japanese sword/hacket that is signed with name and writing in japanese with a wooden handle.i do not know what kind of steel the blade is.
my great grandmother had it for so long and i ended up inherited the item.
Dear Lisa,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry. My sincere apologies for the delay with the apprisal.
The presented object appears to be a Japanese cutting tool with an unknown purpose. The knife or hacket has a not pointed blade and the grip and the blade are curved and not straight. Such angles are common for cutting tools in agriculture for example. The fact that this tool has no knifepoint is a hint that this is no weapon. It could be also a kitchen knife for slicing vegetables in thin layers like Japanese radish. The surface and the workmanship are a hint that this piece was made in the middle of the 20th century.
This piece is in medium condition and there is no serious damage visible in the images provided.
A fair market estimation would be between 5 to 10 USD.
This estimate is based on actual recent past recorded auction sales of comparable items. Retail "asking prices" can be higher and may vary.
With kind regards,
George