As a K98 collector I don't know about Japanese swords but have been given an NCO's sword.

Could someone help me with the following questions:

1. Can the hilt be removed? I've taken out the brass pin, however the hilt remains tight.

2. The scabbard is down to bare metal and shows grinding marks. I presume it was painted originally. I'm considering repainting it and would appreciate any advice.

the handle can be removed,but is a difficult task so i wouldn't advise it..scabbard was paintd an olive green color,,,Robert

Thanks Robert. Why is the handle harder to remove than on say an officers katana? Is it because of the metal hilt? Andrew

yes...these swords were not meant to be taken apart except for maybe the company armorer,if even then,,,i dont believe there is anything under the handles, as these are mass produced machined made blades with serial numbers,,,i myself have never tried to take one off due to the mass produced status of these swords,,,robert

I agree with Robert. There is really no need to dismantle these NCO swords as the machine made blades are mass produced and it typically buggers up the screws and creates more problems than it soloves. These are new ****nal made blades and not old ones as seen on the officer swords.

As far as the re-paint The olive green isnt the same color as American O.D. Green and is more of
a semi-gloss lighter olive green. not flat.
Good luck Geoff.

"these are new _ _ _ _ nal made blades" ????? Can we finesse something past the censor so we know what Orpo said?

I AGREE. THERE IS NO REASON TO TAKE IT APART. I JUST BOUGHT A 1944 MODEL ARMY OFFICER'S SWORD AT A LOCAL ESTATE AUCTION WITH A MACHINE MADE BLADE. I HAVE NO REASON TO TAKE IT APART. I AM SURE IT IS SIGNED AND DATED BUT I DON'T CARE. UNRECORDED FACTORY WORKER'S NAMES HAVE NO IMPORTANCE.

Barry,

Yes, the automatic censor is much smarter than all of us. I meant a "Factory" made blade instead of one made by a traditional swordsmith.