Looking for Information on this Japanese Katana

[PoinsettA]

Hi i have this sword here, all i know from what the owner told me was that the blade is a real handmade blade passed down from generation to generation 700 years to create this ww2 era katana. The pitting on the end of the blade was because it was put back into the scabbard with the victims blood still on the blade.

I didnt see any markings on the tang, Serial #86 on all 3 parts of the handle

https://imgur.com/a/XdcqMiT

[Beater]

Old sword blade

Everything you have been told could be correct. The blade is certainly very old,Koto (pre 1600) and therefore likely to have been handed-down from generation to generation. I treat all stories about rust being related to blood as fanciful. Although blood would undoubtedly do that, so does plain old water and years of neglect. Every swordsman worth his salt would carry out some form of chiburi after using the sword on a human. They were well aware of the damage which would result from returning the blade to its saya without proper cleaning.

I’m not sure if some of that pitting could be removed by professional polishing? You would need to show it to someone with experience of such matters.

Nice koshirae and company grade officer’s tassel (Lieutenant or Captain).

[PoinsettA]

Everything you have been told could be correct. The blade is certainly very old,Koto (pre 1600) and therefore likely to have been handed-down from generation to generation. I treat all stories about rust being related to blood as fanciful. Although blood would undoubtedly do that, so does plain old water and years of neglect. Every swordsman worth his salt would carry out some form of chiburi after using the sword on a human. They were well aware of the damage which would result from returning the blade to its saya without proper cleaning.

I’m not sure if some of that pitting could be removed by professional polishing? You would need to show it to someone with experience of such matters.

Nice koshirae and company grade officer’s tassel (Lieutenant or Captain).

What would I call this type of sword?

[BruceP]

The way it’s fitted out it’s called a Japanese Officer Type 98 gunto. There are other words for the blade itself, like katana, but the whole rig together is a Type 98.

[PoinsettA]

Thank you guys for the answers