Japanese Sword Estate Find Help?

[gtodan]

Assisting a widow in determining what this item is. Navy corpsman bring back. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Information

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[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Not an expert. Looks like a low end Shin Gunto in good condition. Very nice to have the document. My father was a Pharmasist Mate 3rd class on Uss Kenton APA 122.Wish he had brought more home than bad memories.

[browningautorifle]

Interesting piece, how long is it over all? How long is the blade?

[gtodan]

Approximately 40" overall. 30" blade length including habaki. The habaki is a little loose against the nakago.

Interesting piece, how long is it over all? How long is the blade?

[lboos]

It look's like a Navy, which is worth several hundred dollars more then the Army Officers sword, that one look's like the blade has been cleaned [scratch marks], should have been left alone. it's hard to tell on the value, I have an excellent 1943 Military Officer's sword WW 2 [not a family sword hand made, BIG BUCKS] The value on mine is $1200, if that one is a "WW 2 machine made" and the blade cleaned by a prof. I would say around $1500-$1700.
I am a long way from a Sword expert, I know just enough to get myself in trouble, I only own one.
It would help if the handle was off where you could see the writing on the sword.

[browningautorifle]

So, 30" would make it a Katana wouldn't it? This stolen from Wiki, if you can believe them.

The length of the Katana blade varied considerably during the course of its history. In the late 14th and early 15th centuries, katana blades tended to have lengths between 70 and 73 cm (27½ and 28½ in). During the early 16th century, the average length approached closer to 60 cm (23½ in).

[lboos]

I think you are right Jim, I know their was a standard length [reg.] for WW 2 swords. many would take their family sword to war with them but would have to have them cut to meet the military reg's. and many of the 14th and 15th century hand made high value swords were ruined because of this.
The older hand made ones made by the masters in good shape [not cut] are worth a lot of money $20,000-$200,000 or more depending on the master, just a guess.
Remember, I only own one sword and access to the internet. jmo.

Here's a pic. of my WW 2 sword, it's a Army Officer's, never been sharpened.
sorry about the poor pic.

[browningautorifle]

Very nice sword... We'll need to see the OP's blade stripped for details before we can help much. That's probably why the others haven't come in yet.

[gtodan]

You're right. Problem is I am not the owner. I will contact the owner this week. I am not sure exactly how to disassemble it and I really dont want to buy it.

---------- Post added at 02:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:32 PM ----------

late war boos?

I think you are right Jim, I know their was a standard length [reg.] for WW 2 swords. many would take their family sword to war with them but would have to have them cut to meet the military reg's. and many of the 14th and 15th century hand made high value swords were ruined because of this.
The older hand made ones made by the masters in good shape [not cut] are worth a lot of money $20,000-$200,000 or more depending on the master, just a guess.
Remember, I only own one sword and access to the internet. jmo.

Here's a pic. of my WW 2 sword, it's a Army Officer's, never been sharpened.
sorry about the poor pic.

[lboos]

Yes, I would think late war.