Type 32 real or fake?

[Lockbars]

Hello,

 

I'm a complete novice on Japanese swords. I have picked up a couple books but am still at the very early stage of learning. I bought my first sword, which I believe is a type 32 Otsu.

 

My first concern is that I cannot make out a Tokyo arsenal stamp. The leather washer is there, the fuller appears to be correct, and the serial numbers appear to be in the right place. Is this a fake or foreign contract or just arsenal refurbished? My gut is arsenal refurbed but you all are the experts. I am happy to add any additional photos.

 

https://imgur.com/a/ZsjEmb6

[Jcstroud]

I had one just like before it got confiscated looks legitimate to me they made those starting in the 1880 s

[BANGBANGSAN]

It looks legit

[Bruce Pennington]

Posting photos for the future, and for guys who won't click on links.  Tom, is the handguard painted black like the saya?  You didn't show a photo of the 'face' of the handguard where the stamps normally are found.  Is it possible to get one posted?

[Lockbars]

HI Bruce,

 

Thank you for the help. My photo editing skills are not good and I do not want to post really big files so I'm going to attach a link again. I'm working on learning how to reduce the size so I don't have to post links.

 

There should be four photos in this additional album that get the areas I think you are interested in seeing. Let me know if I missed anything else you want to see. The handguard does appear to be painted black. There is a faint marking I could not make out that I can kind of see.

 

https://imgur.com/a/LFPuq3Y

 

Thank you again.

 

Tom

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Thanks Tom!  This is the area where the stamps would be.  They weren't struck very deeply, so it's possible the paint has simply covered them up.  However, one of my 32s has no stamps at all either.  Guys told me it could mean the sword was made and sold out to another country, like Chinese forces or something like that.  Who knows?

 

Mine; serial 31866                                                   My Otsu; serial 5814

 

 

I'm a little puzzled by the curvature in your hand guard.  It's definitely more concave than either of mine.  But both of mine are earlier make than yours.  Plus I don't really study these, so maybe there is more variation in such things that I'm not aware of.

[Lockbars]

Yes I see what you're saying on the shape. Also, I did find another two stamps on the side of the blade opposite where the serial numbers are stamped. Here's a pic. From an article I was reading it sounds like these small stamps on the blade would be inspection stamps.

 

https://imgur.com/a/O7cvqE0

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Yes.  I've never gotten a handle on these early stamps.