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, 2025 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, 2025 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, 2025 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.

[John C]

From the same factory I posted above. This auction is straight from China 159 bucks.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305278626077?

 

John C.

[John C]

Another repro from Longquan China. In this case, they used multiple versions of fake numbers and writing. 154 dollars.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/267486630604?

 

John C.

[John C]

Another fake being sold as legit for 1300. Note the fake marks are similar to the one posted above on Nov 21st.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/157427026200?

 

John C.

Edited November 28, 2025 by John C
added content

[John C]

A slightly different fake with brass handle. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/135562460129?

 

John C.

[Rawa]

On 11/7/2025 at 4:24 PM, Scogg said:

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

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever got serial number starting with 0??

[Scogg]

2 minutes ago, Rawa said:

Have you ever got serial number starting with 0??

No. I have never seen a genuine Type 95 with a serial number that starts with zero.

I do have many fake examples cataloged that start with a zero.

The example in the photos below are an example of a well-done FAKE. This exact example has appeared on facebook 4 times now, from the same individual, over the last 6 weeks. Varying commenters falsely proclaim that it's legit.

Unfortunately it's not real.
-Sam

[Bruce Pennington]

You will sometimes see a number with an added zero on Type 32 saya drags after they have been back to the factory for a refurbish/repair, but never on a Type 95.

[Bruce Pennington]

One of the better replicas, Polish?, posted on this Gunboards thread.  Attempting to be a Gifu stamped Nagoya blade.  Unusual to see one in the 70000 20000 (read that number wrong, originally) number range.  These are usually seen in 30000-50000.