Help Needed – Sword Bought at Auction

[eureka123]

Help Needed – I am not a sword collector. I attended an advertised farm auction today, which had advertised 3 WWII Mausers (which I collect). Rifles were in terrible shape so I passed. But I did buy a Japanese sword the fellow brought back after WWII.

The sword was in storage since the war. Sword is very high quality and heavy. Blade is tarnished brown/gray, but no chips or rust, with many temper waves.

My question is – I can’t remove the handle. I located a wood plug, which I carefully removed but handle is still on tight. I can’t located another wood plug (wrapping is very tight around handle). In the middle of the handle there is a bump under the wrapping, but I hate to disturb the wrapping to see.

I know enough from collecting to stop and ask questions from someone who knows. Where do I proceed to find out what I have? Thanks for your help!

 

 

 

 

[Stephen]

I hate to be the first to tell you but its not a true Japanese sword, just a copy of one, doubt that it was brought home from WW2.

[Guest reinhard]

Stephen's correct. Forget about it.

 

reinhard

[Grey Doffin]

Ditto from me; made yesterday in China.

Grey

[Leatherdog]

I second that. Apologies, but Stephen is right, without a doubt.

 

I've seen lots of these that were supposedly right out of the vet's attic, but what is more likely is that he picked it up at a swap meet or gun show somewhere along the way and put it into the closet. Reportedly, similar swords were "manufactured" all over the South Pacific and Eastern Asia to sell to tourists as early as the immediate post-war period. GI's that couldn't get a captured blade - which was of course a much sought-after souvenir - were more than willing to lay down a few bucks to a villager who just so happened to have a stack of these "captured" swords at the market. This one looks Chinese to me.

 

Don't feel too bad. I was home on leave recently and Dad's gun-shop got a call from a guy that had "30 samurai swords" he was interested in selling, said he'd been collecting for years. I'm 24 and by no means wealthy, but for a 30 sword collection I was ready to get the money one way or another...he drove up to meet me and I had to tell him he'd spent between $30,000 and $50,000 on a pile of worthless junk. Not a single one was Japanese. Turns out he'd ordered them all from a company called "Gold River" in Hong Kong (which he strangely could no longer contact)...this guy had been collecting them for years, bought them all from the single source in China, and apparently had never spoken to another sword collector or bought a single reference book. Some people...more money than sense. Don't feel too bad - it could be worse...I doubt you spent $50k on this item. :lol:

 

When you compare the finer details and the workmanship on a real Japanese blade (even the "mass produced" machine-made swords of the war era), the differences are readily apparent. You'll see a lot of the fakes on ebay if you type in "samurai sword". They're even artifically aging them so they give that "diamond in the rough" appearance...tricky jerks.

[eureka123]

Thanks for your help on helping me identify my sword. I worked and finally removed the handle off, and to get a picture of the sword maker, and post. The swordmaker mark is 13!!! Boy, did I screw up today, and I hate to say how much I paid. I will be feeling it for a while. I should have known, something was not right, the auction had, a can full of german medals, with a Knights Cross in it, and I know enough about german items, to see they were fake. The fellow was a part time gunsmith and I did hear he traveled to different shows, while I was standing around at the sale. I, got caught up in the excitment, of the auction, and remembered all the stories, I have heard about the value of rare Japanese swords over the years. Rule number 1 .... Stick with what you are familiar with, and watch out for auction fever. If this sword had been at a fea market, or gun show, I would never had bought, but the country auction, out of the closet, got me. Thanks for your imput Bob

[Brian]

Bob,

 

I would approach the auctioneers and request a cancellation of the deal and a refund.

If an item is drastically different from the description, and in this case an outright fake, you might come right if they are a reputable company.

 

Brian

[Bugyotsuji]

Bob,

 

I would approach the auctioneers and request a cancellation of the deal and a refund.

If an item is drastically different from the description, and in this case an outright fake, you might come right if they are a reputable company.

 

Brian

 

Good advice there, Brian.

 

Oh, and Bob, don't forget to put it back together very carefully or they could claim you damaged it!