Type 98 authentication

[Roam]

• Hello all,
• unsure if blade is authentic. Hamon is a concern but other features point to forgery?
• some pics are better on white background.
• cannot seem to be able to remove habaki. Thanks for all reply’s in advance.
•  

[Roam]

resized-images 2.zip

[Bruce Pennington]

Hi Harvey,

Don't know if it's just me, but these photos didn't come out.  Seem strangely digitized.

 

So far, looks fine, but would love to see some normal photos.

[eternal_newbie]

26 minutes ago, Bruce Pennington said:

Don't know if it's just me, but these photos didn't come out.  Seem strangely digitized.

 

Not just you - they look the same to me.

[Roam]

Omg, will repost in a bit. Not sure what happened.

[Roam]

Still having issues with image resized last few pics. Sorry.

[Scogg]

No worries Harvey.
 

Instead of putting them through a resizing program; sometimes cropping the image, or taking a screenshot on your phone will get them small enough to post.

 

Although, as far as I can tell, everything looks good. Looks like a nice cutout tsuba. Interesting scabbard paint. 

What about the sword made you suspect forgery? 
 

Best of luck, 
-Sam 

 

[Roam]

Hamon is etched? Thanks for all responses. So helpful here.🙏🏻

Again, sorry for the bad/eyesore pics earlier.

[ROKUJURO]

HAMON looks etched indeed. The full-size/length photo does not help. Please use a dark background, don't shoot photos at an angle (better from right above) and present photos as cut-outs.

You can remove the HABAKI with a piece of hardwood and a small hammer. It is important to show the blade without HABAKI, so we can see the MACHI.

[Tensho]

Any markings or stamps on the nakago? My guess is this is a zohei-to.  

[Conway S]

Yes, it’s an acid etched blade. Sometimes blades like this are encountered with bohi in Kyu Gunto mounts. I have a similar example in good condition early type 94 mounts. Mine is devoid of any markings on the nakago. It’s nice to see another example. 
 

 

[Roam]

Hash marks and file marks but only partially. No stamps nor signature. Rough nakago at edges. Got the habaki off. Is blade genuine? 

[John C]

Harvey:

The marks circled are 4 3, a common way to mark for assembly. Are there similar marks on the edge of the habaki or the numbers 43 on any other fittings?

 

John C.

[Conway S]

 

23 minutes ago, Roam said:

Got the habaki off. Is blade genuine? 

The blade is genuine. There is nothing wrong with the nakago either. Can you post a better close up of the scabbard?

[Roam]

Thanks Con. Here a close up of saya. Only one seppa and it’s marked 9/7/0. No marks on Tsuba.

[PNSSHOGUN]

The other Seppa is stuck to the Fuchi, early swords sometimes only had two or four Seppa.