Help Identifying and Disassembling WWII-Era Japanese Gunto — Matching Numbers, Possible Hamon

[Shane Less]

Hello everyone,

I'm hoping someone here can help me with a sword I acquired about two years ago from a coin shop, which had three of the same style — I believe they were a WWII bring-back lot.

What I have:

Full-length katana with round brass tsuba, brass fuchi and kashira

Leather-wrapped handle (currently unwrapped) over a wooden tsuka core

Leather-over-wood scabbard with suspension hardware

Matching number "76" stamped on the tsuba AND inked on the wooden tsuka core, accompanied by what appears to be a kanji character

Two small circular punch marks on the habaki that may be arsenal inspection stamps

Shinogi-zukuri blade geometry clearly visible

What appears to be a hamon still visible along the edge zone

Woodworm exit holes in the tsuka wood consistent with age

My problem:

I cannot locate the mekugi. I am a woodworker with a good eye for grain anomalies and foreign objects in wood. I have examined all four sides carefully, used raking flashlight angles, and carefully removed some lacquer in spots — nothing. The sword acts as a complete rigid unit when tapped. The tsuba has slight play but the handle and blade feel like one piece.

My questions:

Could anyone help identify the specific type — Type 94, Type 98, or other?

Can anyone identify what the kanji character alongside "76" might be?

Can anyone identify the arsenal from the two punch marks on the habaki?

Most importantly — is there a disassembly method specific to this construction I may be missing? Is it possible there is no mekugi and it relies purely on friction fit? Could the pommel come off independently giving access from that end?

I have extensive photos of the blade, habaki, tsuba, tsuka wood, markings, and hamon activity and am happy to share whatever is needed.

Thank you in advance for any help.

[lonely panet]

its not Japanese

its not ww2

 

its a horrible pile of junk

[robinalexander]

Sri Forrest, I fully agree with Hamish's 'appraisal'

[ROKUJURO]

Hi Forrest,

swords like these often do not have a MEKUGI as the tang is glued in to conceal the NAKAGO. I am afraid it is just an imitation.

[Bruce Pennington]

Appears to be "home made".  Hard to tell about the wrappings, by these photos, so can't tell about the age of them, but the blade and metal (brass) fittings all look to be made by an amateur/hobbyist.  

 

At best, judging by the parallel buffer/grinder marks, the blade could be something from the occupied lands that was totally rusted/corroded and someone ground it down to "clean it up."

[George KN]

Hi Forrest, welcome to the forum!

 

Unfortunately I have to agree with everyone else, this does look like either a homemade blade, or one built to intentionally deceive.

 

Quite a few of us started the same way, buying a fake and then getting introduced to the world of Nihonto and wartime blades the hard way, do so don't give up hope - they are out there! Hopefully you didn't pay too much for it... I'd heavily advise reading up on as many threads in the forum as you can - you'll be able to train your eye pretty quickly about what a type 95 or type 98 etc should look like.

 

Also, did you remove the tsuka wrap? Hopefully not something you'd do on a real ww2 relic 😅