Primer on WWII Japanese Sword Value?

[.455_Hunter]

My Cousin went down to my recently deceased Aunt's condo today and retrieved some more of my Grandfather's WWII mementos. Included in this haul is the Type 95 NCO sword he obtained in either Okinawa or occupied mainland Japan. My Grandfather was not a "Greatest Generation" member, being significantly older at 50 by the end of the war and serving in the Red Cross. He passed in 1986 at age 91.

There is no question concerning the sword's authenticity, and its obviously a non-sellable cherished family heirloom, but what are the rough value on these things? It's completely outside my knowledge base. I would describe the condition as "Good- used, but not abused".

Thanks!

 

[hso]

Pictures are essential.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Houston, we have a problem....

Comparing on-line pics and what we have, it looks like my Uncle "cleaned it up" and stripped all of the paint from the sword and scabbard back in the day. I would suspect it was a similar thought process to the chrome platted Victory Revolvers from the 50's and 60's- Make them look BETTER!

Oh well, still cool. I think the thing scotch-taped to the scabbard is some sort of leather strap. [Pics are from my Cousin. I have never actually seen the thing.]

Perhaps a candidate for restoration?

 

[Mk-211]

I think that's a souvenir version, wall hanger.

The handle isn't real ray skin and is screwed on.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ray...d=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=1sDKLsAWVB2J5M

ETA: https://www.hanbonforge.com/BLOG/HOW-TO-WRAP-A-SAMURAI-SWORD-HANDLE

 

[.455_Hunter]

I think that's a souvenir version, wall hanger.

The handle isn't real ray skin and is screwed on.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ray...d=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=1sDKLsAWVB2J5M

OK- I guess I am teaching in this thread too and not just learning. The Type 95 was mass produced and used an aluminum handle. Take a look at this listing for another example of this sword in more "as issued" condition...

https://www.ima-usa.com/collections...95-nco-katana-sword-with-matched-serial-70264

Also provides an idea of value for one in field used condition.

 

[Mk-211]

I learned something new, thank you.

 

[hso]

The handle isn't real ray skin and is screwed on.

That's the way NCO and some officer swords produced for troops were made. That does NOT make them a "souvinere version". They're WWII militaria.

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/military.htm

http://ohmura-study.net/957.html

You have an aluminum handle shin-gunto.


Arsenal made with a machine made blade (typically).
Look for a serial number and an arsenal mark on the blade and post a picture.

 

[Jim Watson]

What about restoration? Paint the handle back to its original simulated cord over rayskin and the scabbard back to what I recall as O.D. or similar dull green.

 

[entropy]

Pull the menuki and slide the tsuba and tsuka off. Look for kanji characters ( Japanese writing) on the tang. If there is an arsenal mark, it is a gunto, but many family blades were shortened to gunto length by young officers so the could be carried in battle. Some pay good money to repatriate family blades lost in the war.

 

[.455_Hunter]

What about restoration? Paint the handle back to its original simulated cord over rayskin and the scabbard back to what I recall as O.D. or similar dull green.

Absolutely. My Cousin and I agree that is a definite possibility.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Pull the menuki and slide the tsuba and tsuka off. Look for kanji characters ( Japanese writing) on the tang. If there is an arsenal mark, it is a gunto, but many family blades were shortened to gunto length by young officers so the could be carried in battle. Some pay good money to repatriate family blades lost in the war.

Would factory NCO swords be tied to a family?

 

[hso]

Would factory NCO swords be tied to a family?

Not like you're thinking. They were typically made in a factory and just issued by the military to an NCO like a sidearm.

The only way that would not be the case was if an NCO came from a family that had a family sword mounted in military hardware for a son to carry to war. That would be unlikely since if your family was important enough to have a family sword the favored son would probably be an officer.