gendaito or gunto?

[Hermes]

Is there anyway to tell without handling it first? My intenion is to learn how to tell a real Nihonto from a machine made blade.

 

I like the nakago and was wondering if there is anyway to tell from the pictures if it's a traditionally made blade (gendaito)?

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250272361056&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=015

 

Thanks,

James

[pleasemx]

Not quite sure. My method is to check the nie and nioi around the temper line, the hada as well as those activities in the ha. they're enough evidence for hand forging.

 

But I don't know how to verify whether it's made of Tamahagane or not, without the help of a "showa" stamp. ( I think it's a little difficult since I know a professional shopkeeper who was very confident and sent a showato to the shinsa team for a Hozon paper, but at last it failed to pass since the material is modern steel. )