Fake Type 95 Nco Swords

[John C]

#1 and #4 above are the same pic. My initial thought is fake. The Tokyo canon mark is not done well; the dimples on the tsuka are not correct, and the release latch is not at the right angle.

 

John C.

 

[Kantaro]

Thanks gentlemen!

 

Much appreciated.

 

(Found these good examples on the net to compare with:)

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Textbook fake with all the red flags.  For sale on ebay, not even going to post the link.

Don't even have to enlarge on each section of the sword.  I could see from the expanded shot that the haikan was mounted too far down the saya, for starters:

[Bruce Pennington]

I'm posting this one for those trying to learn to spot fakes.  It has several things right, which might tempt a new guy to fall for it, like:

- Serial number is posted cutting edge down as Tokyo blade should

- Latch is curved properly vs the angled bend you see on many fakes

- Suya and Kokura stamps aren't bad, in as much as you can see the Suya one

- Bohi beginning is a little sloppy but not bad

 

But other things are wrong, first of which, glaringly, is the brass tsuka!  These are often sold as a copper handled 95, but they are not.

Other issues:

- Tokyo stamp on blade is FAR too far from the serial number

- Bohi end is not shaped properly for a Tokyo blade

- Tokyo inspector stamp on fuchi is really bad

- Fine details of tsuka and tsuba dimples, seppa sculpting, kabutogane, are all course, flat; probably an attempt to make it look worn and used

- The tsuba has a dark coating to make it look aged

 

Photos at first glance

 

Zooming in for detail:

 

 

[vajo]

Bruce I'm not sure with this that is a fake. I would need better pictures.

From my point the nanako is not inverse which shows mostly fakes. The menuki looks sharp. The hi looks nearly correct. 

The number looks not bad.

The seppa has the original looking cherry blossoms on the rim.

The clipper looks authentic.

 

I'm not sure.

 

If its fake its one of the best fakes i saw so far.

Thanks a lot for showing it Bruce.

Really cool.

 

By the way i would not buy it because of its brass tsuka 

[Shugyosha]

I don’t know military blades but the kissaki geometry on this one looks a mile out and that would wave a red flag to me. 

[John C]

The menuki, screw, tsuka nanako, etc. are all the same color. Could it be aluminum painted gold-ish rather than brass? Looks like brass, however it would be crazy heavy. Too bad we can't weigh it.

 

John C.

[GeorgeLuucas]

I agree about the kissaki, and I'm inclined to believe it's a fake... Although, fakes this good are concerning! 

Something to consider about 95 blade geometry is that there are reports that some Type32 blades were converted for 95 use. Allegedly they were reshaped and reformed to closer mimic the 95 specs. 

I have personally never seen an example of this - and I don't think this sword is one. But my point is: judging on blade geometry alone can be tricky.

This "brass tsuka" sword is one of those potential fakes that I'd really like to see in-hand.
Cheers,
-Sam

[vajo]

After looking deeper on PC on those pictures i go with Bruce its a total fake sword. But its a very good made. With some nice paint job it could fool me.