Very unusual SE sword

[Battara]

I guess anything is possible, although I thought that Ainu pieces looked less Japanese and more "tribal" from what I have seen.

[fearn]

Don't the Ainu have a fairly distinct style of artwork? I'm not seeing the Ainu curvilinear patterns on this one yet.

F

[drdavid]

Looks like the blade is made from a big old bastard file

I think it is quite possible that this had a previous life as a file, compare the marks seen close to the hilt with this Tibetan piece
DrD

[Tim Simmons]

I do not know much about the intricacies of Far Eastern stuff. However in this picture there is a melon/watermelon which is often seen in late 19th century Japanese metalwork. Often motifs made in alloys of gold and silver attached to bronze items many sold to visitors in the late 19th early 20th century. I do not see this as a true weapon as the bone? loop on the scabbard seems the wrong material for the function intended. The distal end of the blade does look Indonesian/Borneo perhaps even the Philippines? To me it is not old. Perhaps made for a Japanese chap while in the Philippines some time ago?

On reflection I rather fancy Freddy was right from the start. Borneo made for a Japanese customer. Also anything said to be stunning by a seller is to say the least questionable IMHO.