Help to identify my katana

[Catalin]

I recently bought a katana and I'm trying to figure out the details on the "tang". That's why I need your help, since you guys are experienced. The tang has markings on both sides. On one side, I identified some details that I tried to edit in one of the pictures. Could you please confirm if I'm mistaken and identify the whole signatures on both sides ? The blade is a "tori-mune" tipe. Thank you in advance for any suggestion. 

[SteveM]

昭和十五年 (Shōwa 15. The last character is "year").

 

The other side says 山本正雄 (Yamamoto Masao). Not a swordsmith name. Not typical writing for the name or the year, and the patina looks funny. I have some doubts about this being a Japanese sword.

[Bruce Pennington]

Can you slide the copper habaki off and show a photo of the machi (notches) alignment?  Chinese fakes often have off-set machi, but even aligned ones can be found on fakes.  If they are off-set, though, it would be clear evidence.

[Catalin]

Thank you both for your reply. 

@Bruce , I tried to remove the habaki off without to damage it but unfortunately with no success 🙁.  They are some other opinions ?  Of course I'm not sure it's a genuine katana but for sure it doesn't seem to be a modern replica. 

 

 

[Nobody]

Sorry to say that the blade is a Chinese fake. I am 99% sure.

 

[Catalin]

Your reply is much appreciated Moriyama, thank you. Can you please share the reasons you still gave 1 % chances to be genuine ? Thank you ! 

[Nobody]

Because I am not the God, I never say 100% or 0%.

[Catalin]

Thank you ! 👍

[Catalin]

1 hour ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Can you slide the copper habaki off and show a photo of the machi (notches) alignment?  Chinese fakes often have off-set machi, but even aligned ones can be found on fakes.  If they are off-set, though, it would be clear evidence.

  I managed to take off the habaki.

 

 

[Matsunoki]

Catalin, as I said on your other post, this is fake. The calligraphy is wrong, the geometry is wrong especially the nakago, the habaki is wrong…….

I really hope you didn’t pay a lot for it. Could you get your money back? It is basically worthless.

 

 

[Catalin]

Thank you again for your answer Colin. Even the katana is not genuine, believe or not.......I still like it (maybe because I never owed a genuine one 😁). The blade is well made (for sure high-grade steel) and incredible straight for a replica. Of course I didn't pay much and I'm not regretting for the money paid.

 

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRECIOUS OPINIONS 😍

[Catalin]

Any chance to identify what is written here ? Also, what do you think ca be this an original piece ? Thank you in advance of any opinion. 

[Geraint]

Dear Catalin.

 

This appears to be a bonji horimono, have a look here and you might find it, https://swordsofjapan.com/nihonto-library/Japanese-bonji/

 

This would originally have been carved on the blade above the habaki and so its presence here suggest a sword which is suriage/shortened.  The presence of two mekugi ana at his point suggests that it has been shortened quite a lot.  A picture of the whole blade without the habaki might help us here.

 

So far this looks like an original piece but the condition of the blade really matters so photographs please?

 

All the best.

[Catalin]

Dear Geriant,

 

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply and the valuable insights you’ve shared. The link you provided with the Sanskrit characters is incredibly helpful — although, as someone without much experience, I find it a bit challenging to match them precisely to the engravings on my sword.

 

I’d really appreciate your opinion — which character do you think it most closely resembles?

 

Interestingly, there’s a Suken engraved on the reverse side of the blade. Could this possibly indicate that the sword dates back to the Nanboku-Chō period? I’ve attached a few photos, taken as clearly as I could manage.

 

The blade doesn’t seem to be in great condition, and I’m definitely considering restoration if it turns out to be a particularly special piece. It appears to have been significantly shortened — there are not just two, but three mekugi-ana, which is quite telling.

 

I’d love to hear more thoughts — what do you think, which period might this sword be from?

[Catalin]

[Catalin]

[Mikaveli]

1 hour ago, Catalin said:

 

Dear Geriant,

 

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply and the valuable insights you’ve shared. The link you provided with the Sanskrit characters is incredibly helpful — although, as someone without much experience, I find it a bit challenging to match them precisely to the engravings on my sword.

 

I’d really appreciate your opinion — which character do you think it most closely resembles?

 

Interestingly, there’s a Suken engraved on the reverse side of the blade. Could this possibly indicate that the sword dates back to the Nanboku-Chō period? I’ve attached a few photos, taken as clearly as I could manage.

 

The blade doesn’t seem to be in great condition, and I’m definitely considering restoration if it turns out to be a particularly special piece. It appears to have been significantly shortened — there are not just two, but three mekugi-ana, which is quite telling.

 

I’d love to hear more thoughts — what do you think, which period might this sword be from?

It's not 100% clear, as the polish and photos don't allow me to state definitively, but I'd be suspicious of this one as a reproduction - copying key features of a real sword.

[Scogg]

Hi Caitlin,

I believe that you have a genuine Nihonto. Like you suggest, it appears to be o-suriage (greatly shortened). It's hard to put a date on your item, especially from photos. It's made even more difficult because it's been shortened, and the original shape has been lost to time. 

If you are interested in restoration, please keep in mind that it's a very expensive and long process. I would recommend finding a well respected and recommended TOGISHI to have a look at your sword, and help you determine if it's worth the price to restore or not. Unfortunately, I am in the USA and not the UK, and am unfamiliar with togishi over there. Maybe someone can chime in, and help.

Best of luck, cool sword, and welcome to the forum!
All the best,
-Sam

Edited 12 hours ago by Scogg
Edit: this is in reference to sword #2 with bonji

[Brian]

Confusing matters by posting 2 different swords in this thread. The original sword is a repro. The second one looks to be a decent one. Swords with bonji and horimono on them, even if shortened until they are in the nakago, should be looked at more closely for quality, as it could be a decent sword.

[Catalin]

Thanks everyone for your comments. Bit by bit, I’m starting to find some useful information, even a few blades with inscriptions that are somewhat similar. Unfortunately, it looks like someone may have tried polishing the sword at some point, because from what I'm seeing with the naked eyes the hamon is no longer visible. That said, despite not being professionally restored, the blade is still razor sharp. I gave it a quick test by running it lightly over the hair on my arm, and it actually shaved it clean off . 

[ROKUJURO]

Catalin,

even in this condition, any skin contact should be avoided with your blade.

Don't test your sword! If it was mine, I would make the best photos possible and send them to a traditionally trained polisher to get a first assessment. In case the HAMON is really gone (by a fire), the blade has not much value left, but it may well be concealed by an improper treatment (when trying to polish it).  

[Catalin]

Would anyone happen to know of a traditionally trained polisher based in the UK who could take a look at a blade? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks!