So....number stamped on habaki indicates a fake?

[John Cartwright]

Not that I had any great expectations of this Tachi (I saw a year ago in a Devon Junk/salvage shop. A year later I made a cheeky offer and bought it, thinking in my ignorance it may be a Kai Gunto! I am Iaidoka, but with little knowledge of katana etc. apart from 'naming of parts' for grading examinations! But it looks nice on the rack along with my Shinken, Iaito and bokuto.  (All probably Longquan products.)

I'd be interested to know any thoughts after you have stopped laughing!

Same is genuine, (I performed the 'hot needle' test; no melting) Ito wrap. Ito and menuki rather pathetic. Blade either Damascus or acid-etched with no Hamon. Nakugo has '24' painted thereon, (as does saya, under the kogai), and inscribed as seen.

As said, I had no expectations, but would be most grateful if some of the experts here may have some idea of age and origin.

 

 

[French nihonto]

Hello.

bad Chinese copy. sorry john

Max

[Brian]

Bad bad bad Chinese fake. Very obvious.
Please do more studying, this one was very obvious. It had just about every fake feature you get.
Hopefully it was cheap cheap.

[John Cartwright]

Thank you for your replies.

It was £100, reduced from £195. Not disappointed, I thought it was a 'bit moody'!

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Have a quick read of our Fake Swords Gallery.  You'll find most of the "tells" we see on this sword - Damascus steel, purple same', large number stamped on habaki.  There were some China railway swords that had stamped numbers on the habaki, but they were all 1 - 3 digit numbers.  The fakes like larger numbers, in general.