Katana I inherited, looking to learn more

[Battosai]

Hello everyone, 

 

My grandfather passed and left me a Japanese sword he acquired during WWII. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to sit down and talk to him in length about the sword, I only have a vague story from my father about my grandfather being primarily in the Pacific during the war, in the Marines. 
 

As the only other Marine in the family, he left me the sword and since then I’ve tried doing my own research. However, I can’t seem to find any definitive answers as to whether or not it was a “family sword” made into a military service sword or if it was some kind of forgery, the signature on the tang says “Tadayoshi” according to Google. But I’ve been told it’s on the wrong side, but others have said it may have been put on that side and could still be legitimate. 
 

Needless to say, I’m at a loss for what exactly I have here. There is also some kind of yellow/white marking on the tang that I can’t find any information about. 
 

I will attach photos, any info that could help would be greatly appreciated! 

[Battosai]

[Battosai]

[Battosai]

Apologies, trying to post all the pictures I have but it won’t let me post most of them. 

[Scogg]

Hi Bryan, welcome to the forum.

 

No problem, take your time with the photos even if it takes a few posts. Cropping them usually helps shrink the size, and the forum also has an image resizing tool at the top menu. 
 

If possible, show both sides of the tang, oriented so the tip of the blade is north and the tang south. Dark non reflective background works best. 
 

Looks like an interesting Type 98 shin-gunto,

(meaning those are World War Two officers sword fittings, and they look real from here to me.). 

Best of luck,

-Sam 

[nulldevice]

The mei reads Hizen Kuni Tadayoshi - 肥前國忠吉

 

IMO the mei looks very roughly chiseled and for a Hizen blade, typically you'd see the mei on the other side of the tang as Hizen smiths tended to sign tachi mei and not katana mei. 

[2devnul]

1 hour ago, Battosai said:

could still be legitimate

 

Hi Bryan,

 

Even if it is Gimei (forgery signature) then it is still legitimate antique Nihonto. Try to shrink/resize pictures and use the guides from forum on how to make the pictures. Make also some measurements of the sword. You will find all 'how to' here on forum. I can't say much from these pictures, but this might be Edo period Katana (1600s/1700s). Tadayoshi blades according to some sources/books are mostly Gimei blades. But who knows, maybe you are lucky. 

 

Please try to post some more pictures and measurements. Thanks! 

[John C]

Bryan:

I'm not 100 percent sure, however I think the white paint is katakana for Katsube. Possibly the owner?

 

John C.

[Nihonto student]

Dear Bryan,

 

in addition to agreeing with what was previously expressed, perhaps it is an optical effect of the photos but in the nakago the shinogi seems to disappear, furthermore not a single trace of yasurime for a "relatively recent" nakago... if due to corrosion I would expect a more generally suffering appearance of the whole nakago and not such deep mei strokes.

 

All the best

 

Giordy

[Battosai]

On 6/22/2026 at 11:50 PM, Scogg said:

 

Edited June 24 by Battosai

[Battosai]

Thank you all for all the help so far! I can’t express in writing how happy I am to see that you have taken the time to respond to this. I am doing my best to get the rest of the photos in here.
 

Do any of you recommend a specialist I could send this to who would be able to find out more specifics about it, or who may be able to make a definite decision on whether it is a forgery or not? 
 

Regardless of whether it turns out to be or not, I’m happy to have at least read here that it is, more likely than not, an older blade than the ones they made with machines during WW2. 

Edited June 24 by Battosai

[Rivkin]

Unfortunately unless its some ultra-weird photo issue, such dancing strikes in the signature exclude this being genuine. Regarding to what it dates, its a relatively wide blade with reasonably long nakago... I don't get Muromachi vibe from it, so its probably something later.

Financially anything post-Muromachi does not make much sense to polish etc., so I would leave it as is - a Japanese sword blade and a piece of history but not a gold mine.

[2devnul]

Hi,

 

My amateur collector judgment based on what I can see on pictures. Sugata and Nakago speaks for Edo period blade. Hamon appears to be Suguha. Blade looks healthy, without huge Ware or aggressive rust. I don't think it is Tadayoshi due to the looks of the Mei and it being on wrong side of Nakago. 

 

I can't tell much about the Koshirae as Gunto is not my area of interest. You can try posting (Koshirae topic) in military swords section. 

 

56 minutes ago, Battosai said:

an older blade than the ones they made with machines during WW2.

That is what I think based on pictures. Still, it will be good if you could show this sword to someone with the knowledge. There are a lot of collectors from USA on this forum. 

[Jeff Vines]

Hi All

i have been following you for some time now and have learned quite a bit from you guys which has helped me,,,,,,,,I am nowhere near to what you know on this subject. I now need help as I have recently come in possession of a late pineapple katana which supposedly had history. This was obtained by a dealer from another dealer who unfortunately had a fire at his Wharehouse and lost all the info to part of his WW2 collection. I specialise in WW1 but also have a WW2 collection but like I said very little katana knowledge. Can you specialists have a look at the pics and give me your opinion as I have no idea about these.  The Habaki is missing but it does look like one was on there,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,🤷Thanks, Jeff

[John C]

Jeff:

Hello. Not sure what is going on with this one. I do not think the handle is from a late model 95 (see pic). The knurls should be flat not rounded and the decorative "menuki" used as a screw set is missing. No habaki but a pierced tsuba. Seems cobbled together to me. But need shots of the tang to be sure. If it were a type 95, it would have a serial number near the tang. The leather cover and brown tassel, if original, makes me think gunzoku if the rig is legit. More pictures of the entire blade would be helpful.

 

[Jeff Vines]

Hi Jon, really appreciate you getting back as I’m starting to realise that it’s a bit of a mine field out there isn’t it. I will endeavour to get this apart and look at the tang which may give some details as to what I’m dealing with. Watch this space and thanks once again. Jeff