Brian

Just a thought, I wonder if those are rice bales, or some sort of rat trap where they can get in, but not out?

If you know the prices are ok, and you would at least get your money back if you sell, then the risk is minimal. But both, and if you find things a bit tight, you know you can sell one or both and recover your funds. That's how I work with my knife collecting, and so far I've managed to keep everything I wanted to keep, safe in the knowledge that I am just storing funds that I can recover if I need to.

Yip...awesome work by Rayhan, and a huge thanks to the NBTHK for allowing this. I will be uploading them into a special section in the Downloads section over the weekend, and it will likely take some time to get through all of them. Really excited about this. There will be a disclaimer to agree to when you download, to prevent commercial use etc. The downloads section is for members only, so hopefully this will also encourage some of the lurkers to sign up. Only requires a free membership, no subscription needed. Info like this is invaluable to collecting, and I am grateful to be able to facilitate this. Thanks again to the NBTHK, Rayhan and those that worked to make it happen.

I can't think of a single time anything was stopped in check in luggage for reasons of "national treasure" and that is the last thing I would worry about. It's not going to happen, and no-one is going to stop you to check for quality. At the most, they may ask about it, you say "it's under 15cm blade and doesn't require paperwork" and they will let you proceed. I left Japan with a small Jumonji Yari and a yari in shirasaya in my luggage and no-one said a word, even with X-Rays. They didn't even ask to look at them. Don't stress so much.

I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that mekugi ana plays a part. A blade under 15cm, with no mekugi ana, doesn't need to be registered. Like a kogatana.

As Eric said, your sword is illegal in Japan and can't be registered. Even if it's blunt.

Appreciate it guys

The good news is that it is real, and antique. DON'T clean up the rust yourself, or remove any of the patina from the tang.

Tested both Edge and Chrome, everything working fine and all pics visible.

I know next to nothing about these. Contact I have dealt with before in other edged weapons asked my opinion of this, and I'm not going to take a guess. To me, look like a genuine but mass produced wartime one. Mass produced blade with artificial/no hamon. No point disassembling. Can anyone give their opinion and maybe average value in Europe on these? Thanks in advance.

Please keep personal comments in private, and posting personal info beyond what people have given is frowned upon. Posts edited.

Buy both. Worry about how you'll afford them later. You'll always find a way. Never regret buying something you want, otherwise what are you working your whole life for?

Tempted to agree with you Geraint, but I do see a lot of semi decent work there, more than would be required just as an export piece. I suppose this could be a Meiji period special order piece for some occasion. Shape looks inspired by a Bashin, and the whole thing does seem diminutive. Maybe made for a lady, who wanted something flashy. Either way, it is a genuine Japanese piece, and definitely has some interest. I guess we'll know more once we get a translation.

Very typical and clear Chinese fakes, of very low level.

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/52285-tsunagi-maker-sought-in-north-america/#comment-546002 Mike Virgadamo is kinda under the radar and doesn't really publish contact details online, but I think his phone number is in the book, and someone will have pm'ed you his details.

Forget Google. Search this forum for those last names and all will be revealed

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Ray also recommends Josiah Boomershine.

Well...it's a real antique Japanese katana. Likely a few hundred years old. In that condition, it's hard to really say much more about it.

Love it when you research something Mal. For someone relatively unknown, you have presented more info than many recorded smiths have available

Japanese utility knife/tool, used in woodwork and other crafts. Very traditional, going back hundreds of years. Basic and effective.

Been proven to be false. There were no specific "tankers" or "pilots" swords.

I'm of the thought that this may have been left over from a polish, where the polisher didn't think it worth removing more. A sensible decision. Of course it could have happened later, but the possibility exists it was just not shown well in the pics/video. That said, it doesn't bother me too much. These "nail-catchers" would be far more serious on a Juyo or TH piece. But on a wakizashi of average quality, I don't think they are too serious. It's up to you and what you paid of course. But they aren't by any means a critical flaw, although undesirable.

Worst of the worst when it comes to fakes unfortunately. Nothing there remotely genuine.

It's upside down. Please edit and rotate. Can't even see a mei.