Shamsy

Yep, that's a type 98 with a Seki stamp. That means it is not completely made in the traditional manner. WW2 era for sure due to stamp and fittings (koshira), though can't read kanji so someone else would have to translate if you provide a clear, vertical picture of the nakago (tang). Well done for actually putting in some effort at research before seeking confirmation. I hope though that's not wire wool you've used to scrape the nakago. That's a bit of a no-no. Looks to be missing the tsuka-ito (handle wrapping) and same (ray skin grip material) along with menuki (hilt ornaments). Otherwise condition seems pretty good! Not sure there's a lot more to add really... Plenty of research sites on the net or a few good but expensive books on the subject.

While I agree in spirit (and to me I'm blinded by my love of them), why would you pay so much more than the going rate? Coppers are not that uncommon that you simply have to throw money at them to get the first you find. Patience is a virtue! There have been at least 2 far better examples at a considerably better price in the last 12 months. I'll also add that getting lucky on a return is just that. Luck. Not some sign of wisdom. I have no doubt they will indeed be a great return, but they'll be better yet for those of us who pay 25% less!

A fool and his money are soon departed. That's the problem with auctions. They attract people with big wallets, no research or experience and a need to win. That's a foolish amount to pay by even the currently peak market.

Wait a moment... Carefully compare http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/22508-minamoto-sadayukis-wild-hada/?do=findComment&comment=227983 to the one on eBay. Appears to even have the same covering on the saya.

Bruce quick! Jump on it! Though it's pretty impossible to tell them apart from the reproduction one now, so be careful. The smell and grease test is best. http://m.ebay.com/itm/Original-Japanese-Sword-Army-NCO-Tassel-Leather-Sword-Tassel-/371945561546?hash=item5699aeddca%3Ag%3A18QAAOSw42JZEkk8&_trkparms=pageci%253Ad5a283d0-3551-11e7-9744-74dbd180d48c%257Cparentrq%253Af13f8ab315b0aa415d694c8fffffccca%257Ciid%253A1

These ones I'm referring to (wasn't sure if I was clear). I believe the saya on eBay probably comes from one of these.

I agree with the assessment of missing seppa, which could make this a standard kai-gunto with odd menuki and just in poor condition? Seller has no idea! Would be good to see the nakago. The saya is the only part I find really interesting. In the 1st photo Dave posted you can see standard kai-gunto but also those ones I've never seen before, with brass bands around the saya and around the top of the tsuka. I believe, given the same placement of the single remaining ring that this scabbard is from one of those swords. Sadly the photo does not show a clear drag on those mystery swords so it's only an educated guess. The hanging ring and band are missing, as is another slimmer rring, which would have confirmed or denied it.

Hi all, just wanted to share this. Looks like it is at least the scabbard of those mystery swords in the photo. It is missing two rings, but otherwise has the correct band and an unusual drag. The sword itself I don't think so, as the pomel and menuki are wrong. It's not an NCO as claimed or I'd already own it, but thought I'd drop it here for everyone to see. http://m.ebay.com/itm/WWII-Japanese-NCO-ARMY-T95-SWORD-/232329627066?hash=item3617ecc5ba%3Ag%3AY6sAAOSwBt5ZEkg9&_trkparms=pageci%253A061ebd6b-3521-11e7-a2ef-74dbd180b908%257Cparentrq%253Aefffa80d15b0ab6408a588fffffffd82%257Ciid%253A1

As we expected spot on in every detail even down to a great patina. The copper have stubby looking kissaki so no issue there either. Correct tsuba which is thicker than later aluminum models. Correct scabbard for that serial range. Stamps spot on. Correct hilt ito style. Replacement or later used wire sarute. A nice example. Pay around 2-2500 pounds for it; any more is overpriced even for copper which are attracting huge sums.

It's a little different to the usual Chinese fakes, so my guess is Indian or Pakistan as the origins. There is a long list of tell tale signs but best one is lack of quality. Even as my poor NCO get looked down upon, one must admit that as a piece of working military hardware they are very well built to high quality specifications. This is aweful. They at least have the To stamp on the blade more or less correct (but wrong size, wrong font, wrong side of numbers and incorrect orientation) but the others are pure fantasy. The list of other give aways is huge mate, I'll leave the rest to others if they feel the need to elaborate.

As Stegel says. I cannot see anything that immediately screams fake? Please elaborate Mauser. Most of the green paint is missing on the saya but the undercoat is correct as is the little original paint. But picture way too hard to pick the details.

Absolutely beautiful example, anyone would be lucky to own it. To assist in keeping the leather sarute intact, consider a small investment in Accessible Preservatives Leather Restorer. It's the best product for the job.

Definitely not the NCO tang!! That will destroy the sarute! A crime because there can't be more than a handful of them around now. Most were converted to wire or lost if the sword was captured and not looked after.

Hi Roger, Sorry to hear your brother passed. In good condition you could reasonably expect around $4,000 USD for of the copper handle NCO. The low numbers and the original sarute make it a particularly appealing sword. http://www.pre98.com/shop/our-newest-finds/important-Japanese-ww2-rare-early-copper-handled-type-95-army-sword-ncos/ Copper handles have been reaching insane prices lately. I'd love to own it. Officer swords depend mostly on blades, so pics needed for those. I don't have a clue on dirks so someone else can step in there. The traditional blades are the same,depends on age, maker and condition.

Whole sword looks off. Lower quality fittings than typical of islander or collaborator swords, even were one to consider that possibility. Be a little wary of even the tassle, which looks genuine from the photo. The repros are very good now and could be aged artificially. This could be an Aussie souvenir? Best advice, turn away and don't look back. Better to save for something more certain.

Yep, here is sticker discussion http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21190-seki-inspection-tag-on-combat-saya/

Very much more likely to have a Shrine sword, Yasukuni is what I'm referring to, or an ancestral blade. Fittings would be custom made and high quality. In fact I'm actually quite surprised to hear that there was a Mantetsu found with the tassle. Those were pure combat swords forged using modern technology. To me that feels like a a respectable gentleman turning up to golf in a pimped low rider instead of a Bentley.

It was first mentioned way back in F&G first edition that these single hanger naval gunto were suspected post war put together. It's interesting to read that Bob has at least anecdotal evidence to confirm that long held theory. The photos are great Dave! I can only make out the two hanger Naval swords with certainty though so I don't think they provide any new insight. The single hangers depicted are of an entirely different nature based on those tsuka kashira. NOW! The NCO is much more interesting! Yes there are genuine example with original black saya, there are probable wartime repainted ones and there are post war repaints. We can check depending how interested you are. I can be more precise on identification of the 95 to. Your example is a Seki made sword, so if there are any stamping on the fuchi under the paint it'll show the Seki manufacturer stamp, Nagoya inspection then Kokura arsenal stamps. It looks to be good condition. These are less common than Suya and Iijima but not rare. A nice pickup. I really should get onto some of these other forums. I'm missing NCOs everywhere. Oh! Almost forgot. You wore gloves when handling. Hats off to you sir. Actually I'm not finished here. Those other swords in the photo with the plain oval tsuka-kashira look eerily familiar. I'm going to have to hit my notes here. Might have solved a real mystery after all.

I'm not really following I'm afraid. Is there a question here? There's a standard Type 97 Kai-Gunto in the pictures, late war is suggested by the plain tsuba and canvas in place of same. Might just be missing the copper ray seppa though. They're less common than 98 but not rare by any stretch. The Japanese navy lost a lot of ships and consequently a lot of swords. From the nakago this one has a stainless steel blade. The stainless ones have the stamp and painted kanji which I think I can see remnants of in photos. It should have a cord sarute but that's missing. Looks like a nice sword though. I like the stainless ones, they're very easy to damage the tip though because it's so soft, so be careful!

Oil the blades. As to the tsuka, I suppose that's up to you. I'd not throw the original away, but I would look for a replacement to display the sword. Tsuka are made for the blade though, so it'll be difficult if not impossible to get a match. I have a lovely spare tsuka, but it'll never fit anything else so it's really just display. You could also repair the original. Or what I mean is send it to a professional to restore, but that depends on time and bank balance. Of those options I'd personally go with restore.

Couldn't find the picture or it wouldn't load. Though being colour blind as well we'd make an awful team.

Not quite right... There is no restriction in Australia for importing single edged swords and furthermore a specific exemption in place for katana. The only restrictions are ownership, which as far as I know only applies in Victoria (other Aussie might know other states but I'm in a rush). My swords all go through Melbourne in Victoria, are usually correctly labeled (some sellers use unusual descriptions for whatever reason) and there has never been any questions from customs about whether I can actually possess the sword. That is a matter for state police. The only hold up are those swords valued over $1,000 which require GST paying. Luckily it's fairly easy to get an exemption as a collector, so anyone caught without one is sleeping in a bed they made. My own Aoi experience was pretty good, the only problem was FedEx whom I would never use or recommend. That was no reflection on Aoi though.

As Bruce says, not uncommon at all. I'll add that paint was used as a substitute to carving for some of the mass produced blades, so it's not an unreasonable assumption that some of these blank nakago probably had painted markings at some stage. Still plenty that have the paint intact to.

I think Ray provided a very respectful and polite response. A fake is made to deceive the purchaser. A reproduction is never intended to deceive, only to emulate and is sold without question as to its nature. Tony has been very mature and humbly accepted the answer for what it is. There is no need to bring the currently insane level of political correctness onto the board. As Dave has correctly pointed out though,depending on the age of the sword it may indeed be a so called island sword. Because they are so varied and each hand made, that is very difficult to discern.

It is a fraction of a decent swords cost and will return many times it's value if you begin collecting military swords.