Dear Kathy,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

The presented object appears to be a Japanese Imperial Type 98 "Shin Gunto" sword of a member of the Imperial Japanese Army in the WWII period. The blade comes with a scabbard and a pommel. This sword which means "new military sword" was designed in memory of the Japanese sword tradition and was in use between 1935 and 1945 for the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. Sometimes older blades were used in this case we have a quite simple steel blade. Such swords came as trophies of GIs after WWII in high numbers to the United States.
This piece is in medium condition and there is no severe damage visible in the images provided.
A fair market estimation would be between 300 to 700 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,
Georg