Need Assistance With Unknown Sword

[Kemlos]

I have aquired a Japanese sword through a relative who passed. I know nothing about it other than it is old and was in a box with a hand sewn, blood stained Japanese flag. There are characters on the blade, the tang, and the guard. (I know there are more proper names to those parts, but again, I know virtually nothing about them).

     The small knife is made of two parts of steel put together as the photos show, the ornaments on the sheath and handle are all unique.

 

 

     What ever information that can be given on this piece, would greatly be appreciated. Thank You

[tesscoothome123]

Hi Kemlos, I am sorry to tell you this is a Chinese fake. Regards, John

[Brian]

Afraid I agree.

[Lilleskit]

Hey Kemlos!

 

If you're interested there's a page here with some of the basics on how to recognize a lot of the fake antiques that are out there. 

It can be found at the top of this page under the heading Research ==> Fake Swords.

 

Sorry for you loss.

 

/Ken

[ROKUJURO]

Kemlos

please sign all your posts with your real first name plus an initial, as is the rule here.

Even with your photos being badly out of focus, it is very likely that your relative purchased this sword not long ago. All parts seem to be the typical look-alike copies we know from experience and which you can find here on NMB as bad examples made to deceive non-informed buyers.

Better photos may allow a final judgement, but even the 'blood-stained Japanese flag' is often known to be a fake, just to help selling the sword.  

[Kemlos]

Thank You all for the information. Although that is disappointing, it is a nice sword and worth keeping and one day if it falls and hits the floor I won't have a heart attack. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know what it says?

 

Johnathan W

[SteveM]

It is a name (or something purporting to be a name)

 

松本囗囗郎

 

Matsumoto something something rō

 

I can't tell what the kanji in the two boxes are supposed to be. Could be that critical bits are worn away. It's kind of strange that the Matsumoto should be legibly engraved, while the first kanji of the given name should be so cryptically engraved. If I had to take a guess I would say it looks something like 之二郎 (Yukijirō), but it is a very wild guess. In any event, the smith's name is almost invariably engraved/chiseled on the tang. The owner of the sword would not carve his name into the sword blade. It makes your blade a bit problematic.