Japanese Sword ID
 

My father in law has this Japanese sword. He believes it is WWII vintage. Unfortunately someone polished some corrosion and value off. Any sword experts out there. He thinks it's a last ditch type sword. I've never seen one like it.

Trying to add pictures with my phone.

Last one.

It is unmarked, by the way.

hard to say - if original then it could be one made in China during the latter part of WW2 or a local made in one of the islands.

There were also 'last ditch' ones made by GI's or locals for sale to GI's.

I have seen bayonets with wood scabbards.

You may wish to try a google search, images, for "Japanese sai sword wooden handle scabbard" or something like that. The blade resembles a later NCO sword but this is all way over my pay grade.
Interesting, though...
dju

I was mistaken. It is not engraved but it is marked.

Is that a "damascus" blade?
dju

No, at least not in the way I understand Damascus to appear.

There is a good Japanese group at Gunboards Forums.
They could tell you more than you ever want to know about this.

Not strictly in my realm, but interesting, nonetheless. The perception that the blade is Damascus is likely pareidolic--the grinding/sanding of the surface, combined with the manner in which the corrosion established itself, might only be making it look Damascus at a glance. Need sharper/ higher res. pics!

Please post a link to a thread on another forum, so we may follow along.