pennington]

It’s a classic zoheito.  They were being made just before WWII, hence the early Type 94 fittings.

[Butch]

Thanks Bruce hence no ham on what percentage of European/ Japanese steel is used in the production of the blade ?

Thanks Gareth

[Leen]

Classic zoheito indeed, I have one to. I don’t know the percentages of steel. I suspect it’s completely made from “modern” steel.

 

[Stephen]

If we had no devil advocates we would just be slapping each other on the back I like the sword, I'll give it a new home. I have a stand thay is empty {wink} {wink}

[Butch]

Is the style of handle unique to the zoheito sword ?

Thanks Gareth

[BANGBANGSAN]

This is a early 造兵刀   http://ohmura-study.net/206.html

[Butch]

Thanks Trystan for the steering to that interesting link about the sword ..

Gareth

[Bruce Pennington]

The handle is a classic style from the old days.

[Butch]

Thanks for everybody’s help.

The sword fittings are bronze both sword and saya ..

Gareth

[Geraint]

Dear Gareth.

 

Just to amplify a little on what Bruce said about the tsuka, this curved shape harks back to early tachi koshirae, which is of course what Shin gunto and Kaigunto were referencing with their design.  

 

It's a very nice sword.

 

All the best.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Zohei-To and Type 94, both early with curved Tsuka. 

 

[Butch]

John thank you for your picture some fantastic examples .

Gareth