could I have found a lost Tokugawa sword

[G Bryant]

I've been trying to get someone's attention, but all experts in Australia say it's probly a fake , or it must be a fake, I've argued ,pleaded and given all the facts I can find , but even the experts said probly a fake , but nobody has confirmed yes or no .

what's your thoughts highly unlikely  but I can't  prove it a fake . taken out of its beautiful handle and shieth to be unrecognisable and travel from Tokyo to Australia. as a war trophy

that's my theory .. 

thoughts from you guys much appreciated 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ray Singer]

G Bryant, your sword is signed 虎徹 (Kotetsu). It would be more helpful if you could take better, clearer photos. 

Swordsmith information (create an account to access).
https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=虎徹

Examples.
https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=6de80325d8c97b9b&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1136US1136&sxsrf=APpeQnsD-W631RT89SOJ9p08pR9QSnwb2g:1782318299769&udm=2&fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8c4u0nXx4bEIpwm1lnNH832VTJOOCxW_fyN-Q_ezyf8gI6tmCs2mGkqzilSWVScXUu-36F1xwJ6s2wRb7OWrvmXKhJLrQZNmI9gm2AYQW4Uizn2b8TkT7RybSEBZdtaCwnr8ep1FfDZpTyTkz03KmpKMoTvXnkTHHyQHvNfMh4ViFw0QP3ntipu8Gg32MSfCIb3zcfbg&q=長曽祢興里入道虎徹&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiXmomJpaCVAxXEliYFHZAJNNQQtKgLegQIFxAB&biw=1536&bih=791&dpr=1.25

https://www.google.com/search?q="okisato+nyudō+kotetsu"&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1136US1136&oq="okisato+nyudō+kotetsu"&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgcIAhAhGKsCMgcIAxAhGKsCMgcIBBAhGKsCMgcIBRAhGI8CMgcIBhAhGI8C0gEHODI3ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

A togishi in Australia.
https://touken-togishi.com/

WWII Army koshirae.
https://web.archive.org/web/20250228085100/https://ohmura-study.net/900.html

[G Bryant]

new information and help from this group has identified  to be katabami kamon. changing the my research in another direction thanks all for help .

still wondering if fake or real katana 

but nothing to do with lost Tokugawa swords .. my novice knowledge showing clearly 

thank you .G 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Well you can be safe in the knowledge that it's a real Japanese sword, whether or not it was actually made by the smith on the Nakago is a completely different matter. As one of the most faked smiths in history, the chances of it being authentic are perishingly small. 

[Ian B3HR2UH]

You would need to post a picture showing the full tang and signature to get more information . I am certain that you will be told what others have previously told you namely that the signature is a fake one.

[Bugyotsuji]

Remember that a blade can be fitted with almost any tsuba, having no intrinsic relationship, so they need to be researched independently.

In your case the owner may or may not have deliberately chosen a tsuba with the simple katabami mon, but that choice would most likely be independent of a Kotetsu (or otherwise) blade.

[eternal_newbie]

2 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

As one of the most faked smiths in history, the chances of it being authentic are perishingly small.

 

Something to keep in mind here is that this smith is so often faked that he has his own rule of thumb among the collecting community, to wit: "For every ten Kotetsus you see on the market, eleven will be fakes." The people who reflexively reply that what you have is very likely fake aren't being elitist or downers; they're simply repeating a reliable piece of common wisdom in the field.

[2devnul]

Yeah, even famous Kondo Isami was boasting about having a Kotetsu blade, but he had a Gimei

 

PS. When I saw the topic I thought you found Honjo Masamune 

 

PS2. I love it!   

On 6/25/2026 at 4:28 AM, eternal_newbie said:

"For every ten Kotetsus you see on the market, eleven will be fakes."

 

Edited June 26 by 2devnul