LOOKING AT THS BLADE, I WOULD GUESS THE ORIGINAL CUTTING EDGE WAS BETWEEN 31"-32". LONG MASSIVE SWORDS EMULATING THOSE MADE DURING THE NAMBOKUCHO PERIOD, WHEN THERE WAS A CIVIL WAR BETWEEN TWO SEPERATE IMPERIAL COURTS, WERE ORDERED AND WORN BY SAMURAI FAVORING THE RESTORATION OF THE EMPEROR'S POWER. THIS FORM OF SWORD WAS NICKNAMED "KINSHI****O." AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THESE SWORDS FROM THE LATE EDO PERIOD WERE NOT HIGHLY VALUED AND MANY, AS THIS BLADE, WERE MADE MACHI OKURI HAVING THE CUTTING EDGE SHORTENED FROM THE NAKAGO END. THIS IS EVIDENCED BY THE SECOND HOLE AND THE BRIGHTER TANG STEEL THAT WAS ONCE CUTTING EDGE.
BOB
