Tachi Blade, Katana Fittings?

[Jlcreid]

Hello all, I'm new so I apologize up front for my ignorance... I found this Katana in Arizona around 2000. Of course I question the authenticity, but I also question the purpose of expending the effort to inscribe gibberish. The Katana-mei appears to say Sho Wa one (1926?) month, day, and year. The Tachi-mei is written in different characters or language. The blade is long (80 cm nagasa) and quite straight (14mm sori) and appears kochi-zori (?) with most of the curve within 15 cm of the handle. While it seems impossible that I stumbled upon an authentic sword, I cherish and revere it for the idea of what it might be. Any assistance translating, determining tachi versus katana origins, etc..... will be greatly appreciated. Again, I apologize for my ignorance! Instruction please.

[Grey Doffin]

Sorry; this is a Chinese fake.

Grey

[raaay]

Sorry , as Grey says, 100% Chinese copy

[Guido]

I don't know if it's Chinese (could be, but then again, their inscriptions are usually real characters, just random combinations thereof), but am intrigued by the "translation". Who wrote that? Looks like something you would expect to find under Laura Palmer's fingernail ... 

[John A Stuart]

That is one wacky show Guido, Twin Peaks. Watched the original and the newer sequel and still can't figure what the heck is going on. John

[seattle1]

Hello:

 Welcome to the Board. As one proverbial saying has it: "It is better to know nothing than to know what ain't so." - so now you are on your way. Buy a few good introductory books, join a collectors' group, attend some shows, and pretty soon everything will begin to fall into place.

 Arnold F.

[Jlcreid]

Thank you, I'm attempting to determine what the tachi mei says.... Any ideas? Also I'd be interested in the reasons you feel it is Chinese. Thanks again, John

[Ray Singer]

http://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

[Jean]

John,

 

Your pictures are very uncomplete. You should provide pictures of the kissaki at least and if possible a few of the blade. One cannot say if it is Chinese for sure but the nakago is at the least very unusual for a Showa blade, the carved date is unheard of on a nihonto (never saw one like this on forty years collecting) and the mei is inscribed in an unknown alphabet.

 

Can be a genuine Japanese sword with a shortened nakago on which some one has engraved a gibberish date and signature to add some value...But nothing more can be said with your pictures.

[Grey Doffin]

Jean,

Look at the fuchi kashira and tsuka-ito, and the fitting on the scabbard.  No way this isn't a fake.

Grey

[Jean]

Right, Grey. I did not even noticed the scabbard when looking at the picture, I was focussed on the nakago and you can easily skip the koshirae as there is no contrast between it and its back ground.

 

Definitely Chinese....

[Blazeaglory]

Is the blade gold in color or just lighting?

[Jlcreid]

Some additional photos.... Even a guess at the language would be appreciated. Thanks, John

[SteveM]

Some additional photos.... Even a guess at the language would be appreciated. Thanks, John

 

Hello John, you already received your answer up above. The marks on your sword are random scribblings. The are the work of someone trying to affect an "oriental" style, and hoping that the buyer will not have enough knowledge to recognize it as fake. 

 

Unfortunately the sword world is awash in fakery, and equally awash in people unable to recognize such fakery. 

[Greg F]

Sorry but it definitely looks to be a Chinese copy to me too.

 

Greg

[raaay]

sorry, it is a 100% fake , so nothing else you can say about this one .

[Ken-Hawaii]

John, it's still useful if you happen to need to cut down some sagebrush! But the cholla will come after you!

 

This is the place to stick around if you're interested in learning about real Nihonto.