Japanese Naval sword

[Garandy]

Pre war or mid war?

[Bruce Pennington]

The Type 97 was authorized in 1937, but from what I can tell about new productions, they didn't really hit the streets for a year or 2. So it's possible the earliest this could be, would be a 1938 gunto. There are no distinctive variations, like between a Type 94 and 98, over the years of kaigunto, until you get to the late-war variants, so not really possible to ID a year for this.

Pictures of the nakago (tang) could help if it is a dated blade! How about some shots. There are sometimes stamps on navy blades, and stamped numbers, and possibly a smith's name.

[Garandy]

Ok thanks!