Tourist piece or real thing?

[Ronald Aguirre]

Hello, I have the chance to purchase this sword, but I would like your thoughts first. The seller says it is some type of “ceremonial sword” from the late 1800’s which was brought back to the USA in 1902 by a family member in New York. Also, is that the Tokugawa family mon on the saya? Would love some feedback! Thanks! 

[Rivkin]

These are usually tourist grade pieces from late Meiji-WW2 period, but at times one needs to be careful since if one studies collections brought by European royalty from Japanese trips, its clear they were allergic to shirasaya and demanded even good blades to be remounted as proper weapons, so you find a LOT of scrimshaw or garish lacquer mounts on those.

 

This piece however with pretentious brass "Tokugawa" fittings is uber tourist. I would still check the blade just in case (nakago etc.).