Please help provide info about my Katana (Pic Heavy)

A

argonstrom

Joined
Jun 2, 2010
Messages
34
I believe it to be post-WWII. Any information you could provide would be much appreciated.

Specs:
Weight: 3.11 lbs, 1.4 kg
Length: 40”, 101.6cm

Katana Dimensions
Overall Length: 39 ¾”, 100.9 cm (not including Scabbard)
Blade Length: 26 ¾”, 67.9cm (Blade only from tip to blade collar)
Blade Colllar to Back of Guard: 1 ¾”, 4.4cm
Handle, Tsuka Length: 11 ¼”, 28.5cm (From guard to Pommel)
Weight: 2.1 lbs, 1.2 kg

Scabbard Dimensions
Weight: 1.1 lbs, .5 kg
Length: 28 ½”, 72.3 cm

Tang
7 ¾”, 19.6cm
One Peg Hole
Makers Mark, on Right Side, (Unknown, unable to translate)
File Marks on Tang only

Sword Guard
Round, Metal
3 ½”, 8.8cm across
Detailed with 2 Dragons

Overall:

KjVgrFH.jpg


NMV26sW.jpg


The dowel from the handle:

iBSU3aC.jpg


Blade metal:

CCdmevK.jpg


Handle:

Bsl5zJO.jpg


Guard:

QeV3d1v.jpg


Markings:

gWMzfyM.jpg


Scabbard:

cHCyYIX.jpg


Thank you!
 
Seems the markings say Suke Chu (or Naka) Ichi. Fairly certain the Chinese didn't employ Japanese sword smiths.
 
argonstrom said:
Seems the markings say Suke Chu (or Naka) Ichi. Fairly certain the Chinese didn't employ Japanese sword smiths.
Click to expand...

if you wait a bit, there ARE guys on here that will eventually tell you what you wish to know. sometimes you have to wait a bit, in stillness. ;)
 
Whats to wait for?It is NOT a Japanese sword,it is fake made by people that want to screw you out of your money.
 
I'll agree it is not Japanese, but it may still be a servicible cutter. Someone with a bit more exp on this site will be along soon enough.
 
I WILL say, that koiguchi is horrible. I can almost hear the scrrrrraaaaaaaapppppeeee. If it does cut decently, ditch that ugly saya, you can get replacements cheaply enough. When you lack an expert opinion, all you can do is look to the clues that are present. The fittings, kashira, tsuba, etc, look like cast alloy. The blade may possibly be serviceable, I'm far from learned enough to be able to tell. Koiguchi (scabbard mouth) is horrendous, although a previous owner may have "wallowed it out". if that came from the maker like that, they should be ashamed of what little "craftsmanship" they possess. Ito (cord wrap) interestingly enough, looks well-used. No idea on the same', they make pretty realistic fakes, in about any color you'd like. Is it "junk"? Most likely. It's interesting junk if it is. :) I suspect that it's entirely possible that what we're looking it is a beginner cutter, and one that had a previous saya of wood, which is gone, and somebody found a saya from a totally junk cheapo to replace and be able to sell it. The sword may be one of the $100 entry level swords, but the scabbard is straight out of the $19.99 rack-not giving what it's all worth, just an observation that I base on the worn Ito and the blade. Again, not an expert. be interesting to see what they DO say, though, and one way to get their attention is:

Guess and be wrong.

They hit that bait like pirhanas on a bleeding guppy.

:D
 
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The first thing that caught my eye, and rang the alarm bell, was the saya, then the tsuba. That was all I needed to see for my first opinion.
 
argonstrom said:
I believe it to be post-WWII. Any information you could provide would be much appreciated.
Click to expand...

You are actually correct. It is post WWII. By about 70 years, give or take. :)

Everything about this piece screams Chinese made fake. Generally, the blades on these are not even heat treated (or even made from steel than CAN be heat treated) from what I've read, so I have my doubts about it being a functional cutter.
 
It's really bad.

If it isn't whippy and the balance feels right to you, it might make a decent suburito(practice for swinging......but that would be it from where I sit.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Bad pattern welded steel is definitely not what you want to hit anything with. If it's really bad I wouldn't even swing it around.
 
Hi Argonstrom,

I am afraid the blade is of low-end product by just looking at the koiguchi structure- It is incomplete and definitely not up to Japanese standards. I tried to look up the bladesmith's name "今木功一" on the net, but it gave me a feeling that it is a fake name just like "John Doe". However, the tsuba was equipped correctly (by luck?) in terms of direction if it was trying to imitate a dachi koshirae... Good luck!
 
Agreed, Chinese creation meant to be sold as something it isn't.
 
Umm...the majority of Katanas during WWII were Chinese made because they needed an increased production rate. You guys think the WWII Katanas were all hand made in Japan?
Good luck trying to get a true Katana out of Japan.
 
AusLoX said:
Umm...the majority of Katanas during WWII were Chinese made because they needed an increased production rate. You guys think the WWII Katanas were all hand made in Japan?
Good luck trying to get a true Katana out of Japan.
Click to expand...

I don't believe anyone suggested anything about all WWII katana being handmade in Japan, in fact most WWII officers katana were factory made in Japan. Finding a true katana out of Japan is a serious and expensive undertaking, there's no doubt about it. That doesn't change what this sword is (or isn't). it's entirely possible to find reasonable (although not great imho) quality chitana... this isn't one of them.
 
AusLoX said:
Umm...the majority of Katanas during WWII were Chinese made because they needed an increased production rate. You guys think the WWII Katanas were all hand made in Japan?
Good luck trying to get a true Katana out of Japan.
Click to expand...

Man, you are off base in huge ways.

If you are talking about getting a nationally and historically important katana out of Japan, yes, it would be quite involved.

But....

Getting a modern katana out of Japan by say...the Yoshihara clan is as easy as paying your money and waiting.....

Same for less important, but quite antique pieces.

Many, many of the WWII Japanese gunto were made in factories IN Japan....some bear mei or stamps of origin.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
Man, you are off base in huge ways.

If you are talking about getting a nationally and historically important katana out of Japan, yes, it would be quite involved.

But....

Getting a modern katana out of Japan by say...the Yoshihara clan is as easy as paying your money and waiting.....

Same for less important, but quite antique pieces.

Many, many of the WWII Japanese gunto were made in factories IN Japan....some bear mei or stamps of origin.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

At the start of the war they were made in factories in Japan. The majority were made in China. I'm not off base at all. And you're not going to get a historic katana out.
 
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