WWII Japanese NCO sword

[ols76]

Hello everyone! I just bought a nice late war wood handle imperial Japanese NCO sword. This sword has matching serial numbers. The sword looks to be authentic. However, one thing bothers me. I see that it has a proof mark in front of the serial number on the blade but other ones that i looked up online have proof mark behind the serial number. Also, I don't like that serial number is very faint and difficult to read. Does that sound original? Did the Japanese use to put proof mark both ways?

 

Thanks

Oleg

 

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... SA:US:1123

[Bruno]

Your NCO looks guenine, so to answer your question I would say yes.

[Weidas]

however kissaki looks very bad.. somebody put rough hands on it. the pictures are not clear - its almost impossible to see marks and even drag. handle looks OK, but better wait to get it and post good pictures

[Cameron69]

Hello,

Please post good pix for good opinion.

Generaly considering, crap pix =

 

Cool beans,

 

Cameron

[Thylacine]

ols76

 

That sword was produced very late in the war, materials were low and production was rushed. It looks fine to me, did you notice that the serial number is upside down compared to earlier blades!

 

To pick a fake from this time period, search for the sword on e-Bay and look at all the blades from China, they are fakes. Then look at the sword you intend on buying/bidding on. Look for the font used for the serial number, where and how the number is placed, look at the image to see if the sword is new and has been aged, rather than a sword that looks old. It is hard to fake real age on metal and wood.

 

Look for the right fittings on the sword for the time.

 

E