Box o' Katana

[Yendi]

Hello everybody

I'm new to this site so please forgive me (and tell me) if I'm not supposed to be asking this.

Today I was in an antique mall and found a big lock box, the back row of which was full of what looked to be katana:

I had the box unlocked and had a look. Most of the swords were shiny, heavy (to me), and quite sharp. They were all priced at between $300-$450.

When I got home I did some research and realized that many of these must be fakes. Some were sharpened up to the habaki, and I can't remember any of the ones I looked at having obvious hamon. Some were very obviously "acid etched". But there were one or two in there that were a tarnished grey. I also did not check all of them for how far up the blade they'd been sharpened as I hadn't known to look for that until I got home.

In any case, I'd like to go back tomorrow and have a closer look. Bringing a magnet to make sure none are aluminum and a magnifying glass for use with any that might have a hamon (I didn't look at every blade). But I was hoping someone here could offer some advice on things I could look at to make sure I'm getting an as-close-to-real-as-possible katana. Assuming I even buy one.

Are there any tests that I can do there in the store? Can I test balance in the sheath? Besides the things that I've mentioned (sharpening, level of tarnish, presence of hamon) is there anything else I can look for? I am not going to be taking any blades apart to find signatures, not comfortable with that.

FYI I do not intend to use the sword. I'm simply interested in owning a sword that was made in Japan if possible, though I know that any "real" katana will be much more expensive.

Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Jens Schuetz]

You could take pictures of the ones you like and then ppl here could give their opinions.

Until then beside obvious fakes when looking at the blade I'd also consider the overall impression. If the sheath looks like a cheaply painted tourist piece it probably is. A cast looking tsuba is also not the best sign. A grip wrapped in fake leather and so on.
I'm sure you don't need a magnet to identify an aluminum blade.

Will they let you take the blade out of the handle?

 

[Yendi]

You could take pictures of the ones you like and then ppl here could give their opinions.

Until then beside obvious fakes when looking at the blade I'd also consider the overall impression. If the sheath looks like a cheaply painted tourist piece it probably is. A cast looking tsuba is also not the best sign. A grip wrapped in fake leather and so on.
I'm sure you don't need a magnet to identify an aluminum blade.

Will they let you take the blade out of the handle?

Hello and thank you so much for the advice.
Some of the sheaths were definitely cheaply painted, chipped and seemed kinda light. Will check for cast marks as well. Most of the grips did not seem like they had leather wrap at all...I know that silk can be used too, but I'm probably too ignorant to tell the difference to be honest

The magnet thing was a suggestion from another site. They were all to heavy to be aluminum in my book, but really what do I know

I REALLY doubt they will let me remove the blade from the handle. This is an antique mall with various vendors set up inside, who are not actually present, and I don't think the cashiers would take kindly to me doing that. Plus I don't feel at all experienced enough to attempt it.

I will be back there tomorrow at 11am EST and will be uploading more pics to my flickr around that time. Anyone wanting to give input can have a look at whatever I post and feel free to reply to this thread, I'll check it and make a decision before noon.

Thanks!

 

[Yendi]

I've posted some images of two in interested in in my flickr (see previous post for link). Most were not so good. All were sharpened all the way up the blade. Most had crummy sheaths. I couldn't tell whether any of them had guards made from a mold but it didn't seem like it. The white one is clean and seems to have an ok blade, but the sheath has chipping paint. The brown one with the mantis motif is shorter and tarnished but has a nicer sheath. Any opinions welcome in the next half hour.

 

[NihontoEd]

Nothing shown in your "Flicker" photos are real Japanese swords. The first photo is a ground hamon seen on reproduction pieces. The other two swords(White & Brown) are definite Chinese reproductions. All junk, stay far, far away unless you want a collection of junk.

 

[Yendi]

Nothing shown in your "Flicker" photos are real Japanese swords. The first photo is a ground hamon seen on reproduction pieces. The other two swords(White & Brown) are definite Chinese reproductions. All junk, stay far, far away unless you want a collection of junk.

Much obliged!

 

[Triton]

You never know and it doesn't hurt to ask. Genuine antiques turn up in the craziest places. In this case I would not call them fakes. They are not really intended to deceive. They are simply overpriced, modern, junk swordlike objects.

 

[Yendi]

You never know and it doesn't hurt to ask. Genuine antiques turn up in the craziest places. In this case I would not call them fakes. They are not really intended to deceive. They are simply overpriced, modern, junk swordlike objects.

Thanks I appreciate that. Thank you for being patient with my questions. I've learned some things that will be helpful if I come across anything real in my travels.

Oh no, not fakes at all