Naval Kyu-Gunto

[HydroRacer]

I posted a type 98 shin-Gunto over in the Nihonto forum (not knowing any better) that I inherited from my grandfather (he was a Marine in the Pacific theater in WWII).  He also brought this Naval kyu-Gunto back as well.  Other than that, I know very little about them.  My dad told me he said he had taken them from a captured Japanese officer, but granddad was a bit of an embellisher, so I figure that's not really how he got them.

Any further info would be appreciated.  Any places I should look for markings, numbers, etc?

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Richard Fuller's book, Japanese Military and Civil Swords and Dirks, pg 121, calls this a "1914 regulation pattern Commissioned officers naval parade sabre."