Questionable Gunto up for Auction

[Kaigunto230]

First, Brian, if this is more appropriate for Military Swords of Japan, I'm sorry and could you please move it?

 

This is a fairly well-known smaller auction house that's local to me and has a shingunto for sale. I don't intend to bid, but I'm trying (as always) to improve my ability to spot fakes. The auction is this weekend, and it's already at a hammer price ($1175) that seems a lot to me, let alone the additional 25% in premium fees and taxes.

Here's the auction: https://www.proxibid.com/Imperial-Japanese-World-War-II-Naval-Shin-Gunto-Sword-With-Junior-Officers-Knot-CWA/lotInformation/92490068.

 

   Some things I noticed:

• Saya: I don't like the color/texture of the leather saya covering. It seems much too grey compared to the standard brown or black leather.
• Nakago: I dislike that there's no patina on the nakago. The mei is also allegedly Takeda Shingen? ....Makes me feel a little suspicious to say the least.
• Tsuba: The civilian tsuba has what looks like black paint chipping? That could just be iron/rust with the photo quality. But regardless, a weird inclusion with the rest of the piece.
• Blade: The blade itself (from the one bad picture) seems off. No yokote for one, and the whole things just looks flat.
• Tsuka/sword-knot: Here's where I'm pausing. Up to the this point, my warning bells have gone towards a fake. But these two things look decent. I look at Dawson and Plimpton for a while and couldn't spot obvious features that called these out as fakes. Perhaps these are actually real and added on?

 

What do you think? Maybe I've totally missed it and someone is getting a (currently) $1500+ deal. I don't like it overall, but I'd love your thoughts.

[Rawa]

Kabuto gane isnt navy pattern and its to bright. Fuchi looks more genuine.

[Kaigunto230]

I agree. I wonder if it’s a weird mixmaster. Price is wild to me, but that’s the internet. 

[Conway S]

Michael, 

 

It's signed Takeda Otoji 武田音次. I believe the first name has various pronunciations. The blade looks genuine, but of low quality. No deal here, just bots wasting their money. 

 

Conway 

[Geraint]

Dear All.

Loom at the shape of the blade in image 1.  Tells you all you need to know.

 

All the best.

[Bruce Pennington]

I would lean towards this being a late war sword.
 

The fittings have been blackened, and we see that often. It has unfinished shark skin same’ and the all brown Gunzoku tassel which is something I have never seen on fakes.  The ito is also wrapped properly.