Real or Fake

[Jetblack2013]

Need help identifying this. 

Edited January 11 by Jetblack2013
There was no text

[Jetblack2013]

[Jetblack2013]

[Jetblack2013]

What is this? Chromed? 

[Bruce Pennington]

Looks real Nick. Where is it, an antique store or pawn shop? Just curious.

[Jetblack2013]

It’s both. Mostly antiques but you can pawn firearms, guitars, jewelry etc. as well. 

The Japanese military group on Facebook seems to be mixed with one guy insisting it was a copy, another said legit and no one quite knew what was going on with the blade peeling. Whether it was chromed or if that’s cosmoline? 

[robinalexander]

Looks good to me Nick.

 

Either chromed or very highly buffed (unfortunate either way).

 

Missing the mekugi screw and its highly unlikely you will ever find an original.  One option would be Ebay seller 'Bobby Military Store' who sells chinese 'replicas' but no idea about the quality.

 

If the blade is peeling then its bad chrome not cosmoline.

[Conway S]

1 hour ago, Jetblack2013 said:

What is this? Chromed? 

If that’s damage to the blade and not something stuck to the blade, I definitely would not buy it. It’s too easy to find nicer examples out there. 

 

 

[Kiipu]

A Japanese Type 95 NCO sword and it is real.  Made under Nagoya Arsenal supervision sometime in late 1942.

[Jetblack2013]

10 minutes ago, Conway S said:

If that’s damage to the blade and not something stuck to the blade, I definitely would not buy it. It’s too easy to find nicer examples out there. 

 

 

It’s like it was chromed and is peeling in that spot. 

[Scogg]

Hi Nick,

 

I agree that it looks genuine to me, and I’m sorry you’re getting such a mixed response on Facebook. There’s a lot of nuance with these swords that few people fully understand. 

 

I’d like to address a few of the points that were raised there:

 

1 - All nagoya stamped blades have the serial number oriented this way, with the edge up. This is standard and not upside down.

 

2- The iron ferrule did not take stamps particularly well, and this specific range of Type 95s is known for weak or poorly struck markings.

 

3- There is some variation in serial number fonts, and the one shown here looks consistent and correct to me for this range. 
 

4- the Nagoya blade stamp does look very shallow, but that’s also been observed before, and could be exaggerated by whatever has been done to the blade. 
 

What I think we’re looking at is an example that received some buffing, and then maybe been chromed; although I’d like to see better pictures of that spot for any level of confidence diagnosing what that is. 

 

I generally agree with Conway, that there are better examples to be had, unless the price is “too good to be true”.

-Sam 

[Jetblack2013]

12 minutes ago, Scogg said:

Hi Nick,

 

I agree that it looks genuine to me, and I’m sorry you’re getting such a mixed response on Facebook. There’s a lot of nuance with these swords that few people fully understand. 

 

I’d like to address a few of the points that were raised there:

 

1 - All nagoya stamped blades have the serial number oriented this way, with the edge up. This is standard and not upside down.

 

2- The iron ferrule did not take stamps particularly well, and this specific range of Type 95s is known for weak or poorly struck markings.

 

3- There is some variation in serial number fonts, and the one shown here looks consistent and correct to me for this range. 
 

4- the Nagoya blade stamp does look very shallow, but that’s also been observed before, and could be exaggerated by whatever has been done to the blade. 
 

What I think we’re looking at is an example that received some buffing, and then maybe been chromed; although I’d like to see better pictures of that spot for any level of confidence diagnosing what that is. 

 

I generally agree with Conway, that there are better examples to be had, unless the price is “too good to be true”.

-Sam 

Thank for the info. They were asking $895 which although I am very green seemed a little high for the blade situation. Could probably talk them down but I am uncertain on its actual value. 

[Scogg]

For $895 I think you could get a pretty good and untouched example. Id steer clear personally.  
 

While I don’t agree with much of the feedback on Facebook, I think that their reaction to the sword will be repeated if you were to ever show it off, or try to sell it someday. Which can be a frustrating reality with these swords. People are quick to skepticism.

 

But for that price some nice examples are out there; and if you’re interested in the Type 95, I think you can find a good one if you shop around. 

All the best,

-Sam 

 

 

[Jetblack2013]

19 minutes ago, Scogg said:

For $895 I think you could get a pretty good and untouched example. Id steer clear personally.  
 

While I don’t agree with much of the feedback on Facebook, I think that their reaction to the sword will be repeated if you were to ever show it off, or try to sell it someday. Which can be a frustrating reality with these swords. People are quick to skepticism.

 

But for that price some nice examples are out there; and if you’re interested in the Type 95, I think you can find a good one if you shop around. 

All the best,

-Sam 

 

 

Thanks. I think I’ll come here and pick your guys brains before buying if you don’t mind. It was nice to have actual insight to the points you addressed and I feel like I actually learned something. 
In the meantime if anyone finds a decent 95 send them my way.

[Hokke]

3 hours ago, Jetblack2013 said:

What is this? Chromed? 

Looks like a thin film peeling off the blade. Doesn't looked chromed to me but more likely polished with compound and wheel. For $895, like others said.....hard pass is the right choice

[John C]

2 hours ago, Jetblack2013 said:

insisting it was a copy

Nick:

I haven't read the FB post, however one reason someone may be calling it fake is because of the way the bohi appears to be ground in. This is far more common on fakes but is not unheard of on legit swords.

John C.

[Jetblack2013]

28 minutes ago, John C said:

Nick:

I haven't read the FB post, however one reason someone may be calling it fake is because of the way the bohi appears to be ground in. This is far more common on fakes but is not unheard of on legit swords.

John C.

He said the “Nagoya stamp is fake” and thought the ferrule was “shameful”. Another said “Oh God that pawn shop got ripped off”. I’m not sure what that statement was based on since everyone here seems to think it’s authentic and we don’t know what the shop paid for it. 

[Scogg]

Unfortunately these swords are often incorrectly identified. I’ve seen real one be called fake, and fake ones be called real.

 

One of the unfortunate things on Facebook, is the impossibility of knowing which comments to value and which to discard. 
 

A few too many cooks in the kitchen sometimes 

 

[Bruce Pennington]

It is a legit type 95. I wish they could all be rescued. If I had the money, I would do it, but if it is not your thing, like everyone said there are nice ones to be found out there. You’ll probably pay more money though.

[Jetblack2013]

31 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

If I had the money, I would do it, but if it is not your thing, 

I mean. I have plenty of stuff lying around I could trade them to bring the price down and I’d love to have it as a first piece in a WWll collection but I have little knowledge on how to fix it properly. 

[Brian]

Not sure when the price of Type 95's became higher than average Type 94's but proof that militaria collectors are more active/common than Japanese sword guys. That said, you could probably pick up a decent Showato that is forged but not traditionally made, for around that price fairly easily. So unless you particularly want a machine made billet sword, you may want to expand your search to the other Gunto from WW2

[Jetblack2013]

2 minutes ago, Brian said:

Not sure when the price of Type 95's became higher than average Type 94's but proof that militaria collectors are more active/common than Japanese sword guys. That said, you could probably pick up a decent Showato that is forged but not traditionally made, for around that price fairly easily. So unless you particularly want a machine made billet sword, you may want to expand your search to the other Gunto from WW2

No, I don’t particularly want a 95. I would love a 94 or 98 but I have an even harder time deciphering if they are authentic and finding one for the price of this one. New guys just don’t know where you guys find these for fair prices. I could find 5 on EBay that I would buy for $1500 right now but I’m scared to I’ll get a fake. I’ve looked at photos and read up on the fittings etc but I don’t feel much confidence in my ability to spot a fake. I’m not sure I ever will. 

[BANGBANGSAN]

This is a legit Nagoya 95, but the blade has been chrome-plated, and the handle screw is missing. Interestingly, the 名 inspection stamp is stamped sideways.

 

 

[robinalexander]

1 hour ago, Jetblack2013 said:

No, I don’t particularly want a 95. I would love a 94 or 98 but I have an even harder time deciphering if they are authentic and finding one for the price of this one. New guys just don’t know where you guys find these for fair prices. I could find 5 on EBay that I would buy for $1500 right now but I’m scared to I’ll get a fake. I’ve looked at photos and read up on the fittings etc but I don’t feel much confidence in my ability to spot a fake. I’m not sure I ever will. 

Nick if you just want to buy one or two genuine 94's or 98's but are not interested in progressing the whole nihonto thing, thats ok but I encourage you to use the resources available on NMB by posting good pics/description of what u are looking at and I'm sure you will get useful feedback and hopefully avoid some grief.

 

We all like looking at swords and, believe or not, many of us like to offer opinions 

 

Rob

[Jetblack2013]

28 minutes ago, robinalexander said:

 I encourage you to use the resources available on NMB by posting good pics/description of what u are looking at and I'm sure you will get useful feedback and hopefully avoid some grief. 

I think that’s what I’m going to have to do. For now at least. I appreciate it. 

[Brian]

If you check out the for sale section here, or post  WTB ad, you'll likely pick up a Gunto (Showato) for that price.

[vajo]

I don't like the blade and the habaki. The Habaki is shinny and looks like the same as on the polish replica.

Maybe it is assambled together from parts and the blade is fake whatever.

Or it is what it is. 

 

 

 

[Scogg]

Looks like the habaki was painted gold and some got onto the blade. I suppose that could be a reflection though. 
 

I’d like to see how the bohi terminates near the kissaki. Typically that’s a big tell for fake blades. 

 

I suspect the blade was buffed before being chromed.

Just a theory, 

-Sam 

[Jetblack2013]

4 hours ago, Scogg said:
 

I’d like to see how the bohi terminates near the kissaki. Typically that’s a big tell for fake blades. 

 

I thought I had a better picture of it but I guess this is the only one I took. 

[Scogg]

A little tough to see, but the bohi and kissaki look good to me.

 

On a lot of fakes, you see the fuller (bohi) end early, sometimes a few inches before the kissaki