Mei translation

[konidzior]

Hi, 

I bought a katana in a shirasaya at a flea market and i have a hard time translating the mei. Can someone help me translate it? 

 

Edit: I'm sorry because i forgot that it has a serial number on the habaki 

Edited Monday at 01:13 PM by konidzior

[Lexvdjagt]

Hello Conrad, this sword is unfortunately a Chinese replica; the signature and habaki are not authentic.

 

 

 

Greetings,

Lex;

[John C]

Konrad:

Three tell-tale signs this is a reproduction:

The "script" writing is not something usually done on swords; the "serial number" on the habaki was not done; and the "damascus" style pattern of the steel is not something the Japanese did. This is a western/Chinese imitation style.

 

John C. 

[konidzior]

Thanks for the help. I'm disappointed with the information cus it's my first sword that I bought but could you please guide me on how to identify a sword in the future so I don't waste another 200$ on a Chinese copy?

[eternal_newbie]

47 minutes ago, konidzior said:

could you please guide me on how to identify a sword in the future so I don't waste another 200$ on a Chinese copy?

 

A visual guide can be found here: https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

 

Further resources here: 

https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/realold.htm

https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/repro.htm

[ROKUJURO]

....and you will not get a genuine hand-made Japanese sword for $ 200.--, so this may also be an indication.

[konidzior]

I need to ask just this one and the last question. Is it a good or a bad replica? Here are more pictures of the sword.

[Lexvdjagt]

13 minutes ago, konidzior said:

I need to ask just this one and the last question. Is it a good or a bad replica? Here are more pictures of the sword.

This, unfortunately, is a very bad replica of a Japanese sword; the overall shape and actual style are completely off. Take a look around the forum, you will find plenty of examples of what Japanese swords should look like.

 

 

[ROKUJURO]

3 hours ago, konidzior said:

..... Is it a good or a bad replica?......

Konrad,

it is a counterfeit, not a replica. Good replica are more difficult to identify; they are made close to the authentic items. This one above is very easy to spot in case you have seen a certain number of swords. It is all a matter of experience, as so often in life!

[John C]

1 hour ago, konidzior said:

Is it a good or a bad

Konrad:

Just looking at this as a piece of steel, it is a hard question to answer. You have no idea what type of steel was used (i.e. 5160, 1095, 01 tool steel, etc.). The dark and light areas are done with an acid etch, which is also deceiving. You also have no idea how it was hardened (i.e., temperature).

Does a magnet stick to it well? This means at least it is steel and not an alloy.

Does it retain an edge when chopped into wood or something hard? Could mean the steel is good and the quench was successful. If not, it may be mild steel and cannot hold an edge.

Regards,

John C.

[Bruce Pennington]

Lots of photos of fakes here: 

NMB Gallery: Fakes

 

And several threads of fakes here:

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/142-fake-Japanese-swords/