Sorry if this isn't the right subreddit, saw a few posts like this one and figured it was worth a shot. here are the images: http://i.imgur.com/DdRgGhc.jpg http://i.imgur.com/Sccd4eI.jpg http://i.imgur.com/ttkxKk4.jpg http://i.imgur.com/lLuUNGn.jpg
Thanks for any information you have on these! Sorry I don't have any other info other than they are from his grandfather, who said he brought them back during WW2.
They look like the mass-produced Japanese Type 94, Type 95 and Type 98 officers' and NCO's swords to me. These were distributed in high numbers to the Japanese army in the years preceeding ww2 to replace European style sabres and were a popular trophy of allied soldiers.
The lower scabbard looks like that of the Type 98 introduced in 1938, but a later war version which deleted the brass ornaments and many other details since Japan lacked raw materials and swords placed low in the priority order. The upper one looks like a Type 94.
So my guess would be that you have a Type 94 and a Type 98 Japanese mass-produced sword, and that the Type 98 is a later-war production.
The Type 95 had fullers in the blade, so I don't think it is one of them.
The one with the pointy hilt says Ichihara Nagamitsu
The one with the flat one says Hizen Kuni Chuunin Tadayoshi
A quick Japanese google (yes I know) says the former is without a doubt a gunto, made in Okayama.
The latter inscription is used in early Edo? Or a later forgery? Not too sure about this one.
