nicole425ledferd

Thank you all very much.

Just so that I can learn more...what features point that out?

I cant figure out how to post the pictures lol. Email me at nicole425takacs@gmail.com and i will send an email back with pics or explain to me how to post them if you can.

I have this extremely well-made hand-forged Japanese sword and I know nothing about it and am not willing to ship it anywhere for review as I believe it is a real antique Nihonto. I was hoping I could get as much input as possible from anyone who can visually identify any clues to the age/maker of what I believe is a Tachi. I took the Mekugi out which was a wooden peg and attempted to remove the wooden shira?saya? (No offense but I am VERY newly interested in nihonto) and it came out only about 2 inches. Much to my surprise the tang of the sword is heavily filed perpendicular to the edges and seemingly very narrow in comparison to the blade. The file marks are fairly clean but the unfiled edges of the grooves show two distinct layers of reddish and then alternately blackish rust. I wonder if the tang was too heavily damaged and so the blade was shortened in order to provide a solid tang to mount in the shirasaya handle? The hamon is very nice and distinctive, definitely not a machine blade. Ive posted pictures, please tell me whatever you might think. Thanks.