Help needed deciding to buy sword or not...

[AusieGav]

Hoping someone can give me a little advice here...

I have been offered a purported Japanese officers sword for $250, I cannot inspect it as it is in another state.
I was sent these photo's, can anyone shed any opinion on whether the price/risk is worth it.

 

[not2sharp]

It looks like a recently made Chinese import.

n2s

 

[AusieGav]

Thanks for the reply, some further information... the person selling the sword seems pretty genuine in their belief this is not a recent Chinese sword, and is also selling some pretty high end antique furniture, they have stated that it is the blade that is of real value.
I am leaning toward not buying.

 

[Hesparus]

I agree that it looks fake. That blade appears to be damascus steel — as far as I know, the japanese never used this technique. A pattern should be present in traditionally made japanese blades, but it is not the result of alternating layers of contrasting alloys, which appears to be what is going on in that blade.

- Chris

 

[sloth357]

I agree that it looks fake. That blade appears to be damascus steel — as far as I know, the japanese never used this technique. A pattern should be present in traditionally made japanese blades, but it is not the result of alternating layers of contrasting alloys, which appears to be what is going on in that blade.

- Chris

Yup, first thing I thought when I saw the blade steel was, uhm, thats damascus.. that's not old. $250 is cheap for a "sword of value" if it were from an "officer". Unless of course it was made from the secret stash brought back from the future from Michael J Fox. =x

 

[SShepherd]

avoid it, it's junk

 

[AusieGav]

Thanks alot fellow forumites - sale refused.