Hey all.  Not my usual forum to post on but here I am!  I come to you all with my literal "hat in my hand" in hopes that someone can help me with this katana I just bought.  This sword was a bring back, along with a Type 2 Arisaka para rifle (I now own also), and was hoping that some of you out there with knowledge that I clearly don't have could help me identify and authenticate that what I have is what I was told.     Now, I will say that the vets son (himself a Vietnam vet), did talk back in the 80's with a supposed renowned Japanese sword guy in IL named David Pepin.  They were told that this sword dates from the late 1300's and is a copy of a famous maker of the time (I have no idea!).  He said that this was a very old sword that was cut down at some point from a full sized katana.  I will post a bunch of pictures in hope of someone being able to tell me a few things about it.  Is it authentic?  Is it old?  Is it valuable (I already paid so I suppose that it doesn't really matter), and what you think about it.  Here are a lot of pictures for you to look at and give me your thoughts on this bring back.   Thank you all in advance, as I truly have no idea on these weapons as I am not a Japanese collector.  Thanks! more. Pictures of the tang and makers marks...... More tang pics

Pre 1898 Guns Only .....NO Ammunition!

Very nice helmet....super color and condition 

Extremely nice! I'm jealous.   RiverPatrol

A most odd one, Luftwaffe of a Flak unit wearing Czech Helmets with some kind of Maxim Type MG. Two thing come up as to why, that this photo taken in early 1939 in Czechoslovakia, and are posing wearing these, or for some reason there was a small issue of them for wear.

Found by friend metal detecting.  What is it?  

I took this sharper photo of those markings and chatGPT changed its mind on this having been captured by the Japanese.   chat said: I can clearly see the crown shape The broad arrow is obvious The small angled stamp matches British private inspectors (not arsenal kanji) The texture and finish are correct for British factory acceptance, not Japanese refurbishment Those visual cues were not as clear in the earlier image.   Earlier answer = incorrect due to ambiguous visual cues Today’s higher-clarity image reveals British ordnance marks The bayonet is not Japanese-marked Not a British capture piece   Now I'd love to see an example of a Japanese capture with Japanese ordnance stamps, if such a thing exists!

your right I see the mark on yours

Mine is actually waffenamt marked. if you happen to blow the picture up you can see the waffenamt 

Got the seller to give me a more money off because he did not know what he was selling. Still mostly Bund issued due to it was turned.

Are there any marks on it. On eBay you see similar ones advertised as WW2 German issue, but you see made in Germany on them they did not use English on anything in WW2. I guess the ones with made in Germany on there was after east and west Germany got a Sig 9mm pistol with West Germany on it. You really got to be careful on eBay so many that know nothing on what they sale. Nice original issued boatswain pipe you got. I just bought this one but bad photos after I bought it you have to blow up the photos a little and looks like made in Germany looks like I been burnt. https://www.ebay.com/itm/157204532648 Yes, the one I got has made in Germany. You can tell it was turned see the dimple in the bowl most likely Bund issued after the cold war that when you stop seeing made in west or east Germany.

here is the one I posted on the forum, I can get better for you if you wish