J-T Posted October 4, 2014 Report Posted October 4, 2014 I know very little about Japanese swords, so I appreaciate if someone could tell me his opinion about this katana. I just found it in an antique market in here in China. The pictures aren't very good, and I wasn't able to strip the sword. But to me it looks like a WWII era sword, hand forged, the habaki bears a serial number 11873. Do you think it is an older blade converted to military use, or a military sword, or a Chinese fake? I liked it as an item, think I want to buy it. I know this forum is not for pricing, but could someone please give a rough idea how much would be an acceptable amount to pay for a sword like this, if possible based on this limited info? The seller's first quote was 5000 rmb (800 usd), but I guess I could bargain it down to 300-400 usd. Cheers. Quote
Moley Posted October 4, 2014 Report Posted October 4, 2014 Fake Look at the ugly overstated grain in the blade etc Quote
Baka Gaijin Posted October 4, 2014 Report Posted October 4, 2014 Good afternoon all Style and placement of numbers on Habaki is also another giveaway to it's origins.......as well perhaps where you saw it. Price? What you are prepared to pay for it. $15 - $20 sounds about right. Cheers Quote
Jean Posted October 4, 2014 Report Posted October 4, 2014 According Guido who has spent a few years in China, the Nihonto market is almost zero in this Country. No chance to find something unless very very very very lucky..... and when I say "very"...... Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted October 4, 2014 Report Posted October 4, 2014 Or: http://stores.ebay.com/World-Armor-baig ... 7675.l2563 Though he rarely has swords. It is the ONLY Chinese seller I have come across who has quality items. Sadly his website often is unreachable. KM Quote
Grey Doffin Posted October 4, 2014 Report Posted October 4, 2014 Hi Johnny, If you are interested in Japanese swords you would do yourself a large favor if you bought some books and studied hard. Otherwise you are very likely to throw your money at junk (like this sword). Grey Quote
Peter Bleed Posted October 4, 2014 Report Posted October 4, 2014 Johnny, Of all the great stuff that must be in China why in the world would you want to buy crap like this. Now, to be sure, there must be great Japanese stuff there. In the early 80's I found a nice shakudo kogai in pile of junk in a "Friendship Store" in Shanghai. And there have to be lots and lots of Japanese cutlery in China. But more interestingly, what about Chinese weaponry? For example, we seriously need to know about the history, development and typology of CHINESE sword guards. Solution of some of the great controversies of "Namban tsuba" are going to have to come from China. My advice... is wade into the storehouses of rusty old Chinese weapons. Find the literature. Meet the guys who know the old crafts. I'm jealous of your opportunities. Peter Quote
J-T Posted October 5, 2014 Author Report Posted October 5, 2014 Thank you for the replies and advice, so it's a scam, I'll skip it. I'm not a sword collector nor even a hobbyist, just a guy who saw an interesting item and came here for a second opinion. I do own a nihonto, but that too came to my possession by coincidence (found it in my house in Japan). So my interest in swords is not very intense. I spotted this military katana replica in Tianjin Shenyangdao antique street, which is said to be one of the largest antique venues in China. I often visit there, but haven't come accross many Chinese swords either. Those that I do see might be replicas as well. Quote
Baka Gaijin Posted October 5, 2014 Report Posted October 5, 2014 Hi Johnny., I'm not a sword collector nor even a hobbyist, just a guy who saw an interesting item and came here for a second opinion. I do own a nihonto, but that too came to my possession by coincidence (found it in my house in Japan). So my interest in swords is not very intense. Check that there is a small piece of paper (Torokusho) with the sword in Japan, unlicensed swords are illegal in Japan, it's a really big deal. This should help to explain the situation: http://www.jssus.org/nkp/japanese_sword_laws.html Cheers Quote
J-T Posted October 5, 2014 Author Report Posted October 5, 2014 Hi Johnny., I'm not a sword collector nor even a hobbyist, just a guy who saw an interesting item and came here for a second opinion. I do own a nihonto, but that too came to my possession by coincidence (found it in my house in Japan). So my interest in swords is not very intense. Check that there is a small piece of paper (Torokusho) with the sword in Japan, unlicensed swords are illegal in Japan, it's a really big deal. This should help to explain the situation: http://www.jssus.org/nkp/japanese_sword_laws.html Cheers Thanks Malcolm, taken care of already. Quote
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