Need help identifying a Japanese sword

[DasHugh]

Hello. First post and new user. Thanks for having me. I recently bought a sword on a whim. I have zero information on it. I need help finding out what it is, age, maker, what kind of sword it is, and worth. That way I know what to spend to get it fixed back up. 

The blade measures 33 inches, from tip to tang on the actual metal length. 28 inches from the collar to tip of usable blade from the handle. I can see the folds of the metal. I can also see a very faint hamon line that is hard to see but there. The Tsuba seems quality made. As do the parts the handle came with. It's scabbard is pretty beat up from being old. No rust on the blade or tang. The blade itself if in really good shape. 

https://imgur.com/a/Ooq179Z

https://imgur.com/a/25r4W3b

I had to download and get imagur to share pics here with. Sorry I'm learning how to use it. So I had to use the meme option to covert my pics. I'll get better pics made soon. Thanks everyone

[Nobody]

I am afraid that the sword is fake.

I hope you did not pay too much.

[John C]

Adrian:

With the limited pictures, I would have to agree with Moriyama. Specifically, you mention the tang has no rust. It should! Either a reddish brown rust from the last 40 years or a deep black rust from centuries of age. In addition, the tang is an odd shape and the character writing seems hap-hazard. You mention the metal folds in the blade and the hamon. Better pictures may provide you with a better analysis, though unfortunately it doesn't look promising. 

 

John C.

[Brian]

Yip, a fake. I bet the kanji are just a random mix of strokes.
Sorry, hope you can get your money back.

[DasHugh]

I'll take it to work with me today and take some better pics with better lighting, the methods im having to use to do uploads here arent very high resolution tho so far. The tang appears very old tho. It is yes black. When I bought it all the handle was removed.  It was being handled by the tang. All the raised surfaces have been shined up a little. I'd like to know what it says either way. Fake or not. 

I'm not into it for a fortune. I possibly can get a refund. Honestly tho I may keep it either way. The sheath alone looks really old from all the wear. If it truly turns out to not be worth much ill have some fun with it lol

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Adrian,

Could we see some pics of the full nakago (tang), blade tip, and clear closeups of the metal fittings?

[DTM72]

Added pics for others to see, without following link. From the two pics shown, it is not looking as if you got an actual Japanese sword. This looks to be a Chinese reproduction. Additional pics would help us to answer with 100% certaintity. Please take and post the pics that Bruce requested above.

 

[uwe]

I’ve tried to find out the kanji in question. Not sure about the red one.

 

“土海岡野作後志三原”

 

Good luck with the translation…😉

[DasHugh]

I will just make a entailed video and upload it to YouTube here shortly. My camera flash, and the photo apps I'm having to use isn't doing this justice. 

I have a mixed bag that came with it. It's labeled "parts for swords and daggers". I'll need help identifying what all actually belongs to this actual sword and was is junk I should probably return to the shop owner as they may be for other blades he owns. 

[Okan]

Looks fake..If you can ask for refund just do it.

[DasHugh]

Ok guys, just made a quick video. I hope this can help answer any questions needed. 

 

[DasHugh]

I took a bunch of new photos also. I'll post them tonight when I get off work. Thanks

[Seth]

Just in case you happen upon a real blade in the future it's never wise to run it along a granite countertop or any countertop that way! I agree with everyone else it looks very similar to some Chinese blades I have. I suspect more effort was put into making it look old than actually making it. 

 

 

Edit:

Also, the stain on the nakago could be glue residue used to secure the tsuka. I would almost bet when you remove the habaki you will have a very rough and uneven ha/mune machi. What you can see of the hamon looks etched, mono steel most likely. 

[DasHugh]

Yeah sorry about that. I'm sure it sent chills up a blade lover's spine lol. It did mind as well when I listened to in replay. I'm not used to having a granite countertop, and I was trying to steady the camera, follow the blade, remember what to say and not sound even more goofy, all while filming. No harm or foul this time as it can use a sharpening anyways. I do surely agree and my apologies bud! I didn't notice the first go around because I was in a hurry, but the video cut off in the first one right where I was about to show it fully assembled. My apologies once again. I just went ahead and made a part 2. This is outside in lower light just before dark and it at the time seemed to film better. (Before it uploaded to YouTube anyways. It seems like it changes the resolution after and is less resolution it seems once uploaded.) Here's part 2 folks. 

 

As asked above, a person wanted a better photo of the tang. I will include imagur pictures of that, and some photos I took of what is under the blade collar. I could see the hamon under it as well. I looked inside the blade collar on a whim and I did notice it seems to have some rusty looking powder residue inside. So maybe someone cleaned the rust prior? 

I've held the blade up to some light and found a few extremely small nicks in the blade. I tested to see if there was any burs that you would expect to find on a softer metal by scraping my nails on the edge. So far it seems like the metal is what I expected to find on a very hard metal. No burs, and no rolled edges anywhere. It seems that if and when it did get damaged it shattered the edge rather than rolled it, Which I guess is a good sign?

Hopefully we can learn more when we get the markings translated. 

Here the other photos asked for,

https://imgur.com/a/gUEbixX

https://imgur.com/a/oXU3coX

https://imgur.com/a/Hgni3hE

https://imgur.com/a/PaDci0P

https://imgur.com/a/lFwKpSy

https://imgur.com/a/jvAHSKS

https://imgur.com/a/f2oZp9L

https://imgur.com/a/6Fp16IS

 

If more are needed of certain areas feel free to ask! Thanks guys!

[Okan]

Hey Adrian, 

 

I know you want it to be real but sadly it's not(it's probably a chinese reproduction). So you really don't have to spend time with more pictures and videos but refund it while/if you can  

 

[DasHugh]

I bought it. She's mine. As I said I just wanted to know if it's old or not so I know how to treat it. It still seems like a well made blade to me even if it is fake. To suggest returning it goes against how I like to do business tho I'm afraid. It's kind of like a person expecting to win the lotto and when hey fail they want thier money back lol. I didn't buy it for that reason tho. I'm buds with the owner also and I know he didn't try to burn me. He genuinely didn't know either. So it will make a nice wall hanger and something I can let the grandkids play with, I may even sharpen it some day and see what she can do myself 😉