Hello!
Looking for opinions about this shin gunto.

What do you think about this sword? Any "red flags"?

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It is a machine made non hand made ****nal blade and is not of great historical value and I believe is actually banned in Japan. It is certainly WW2 era. David

Sorry the computer thought I was using bad language I guess. That word should be ****nal. David

Oh well, Blade making place. David

Serial numbers matching blade and scabbard is a good thing.This is a later model NCO sword. The tsuba or handgaurd is blackened steel instead of the earlier fancier detailed brass.Although true conneseurs of hand forged samurai blades view these pieces as worthless or poor quality they are a good way for those interested in WW11 history to learn from and often lead to a deeper interest and appreciation of the Japanese sword and the beauty and skill required to create a hand forged blade. Best wishes Geoff.

I have a similar late war NCO sword. I value it because it was a wartime issued weapon just like any Japanese rifle or bayonet. I don't collect fine hand made swords, but I do collect WWII weapons

I NOTICE THERE IS AN EXTRA HOLE CUT IN TO THE TSUBA. LIKELY, THE NCO ATTACHED A ROPE OR LEATHER THING THROUGH THIS HOLE TO RETAIN THE BLADE BY THE WRIST.
THESE BLADES ARE ILLEGAL TO OWN IN JAPAN WITH ONE EXCEPTION. THEY CAN BE RETAINED AS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM WITH PROOF BACK TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF HIM BEING A BLOOD RELATION. THE SAME IS TRUE FOR NON TRADITIONAL WW2 ERA OFFICER SWORDS. IN BOTH CASES, THEY MUST BE REGISTERED BY THE GOVERNMENT.