Thoughts?

[Ronald Aguirre]

Hey all. Can I get your thoughts on this sword? Is it authentic? Has the tang been cleaned? 

[ChrisW]

Its an authentic Japanese sword. The blade looks like it is from the late 1500's based on the shape of the blade and the patination of the nakago. It is also o-suriage meaning that there is nothing of the original nakago left. Mounts look recently restored within the past 50 years. Can't tell much about the tsuba, pictures don't show enough detail on most of the fittings either.

Would need more pictures to give you more information, but the good news is that it appears legitimate!

[ROKUJURO]

Ron,

 

to help you  getting the desired information, I suggest you post photos in an appropriate way. Generally, to be of any use, they should be:
 

- well focused, not foggy or blurry
- made with a dark, non reflective background for good contrast
- made with light from the side (may not apply for HAMON photos)
- made directly from above (not at an angle)
- made with correct orientation (vertically tip-upwards, especially NAKAGO photos and TSUBA) 
- without HABAKI but showing the MACHI and NAKAGO JIRI 
- made in high resolution to see details
- showing details (in magnification) like BOSHI, HAMACHI, HAMON, HADA, NAKAGO JIRI etc. or the fine work on TSUBA
- presented as cut-outs so very little background is shown
 

If you cannot supply good photos (..."these photos are all I have from the dealer...."/..."I do not have a good camera but only an old mobile phone...." ), DO NOT POST BAD ONES. They will not be helpful.

[Rivkin]

Very low resolution. No boshi picture etc. But its Japanese of some age.