Trying to identify sword

[ScottyPP]

Hello all- as most stories go, this sword was part of my wife’s father’s estate. He was a character- and tended to buy “stories “ not objects.

 

He was even on an episode of American Pickers tv show! 
 

the blade is a long sword- not sharp - but seems it could be. The handle and scabbard are very light wood.

 

I took the handle off - and I see what appears to be a serial number “265” 

 

it has a small knife in the side of the scabbard 

 

Brass tsuba that is ornate. 
 

The scabbard has several cracks - I would love advice on how to repair ?

 

maybe a Japanese NCO sword? Has a very odd cardboard “shim” that’s a folded cardboard with Japanese print 

appreciate any all info - not interested in selling wife would kill me with it . 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Hello Scott, welcome to the forum. Unfortunately this is a chinese fake, of which they've been making for decades. 

 

https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

[ScottyPP]

Thanks for the reply ! 

[Bruce Pennington]

Scott,

A couple of points, just to help you see what John is seeing:

- You can see the wavy pattern in the blade steel that is known as Damascus steel.  It is very common in Chinese blades imitating Japanese.  Don't know why they do it, because the Japanese NEVER used Damascus pattern steel.

- Notice the offset spacing of the two notches where the blade meets the nakago (tang).  Again, a standard Chinese practice.  Japanese made the notches even with each other.  (side note: the Japanese NCO swords had offset notches, but this is not and NCO sword)

- The etched-on characters on the blade: Not a Japanese practice.

[Joel Lundqvist]

If I remember right, there was Japanese people carry swords when they lived in China during the occupation, to get respect from the Chinese people, it was lawful for back in Japan it was forbidden to carry swords so this was oportunity when live in China, and actual sword maker from Japan had factory in China, but not producing real traditional swords only funktional, this factory was stil working after the WW2, and maybe some stil are modern factory today making the madern swords in big numbers

[ROKUJURO]

Joel,

before a newbie reads this and believes it:  This is all wrong or at least confounded from other information.

[Bruce Pennington]

On 7/11/2026 at 12:37 AM, Joel Lundqvist said:

If I remember right, there was Japanese people carry swords when they lived in China during the occupation, to get respect from the Chinese people, it was lawful for back in Japan it was forbidden to carry swords so this was oportunity when live in China, and actual sword maker from Japan had factory in China, but not producing real traditional swords only funktional, this factory was stil working after the WW2, and maybe some stil are modern factory today making the madern swords in big numbers

Joel,

Do you have a source for this information?  By "occupation" are you talking about the The First Sino-Japanese War (25 July 1894 – 17 April 1895)?  

We know there were swords being made in occupied China during WWII.  Just haven't heard of it being done before that.

[Joel Lundqvist]

5 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Joel,

Do you have a source for this information?  By "occupation" are you talking about the The First Sino-Japanese War (25 July 1894 – 17 April 1895)?  

We know there were swords being made in occupied China during WWII.  Just haven't heard of it being done before that.

I ment during the ockupation in ww2, not erlyer, I know Japan have been there before but not know about it so much, I know many Chinese for i have worked on traditional hospital in Shanghai, I'm Acupunkture Dr,