I need your community help verifying an old Katana

[rellorellin]

I am looking to purchase this old Katana. The individual claims to have purchased in Japan in 1970's. He claims it is from the 30's or 40's. It looks real, but there is no real way for me to tell, since I am rather new at this. Your community help would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to get stuck with a fake sword. I have attached a pic. If you need more, please let me know. Please help me any way you can. You can also PM me.Attachments

[Thierry BERNARD]

look like a chinese copy don't buy it!

[hxv]

Ditto.

 

Hoanh

[rellorellin]

Thank you for the information. The sword looks so real, this it would be hard for me to tell. If anyone has any other opinions on it, please let me know. Your assistance is greatly appreciated!

[Jean]

100% Chinese fake

[Alex A]

A wise move asking for assistance. Out of curiosity, what was the asking price?

[Grey Doffin]

Hi, name please,

100% fake and very obviously so. You need to study, attend sword shows, buy books and read them 3 times, study some more, look at thousands of the real thing, and then maybe you'll be ready to buy a sword. Otherwise, with so little knowledge of Nihonto, you'll probably get burned badly.

And this isn't about you personally. Same advice goes for any beginner.

Grey

[JDinMT]

Agreed, not Japanese, but a typical junk copy. Also there is plenty there for you to be able to tell. Start by training your eyes, there is plenty of info on the web. At the top of the home page here, there is listings under info, dealers (with good pics), etc, Just go to them and look at swords, fittings and such. Look at how the nakago is on a Japanese sword. The workmanship, etc. Look at tsuba, see how the work is done on the basic level, the way the nakago ana (hole the tang goes through) is done (nice cut vs sloppy soft cast look). Even the low end Japanese work shows more care than the typical fake.

It really just comes down to know what and how to look, by comparing some basic things, and you'll be able to train your eye in a very short time, to where you won't be depending on what someone tells you, who's trying to sell junk and a BS story.

 

John D.

[Brian]

Well..in under 30 mins, you have your answer :D

Note that nothing about this one looks remotely real. Study and look at real ones until it becomes obvious to you. Only then should you contemplate a real purchase. It's not even a good fake.

 

Brian

[Stephen]

A good start is to go thu the links

 

http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/links.html

 

find the larger dealers and look at their items for sale, youll start to see what true nihonto looks like ...do as Grey says ...making a show would be best to see them in hand.

[rellorellin]

Thank you all for the great information. You saved me from making a mistake. I will heed your warnings and educate myself. Your site is great and it's a great resource. I appreciate your quick, professional responses.