hi notaguru
cant see to much on these photos of your unckles bring back japanese sword are you sure you measured the blade from the tip of the blade to the front of the habaki not the rear of the habaki i might be wrong but it looks possibly 26-27 inches not 29 . now the tang picture is very bad i cant see any thing of the tang and the hole in tang shoulnt be drilled its hand punched also is the scabard wood as i think it is or metal the picture of the cutting edge of blade that shows not in good polish untill you can give a better picture and answer the questions above this would help me to help you hope you agree have a nice day andy militarynut