The throat piece does appear to be missing.
The grip/pommel look European, tho Japan and China both copied European ones, especially for Cavalry units*. It looks a bit of a marriage. Japan was fond of reworking captured weapons for NCSs, and Native police units. The 'Heiho' mod to Indonesian Dutch Klewangs is an example. The missing throat may have been deliberate to enable its use with the marriage. The blade and its tonku look more Japanese.
*- I've heard the Chinese copy of the Japanese Cavalry sabre is actually better made than the Japanese one it emulates.
|