Finding the right older blade at a good price is difficult and tricky. If there is any danger of you damaging the blade, then go with a new blade, or with a bar stock WWII gunto. This is for the polished, unmounted blade. If you can't sight down swords and tell a good polished shape from a poor one, then don't even think about trying to polish one yourself. There are a number of smiths working in North America who do such work.
Blades show a nice wide habuchi, and big bright ashi.
The blades have fumbari and a very well defined kissaki area. I believe their tempered, unfinished blades come from Engnath, and the fittin gs look like they come from Lohman. Excels in his saya - many ch oices of exotic woods, pressure resin impregnated, with a very hard and durable clear finish. Polishes are non-traditional. Claim to fame is imputed cutting ability of his blades.