ggil

From that picture not much can be safely said. For all one can really tell it may be a Chinese fake. Lots of those out there, and even a couple places doing copies of this (almost exact) style koahirae. It would be nice if we could read the card on the table in front of it. That would probably help allow some decent answers. if it is real I'd be surprised, because it would be worth some coin and not displayed near playing cards but in a nicer fashion. It may have the providence the card says, but still be a replica too. - Grant

Amazing! The work on the handle is beautiful.

Sounds like hacky sack. Ought to be fun, but where to get a ball???

"No signs of any stamps" Agree but Disagree the nakago corrosion is heavier on ura side, and especially where the stamp very likely was. As the nakago shape would reinforce the theory, that corrosion is a good sign of a stamp was there.

Good call I was looking there too.

Thank you for the explaination. Very glad to have your help with this blade.

Well I'm sure looking forward to watching some of you folks do this tricky business, at the show.

never-mind people. Thanks NMB Admin Brian for the help!

From what I recall, the texture of the alloy is the giveaway (among a plethora of other evidence). A forged piece (or traditionally made) will have a finer structure without air pockets like this metal has.

Yes but what IS THERE (all things mentioned) speaks louder.

Thanks Brain for the sensible comment. It will be at the show in case anyone wants to see it. Let me know and I will try and meet up. Going Friday for sure, maybe Sunday but that may push it for the wife.

I like the independent thought, but I provided EXAMPLES of why I think what I do. Would you be so kind as to expound at all? As in, discribing the nature of error in even 1 of my ideas at least. If you have the time, that is. My guess is you have been talking to Hamfish via PM, as he became unresponsive the moment I told him how I felt: id like to get this to a pro to appraise (a polisher or smith). A bit disheartening, anyway. While at first he was seemly exited about ( what part of the ensemble would you guess?) the blade. But then again, unresponsive may actuall be just wise temperance, and now I feel like a jerk, as per my normal existence on the board here.

Stephen will cherish it, and share it with many passionate collectors! It won't waste away at all. And this would be grunt to grunt transaction! Nice blade!

acid hamon? no way! Maybe PH acidic polishing compound sure, but that IS a hamon. Whether its oil or water quenched, and how hot it was fired to just prior to quench, is beyond me. That blade IS differentially hardened, lets be real here!

A member has seen one of these blades (or at least very similar) that was traditionally made. The person says these attract hagire (obviously as they are ridiculously thin). Maybe I am lucky, because the chips in my blade are quite a ways away from the tip (where it is most thin). Even if hagire, still would be FREAKING AWSOME to me if the blade was handmade in Japan.

Great find! Not badly done if showato. I'm not really skilled/experienced enough to determine how traditionally made it is from the not so great (not as perfect as needed) photos. Id just go ahead and bow to thing, better to be cautious if you aren't sure I think. Id love a Japanese katana that is cheap enough to handle a little more freely than I feel like handling my $1000 signed showato. It is shirasaya so I guess apples to oranges really, as I guess you don't want to swing a blade in shirasaya

Dirk, yes it has the leather seppa (but not a seppa more of a cushion for the saya is all, as my other police saber has also). the ebay pics are only 25kB, they are almost useless, but they did serve to help me get this thing! You know who owned this blade you saw?

No Sir, nothing on the blade but the obvious horimono (and chip/damage repairs). Those red background pics are the ebay photos. I guess the guard would be the habaki for this blade, as it has no habaki.

Thanks Doc! I think you can see that I could stand some of that, what do you call it? Oh yeah, Patience!

I can't believe the lack of interest??? Am I the only one who thinks the blade may be handmade? if not than I would think this thing would garner a little discussion. Shows my inexperience, I guess.

Thanks Dirk, that was my original gut call too, but the nodes are so tiny in hand that I was making guesses as to what else it may be.

I know it's a police dress saber, and I'm guessing the design on the back middle handle is an insignia (but don't know what for). I know what the would be worth having a decent German blade inside (thank you Hamfish), but this isn't that. It's weird, but maybe in a good way... Got this on flea bay for a steal: 18 bids $330. No maker's markings on blade base. Seems to have a suguha hamon that continues along the back edge (finely ground thinner back edge - not a cutting edge, but a thinner mune section with hamon). Of course it could always be a tricky artifact or a weak oil quench or something. The tip of the blade has some damage that looks like, was braised on maybe or gold filled to halt more damage. It isn't horribly done I guess. There are 2 chips that have been repaired (these don't go 1/2 way into hamon. The faceting of the steel is more complex than any European mass made blades, even having a mix of naginata and yari type horimono, with precision angle changes and uniformity that is uniquely Japanese. The thing feels Japanese, and it is sharp like it should be. Everything about this blade seems rare, but when I'm looking at blades I always just glance at these types, because I'm thinking ( my opinion, no offense intended) machine made blade means not quite as functional as a well made nihonto. It seems to have some small animal skin for the grip (lizard?). A copper guard that is very well done, that is (probably) gold guilded. You can see where a few raised spots show the bright copper underneath (a sharp contrast). the nut (that holds the handle on) that one would usually expect to have some amount of metal showing for the craftsman to use to install the thing (attach his tool to), is barely showing so that there is no way to have ever installed the guard, much less remove it and see what the nakago looks like (if I was crazy enough to try this, or have a pro try). Plus there is the usual mushrooming of post, but it is so nice it looks intentional to my machinist friend. Possibly mumei (again, I don't know if it is even handmade), but even then you could tell how good the craftsmen involved were by inspecting under the handle. If I was a smith asked to make some puny, pain in the ass to deal with, wannabe European sword, I would ensure nobody would be able to see the nakago (verify authentic mei = increase price) by having the guard maker do this. As a protest to the western capitalist ways. "Just try and make money off me yank, I'm mumei, badass and beautiful, and you just ruined my handle dummy. Motohaba: 18.45mm Motokasane: 8.20mm Thinnest point near tip: 4.40mm Sakikassane 4.80mm (widens at tip) Nagasa: 26.5" Threaded post diameter at widest part of steel 6.35mm So, anybody have some really good eyes for seeing hada, and will be at the SF show? I think Mr. Benson will be there, so I'll show it to him and get his reaction (if he has one ☹️). I'd like to know the providence of this blade, insofar as what can be said about its manufacture, and possibly assumed about its usefulness as more than a typical dress blade of the era, which this appears to be. Also hoping other folks will be inspired and share in my exitement of what may be something special. Any other info you kind people have about this blade and are willing and to share, would be greatly appreciated. Not planning to sell it.

Ha machi or no, seems like a well made blade with plenty of hardened edge left. As long as there is still meat enough and niku: amazing find! What do you think? what are the measurements? A picture looking down at the munemachi is always nice too.

Quite a bargain, but I'm betting most folks here are not very wealthy, or cant afford a big cash drop like that. Just guessing. You seem to have 4 or 5 traditionally made blades there (I like function over form, personally), which should interest most collectors here I guess. Maybe posting more details about the blades, for those that aren't at all familiar with your collection, will incite more interest. I wonder, what is the impetus to part with the whole collection? changing focus? need money? upgrade? It seems to be quite an impressive collection that took many years to accumulate, and is likely worth WAY more than $8300 (no idea about the military swords though, as that isn't my area of collecting. Got 2 amazing police swords though!). You are at least saving one blade that you can use to protect the home (worst case) and enjoy your disease (nihonto fever) with??? -Grant

The hamon pics are difficult. The hada looks wonderful in the small spot pictured which shows it well.