Need Help w/Identification - Japanese Sword

W

W201

Joined
Mar 1, 2010
Messages
17
Hi everyone. Just wondering if you guys can help me identify this Japanese sword, or at least tell me something about it. For beginners, I picked it up at an antique shop for a very reasonable price. Even if it's a replica, or worthless, I'm out a entire $5 dollars.

I think it's either a wakizashi or a tanto. Blade length is 15 inches. Overall length is 21 inches. The blade is dull (practice sword)?

Thanks!

5524042392_a5ae23c9da_z.jpg
 
Thanks, buddy. You win some...

I'll see if I can at least double my money on eBay.
 
Well, the thing is that I do collect knives. I have a nice selection of chef knives- and I am a chef of course, it's not just for show- and folders, but I've always wanted a Japanese sword. Then when I saw this one at an antique shop, then I saw the price, I got really excited and purchased it.

I thought this would be my first real Japanese sword, one that I could afford. Sadly, it didn't turn out that way. So I'll just keep saving up until I have $1000 bucks for the real thing.
 
I've seen those floating around back in the day, the style is a shirasaya. They were mass produced and machine stamped 440 Stainless steel, most that I've seen were from Taiwan.
 
If it's not marked, it's Chinese. The Taiwanese ones were all deeply stamped.

Retail new is about $20. It was probably part of a set of 3 for $60 at one point. The symmetrically etched "temper line" is a giveaway. Almost certainly stainless from the look, but some are a bit heavier and of carbon steel.
 
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