Fatal flaw Ebay Gendaito?

[singh13]

I came across this Gendaito on eBay and wanted to ask about your opinions on these cracks. From what I've heard, a perpendicular crack along the spine can be considered fatal although this crack is at an angle. Would you consider this to be fatal and what kind of crack would this be called?

[singh13]

Should clarify there are two cracks. The smaller one in this picture is the one I'm concerned about

[NewB]

Hello

 

Who knows what's below that?? 

 

Buy papered, in polish from reputable sellers is my approach 

 

You want projects - go for it

 

 

J

[singh13]

Some more pictures, I'm not planning on buying the blade. I'm trying to learn about fatal flaws. Thank you for the advice

[rematron]

To my novice eyes it looks like kitae-ware (delaminated area) and it’s a very common forging flaw. These are not considered fatal flaws as they do not affect the usability of the sword. But they are a flaw and any flaw will have an impact on collectibility. 
 

Here’s a good quick reference for flaws:

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kizu.htm

[Itomagoi]

Hi, I sell this gendaito. There are no fatal flaws. They are kitae ware:

 

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/flaws.html

 

 

 

 

[Franco]

 

 

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kizu.htm

[Brian]

Not a fatal flaw by any means. Just a forging flaw, often seen in older blades.

[Bruno]

4 hours ago, rematron said:

it looks like kitae-ware

I tend to agree. Not important forging issue but not very pleasant to look at. A few togishi are able to hide them completely (by "pushing" the steel) when they are not too deep. 

 

I have a star stamped gendaito by a very rare smith that has kitae ware, it will be send to Japan some day to fix them.