This is a WWII Japanese army NCO sword. The blades on these swords are always numbered. They were issued to soldiers who did not want to. If the serial number is on the blade itself typically on the Shinogi (the blade Ridge) near the habaki then it is authentic Japanese WW2 sword.

1. Japanese Wwii Sword For Sale

Japanese Wwii Sword For Sale

For most of us who get the chance to handle a finely crafted nihonto 日本刀 （ にほんと ） Japanese sword, we couldn't do much more than hold it cross-eyed and bleat out 'nice sword.' Why some consider a on par with a da Vinci eludes us. Japanese swords are works of art, but to the untrained eye one isn't much different from another. While being able to properly appraise a sword can take a lifetime, fortunately, you can see what makes a sword unique just by knowing what to look for. Nihonto or Gunto? Source: Gunto 軍刀 （ ぐんと ） (meaning either 'saber' or 'service sword') were the swords of Japanese WWII officers.

Although some gunto were either handcrafted or partially handcrafted, most were assembled in factories from standard bar stock. Telling a gunto from a high quality blade is usually easy. If you can read Japanese and know how to open the grip, the signature on the tang (the part of the blade inside the handle) will tell you exactly what it is. If you can't do these things, it's still not very difficult. If the sword is in Japan it is definitely a nihonto. Since the mass-produced gunto have no artistic value, the Japanese government classifies them as weapons. Owning one is illegal in Japan.