Hey guys, its a katana question!

[Professor_Jack]

As we know, my knowledge of the katana is tangential at best, and my metalworking ability consists entirely of bolt-on scrapwork.

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Now, in that second image, the light shows a line, perpendicular to the edge, at the tip of the sword.
My understanding is that this is a telltale sign of a machine-blank sword.
Am I correct in this?

I've looked, but I can't find a definitive answer.

 

[Mike157]

I'm certainly no expert, but I think you are talking about the yakote - which I understand to be the "line" on a katana that defines the beginning of the kissaki, or tip of the sword. If this is what you are asking about, it is definitely a legitimate part of a real Japanese or Japanese style sword. On "real" swords they are usually forged and ground to shape. On less expensive replicas, they could be machined in.

If you search for Japanese sword or katana terminology, you'll fine quite a few sites that will explain this in detail. To start, you could just search for kissaki and yakote. Hopefully this is what you were asking about. Mike

 

[Rich S]

It's perfectly normal; called a yokote. Here's a good site showing parts, names, all sorts of things.

http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/nihonto.htm

The yokote is found on real (and fake) Japanese swords of all periods. There are other sword shapes; those without a yokote (but different point shape, shobu zukuri) and those without a ridgeline (shinogi) hira zukuri. Can't tell from your pictures if yours is old, new or fake. Need to see detailed pics of the tang (photo with end down) and close ups of the blade hamon (temperline). Whatever you do, DON'T clean the tang. It will decrease the value of the sword by 50% (assuming it is not a Chinese fake, which most on ebay,etc are). You should really study, read, see real Nihonto before buying. I see hundreds (literally) of posts on the various Japanese sword forums from folks who think they purchased a true antique katana only to find out they have a fake. Hope you haven't made that error.

Rich

 

[Professor_Jack]

picture isn't mine, just an example i dredged up from the interwebs.
Thanks for the information though, guys.

anyway, back to junk-scrap for me!