Chinese katanas

[Gerry]

From the name of this seller, I'm inferring that these swords are Chinese:

 

https://www.ebay.com...d:g:v5oAAOSwn8dm-MCT

 

They're getting pretty close to looking like nihonto nowadays.

[Lewis B]

But they assure you they only sell blades that are made from 100% traditional Tamahagane.

 

Another reason to only buy antique swords with NBTHK papers. 

[George KN]

If that is a newly made Chinese sword, that's impressively good.

 

I can't see any obvious signs beyond the sketchy seller that it is Chinese or machine made... Honestly if this hit the UK auctions with no info and based purely on sight alone, I'd probably be bidding on it, which is scary if this really is a fake.

Are there any red flags I'm missing? The hamon looks a little strange on some photos (darker shadows in places), the linear vertical lines on some of the steel reminds me of a wartime polish (so rushed/amateur/perhaps machine done), but anything distinctly bad that couldn't be explained by bad lighting or a bad polish? (And yes, I am ignoring the nakago since there's no close up images of it)

 

I'm uploading the ebay pics and description for posterity:

 

Japanese Samurai Sword（Uchigatana)

Blade length（nagasa, 刃長, はちょう）: 72.0 cm
Bottom width (motohaba, 元幅,もとはば) : 3.08 cm
Top width(sakihaba, 先幅,さきはば) : 2.40 cm
Blade thickness(motokasane, 元重 ね) : 0.68 cm
Top thickness( sakikasane, 先重ね) : 0.56 cm
Curvature of the sword（sori, 反り）: 1.6 cm

Item specifics

Seller Notes
“This item lacks information about its year of manufacture, maker, and place of origin. Certifying ... Read moreabout the seller notes

Primary Material
Tamahagane

Original/Reproduction
Unknown

Featured Refinements
Samurai Sword

Age
Unknown

Maker
Unknown

Country of Origin
Unknown. However, this item was collected from Japan

NTHK-NPO Certification
NA