WW2 NCO sword question

[Covertforce]

Hello all. This is the first timeI've posted on here although I have been studying a lot of posts in an effort to learn about a nice looking WW2 sword my grandfather brought back with him. Other than what I have learned on the internet, i really dont know much about them.

 

Since I've been unemployed the last month, I am forced to sell items so that I can pay the bills and such. Also, I've always wondered about this swords orgin and history since i was a little kid. Recently, I have found a veteran that is interested in my sword, and I have been talking to him via E mail sharing pictures and we have both been trying to determine how valuable it is.

 

I am fairly certain that the blade is authentic, i know my grandfather brought this item back with him, however he did let some guy convinve him he could "refurbish" it and the guy painted some stuff or whatever, so I dont know what this guy did to it. For all i know he switched the blade out with a good looking knock off or somthing. Anyways, I have included some pics of the blade and tang, and would like some input from you guys as to how authentic it is and if its handmade or machine made etc.

 

There are no stamped numbers, signatures or arsenal markings anywhere on the blade. The tang has a fair amount of dark, dark brown (almost black) to redish brown rust on it.. and the blade is razor sharp its entire length, although it dosent appear to have been sharpened.. at least not by a stone or a file or anything.... I would be very thankful for any information you guys could give me.

[Bruno]

[Covertforce]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0720.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0755.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0754.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0753.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0752.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0751.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0747.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0746.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0735.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0732.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0728.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0757.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0759.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/ ... AG0760.jpg

[Mark]

army officer's sword. Blade looks hand made, probably an older antique blade. hard to say exact value from a few pictures, we do not know length, if there are fatal flaws etc, but if forced to guess from what i see i would say $1000 give or take

[hybridfiat]

Ill save the others here the job of giving the same advice:

1. DONT clean the rust off the tang (nakago) it will devalue the blade.

2. DONT use any kind of abrasive (creme cleanser included) on the blade. Just light machine oil and a very clean cloth but don't oil the tang. You can hold the sword by the nakago, that will help to neutralise some of the active red rust.

3. Dont touch the polished blade ANYWHERE with your skin. If you have checked its sharpness your have now left skin acids on the blade and it WILL rust at the edge. So clean them off.

4. When you pull the blade in and out of the scabbard (saya) please do it along the spine of the blade so you don't scratch the blade against the side of the saya.

5. Dont let an auction house dealer near it as they have NO idea about a true trad jap sword (nihonto) Which yours IS.

The estimate is probably correct $1000 ono. Wartime swords (Gunto) even family traditionally made swords in gunto fittings are not fetching high prices today. Not unless there is proof that it is by a famous smith or has really high level fittings (yours does not).

Having said that they are officer fittings and an NCO would not have had a sword that good.

PM sent

[David Flynn]

At a quick guess, I'd say a shin shinto made to look Koto.

[cabowen]

If you look carefully, you can see that the two mekugi-ana were drilled at different times. The older, original was drilled from the opposite side, and is smoother around the opening, which happens with time. The other is crisp around the edges and is thus newer. The rust is much older as well towards the bottom of the nakago with deeper pitting. I don't think this was done purposely. I would think the sword is at least shinto, if not earlier.

[Covertforce]

Thank you all so much for the input about this sword, I've always been into Japanese stuff and the possibility of the sword being that old fascinates me!!

 

The guy was interested in the sword said his friend thought it looked terrible, esp the tang because of the small spot of surface rust that's kind of red, the rust on the bottom of the tang, and the way the tang is flat on the end.... He told the guy its only worth four or five hundred dollars? I don't even know if I want to sell it if its such an antiqe blade, I sure as hell don't want to give it away at that price if it is worth double what he's offering.

 

I also just found a shorter sword that my grandfather brought back at the same time, I'm going to post some pics and see what you guys think about it.

[Covertforce]

The length is 27" from the tip of the blade to the bottom of the tang.

 

As you can see, its not nearly in as good a shape as the other sword.