Japanese Sword - Need help identifying

[Slatts]

A friend of mine asked me to help him identify this short japanese sword. His grandfather, a WWII vet, brought it back from Japan in 1947. He picked it up in a place called Takaoka, Japan.

The total length is about 18 inches. It looks like bamboo strips were added for decorative effect. There are no markings whatsoever on this knife. Here are some crappy pics. The wood is actually lighter than shown here.

 

[Persev]

You may have better luck identifying it by removing the handle, this would be done by pushing out the little wooden pin ( mekugi ) at which point the handle should be removable and you can check the tang for any markings. Note this may be trickier than it seems so you may want to look at having a professional do it.

 

[Slatts]

You may have better luck identifying it by removing the handle,

Thanks. I should have mentioned that's been done already and there are no markings there either. It's completely sterile.

 

[Rich S]

This is either an o-tanto (large tanto) or ko-wakizashi (short wakizashi)
in shirasaya (plain Ho wood storage scabbard).

Measure the blade length alone from the back notch by the tang
to the point in a straight line. If under 12 inches = tanto, if over
12 inches = wakizashi. Blade style is called hira-zukuri (without
ridgeline).

Can't tell anything else
from these pics. Condition appears pretty poor.

Rich S

 

[Slatts]

Thanks Rich. It is right at 12 inches so I guess it's either a bit tanto or a smal wakizashi.

I take it that these blades fairly common. Is there any collectibility here? My friend would like to know an approximate value.

 

[Rich S]

I would call it an o-tanto at 12 inches. Can't possibly give even a
guess at value from the info given. Sorry.
Rich s