Fake Type 95 Nco Swords

[Scogg]

Here is a tricky one spotted on Facebook. The serial number is the biggest tell, although other details are pretty well done. 
 

It’s trying to be a pattern1 copper handle, but it does not stand up to scrutiny.
 

Mekugi is wrong for pattern1, but I didn’t highlight that because sometimes you see that on repaired swords. 
-Sam

 

 

 

 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

They are improving on the Kokura and Suya stamps!  They still can't get the small, center, Tokyo 1st stamp, though.

Yeah, that serial number is bad.  No Type 95s have a zero at the beginning of the number.  

 

Another tell is the dimpling in the diamonds of the tsuka.  They are raised properly, but blurred.  So far, they have a hard time making clear, crisp dimples.

[vajo]

I recently held one of these. They're much lighter than a real one. Everything seems a bit smaller. The habaki weighs less than half as much. The tuska feels far too small in the hand. The sword feels tinny. The seppa are complete rubbish and don't fit at all. They're purely decorative.

 

The screw and the screw head is very weak.

Edited November 11 by vajo

[Scogg]

6 hours ago, vajo said:

I recently held one of these. They're much lighter than a real one. Everything seems a bit smaller. The habaki weighs less than half as much. The tuska feels far too small in the hand. The sword feels tinny. The seppa are complete rubbish and don't fit at all. They're purely decorative.

 

The screw and the screw head is very weak.

Those are great observations Chris, thank you.

My focus has been cataloging the real ones, but I have also been putting together a "fake serial number list" with notes and features. Details like you describe are great things to include. 

All the best,
-Sam

[vajo]

@Scogg Sam i made some pictures. 

 

This sword has been looking very good. But fake. This is one of those swords when you have it in hand you notice instead that it is fake. It feels wrong in hand.

I think i shown it hear some time ago. It was good for learning holding in hands. I was sending the pictures Bruce i think.

 

Notice the broken screw head because the material is very weak and thin.

 

Look at the seppa and the habaki. Same weak sheet metal.

 

Last part the fake stamps. The look sharp and not blury but fake. 

 

 

Edited November 11 by vajo

[vajo]

Sad that i didn't weight the sword for record. A genuine Typ95 feels massive in hand. It feels like a real weapon. This feels more like vegan meat or a non alcoholic beer. 

[Scogg]

@vajo I recognize that as one of those notorious Iijima stamped fakes. I have very many listed just like it in the 30k and 50k range. They do look pretty good, but the bohi is often the big fake identifier for these. The stamps too, like you note. Do you recall if the samegawa dimpling was indented or raised?

 

I have never handled one myself, so it's very interesting to hear your description, and good to know that they at least feel wrong. 

Sometimes I wonder if they are intentionally aged replica's. Something like, but not necessarily identical, to one of these:
https://www.kultofathena.com/product/Japanese-nco-shin-gunto-sword/?attribute_pa_item-grade=standard-grade

Thanks for the photos! I've got this one logged now 
-Sam

Edited November 11 by Scogg
Grammar/word order

[vajo]

@Scogg yes the nanako of the same is vice versa.

[John C]

Yet another fake being sold as real. 800 USD. 9 people are watching this!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/157480984955?

 

John C.