Please help translate, identify.

[Kasiopea]

This sword was sold to me as a WWII Navy Officers. But i am doubting that. I am in the proses of cleaning the sword up and rewrapping ito, excuse the pictures, its all taken apart:) The handle was wrapped in a basic Hineri maki style with no hishi-gami Military brown color.

http://s55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/ ... 010679.jpg

http://s55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/ ... 010681.jpg

http://s55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/ ... 010682.jpg - closer look.

 

Thank you

[cabowen]

Chinese fake....

[Brian]

Yep. Sorry.

 

Brian

[Kasiopea]

How do you figure that out? For further notice...

Even if the blade is not original, could the fittings be?

[Mark]

the fittings are not WWII Japanese Navy fiitings. They look modern and are not the right color, stlye, etc

[Basho12]

I'm fairly new, and while the more experienced members wouldn't need much more than a glance to be sure that a sword's a fake, I'm still at the stage where I need to look at specifics in a case like this, so I can name a few: 1) the shinogi line extending through the tang looks a little "wobbly." On a genuine sword this would be crisp and sharp, even on the tang. It's hard to see the mei properly, but from here it looks like it was cut with a dremel tool rather than a chisel. I haven't tried to translate it, but my bet is it wouldn't actually say anything. The kanji just looks "off. After you've seen a few more real mei, this one would jump out at you immediately.

 

The fittings are almost certainly fake too. Quality of the koshirae aside, there's just too much going on. Several decorations that almost but not quite look like kamon. There are links from this site to sites that show authentic WWII period mountings for Army and Navy, a look at those would show why this one just doesn't fit.

[cabowen]

The writing is not correct Japanese. The quality, shape, and finish of the blade is not Japanese. The mounting is gaudy and incorrect and not Japanese....

 

I am sorry you were misled. Many people have been taken by these Chinese fakes....

[Kasiopea]

Thanks,

I guess i will be more careful next time...

Basho12, i looked at some WWII swords, and i see what you are saying. So hanging on the wall is all its good for:) Oh well, its still a beautiful peace.

[Grey Doffin]

Hi, whoever you are,

This time buy books and study first; then look for a sword to buy.

Grey

[Jamie]

The following books will be of much use to you. Try purchasing these and look at sites that sell fine swords. There are many within the links of the board here.

 

Samurai Sword: A Handbook

~John Yumato

The Japanese Sword: A Comprehensive Guide (Japanese Arts Library)

~ Kanzan Sato

The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords

~ Kokan Nagayama

 

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Samurai-Sword-Han ... 0804805091

 

http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Sword-Co ... 0870115626

 

http://www.amazon.com/Connoisseurs-Book ... 4770020716