Help with some WWII NCO Swords

M67

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Apr 17, 2010
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My first dip into expensive knives....were old military swords and knives. I've had these for 10 years or more now and over that time my passions have changed and I lot a lot of knowledge about these and I really got out of the market interest for these.

So I've been curious on how the market/collectors would view these swords. I got them because where I am you don't see many of them and I felt like I was resuing them really, I wasn't going to stick them on a grinder or use them to chop tree limbs, I was getting them because of the history.

These are the swords I've been curious on, there are 2 NCOs from various stages in the war and 1 parade sword (or at least I was told). Pretty darn sure the NCOs are all authentic, the parade sword, I'm not sure. The mount looks authentic, could be rebladed though, not sure.

Anyway, here's a lot of pics. Any info or ideas on market interest would be much appreciated, or if the authenticity is in question please tell me. The NCOs I'm confident are real, the "parade", I'm not sure.


This one doesn't have the lock on the scabbard, so no serial number is present to match with the blade. Edge has been damaged some, hard telling in combat or from someone's kids playing with a war trophy.














 
Here's the second NCO, a later production one. Handle has started to split, but serial number on blade and scabbard match. Has had some serious grinder marks (guy I bought it from said he did that, I knew I had to try and save the poor thing from him)













 
And the parade sword. Some edge damage, rust, etc. I highly doubt the paint is original, and no, I didn't paint it.



















Any help would be much appreciated.
 
Both the first two are machine made NCO shingunto with severely damaged points (kissaki) - not worth collecting IMHO. The wood handled is a late 1945 model. The last is a parade sword, obviously (as you mentioned) with a repainted scabbard (saya). All three are in poor condition. Only value would be as family heirlooms; little to no collector value even to military collectors. Apologize if this is bad news, but that's the way I see them and I've seen many in the last 45 years of collecting Nihonto.
Rich S

-------------------------------------------------------
Richard Stein, PhD

Japanese Sword Guide
http://japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm
 
That's really what I needed to know. I have another machine made I'm holding onto because it was my first and in a lot better condition, Kyu Gunto, and an officer's sword that was made in May of 45. These were just ones I was up in the air about and it seems like they've dissapeard in all conditions, or at least around Central Indiana. Last one I saw was beat to hell and the guy was advertising it as a samurai sword and wanting $950.....which I knew he was off his rocker on that one.
 
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