Sword canes (Shikomi-zue) mostly have very low grade blades. The seppa is a clear fake, and like everyone else said, the bo-hi starts too far down the blade and the tip is round (like a Nagoya). This fine example is a genuine WWII Japanese Type 95 NCO Samurai Sword or katana with aluminum handle construction and machine made blade. Complete with metal locking spring tab that secures the blade to the scabbard. They sell it for 165 EUR everywhere. This sword I shared with Steve (this thread) is a very good knowledge test - the goofy belt hanger (Bruce references) made me discount the sword immediately, but on closer look (my opinion) the stamps are a bit better than the other, cheaper fakes out there on the market. They just copy the real swords they import.Just comment what you like, you are not changing anything. Slowly improving. Hi I'm a newly signed up member of the site. Your link has been automatically embedded. once told the facts they simply try and sell it on at the same price they paid, to avoid a loss of money instead of learning from there mistakes. I'm reposting the pictures of the fake pattern 5 that Stegel provided in the wooden handled topic just to have them all together. I was so stupid to have some and sold it - for better swords. Here is my last IJA type 95 copper handle nco sword the I own. of forging the blade using multiple folds,etc. This was a tough one! All Images and Text Copyright 2003-2023 International Military Antiques Inc. All Rights Reserved. Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal, Amazon & Sezzle. WW2 Imperial Japanese Type 95 pattern Army NCO's sword, sold In good condition and with matching sword vs scabbard serial numbers, this is a 100% guaranteed authentic WW2 Imperial Japanese Type 95 pattern Army NCO's sword / katana. One thing I also saw while researching is the nightmare of the number of fakes out there. http://ohmura-study.net/790.html. The type and color of the rust is used to help date and to authenticate the blade. There are collectors in China, and if they need more, they can buy them. No habaki. All NCO swords were numbered. There is a suspicion that this is a fake. Most soldiers and citizens surrendered their swords to the American occupying forces. After that I heard nothing. Have always thought the comments about not tipping off the forgers are just plain silly.I still do.The image of some rough factory in China where they are turning these outand some guy on a computer somewhere shouting out in Chinese into the factory "Hey guys! The Scabbardlooks to have some paint left, however it is under the leather cover, which we have not removed, so we do not know how much still remains. The Japanese Type 95 pattern Army NCO's sword is one of the most reproduced / faked swords in the world, be warned. I have been asked this many times at shows, from dealers and buyers. Make the gap between the arsenal marks less! signed or not has little to do with determining if it is handmade or the age of the blade. All Rights Reserved. Free shipping for many products! This being despite the machine made blade an cast aluminum hilt. Blade is 26.5 inches long, with an overall length of 36.5 inches. That is not true. Here is my last IJA type 95 copper handle nco sword the I own. The matching serial numbers indicate the sword was taken off Not just Gunto but Napoleonic ,K98 bayonets you name itSo look out in the future! Mission Ready, Qualified & Competent, On Time Execution! The Americans destroyed a large number of swords by dumping them into the ocean or by melting them. This example has a matching serial number 93225 on both the blade and the throat of the scabbard. For definitions of terms, check the visual glossary page. The blades in these items are all "soft steel" and have etched temperlines Unfortunately have to agree with Brian, as prices move upwards, the copies will inevitably get better. Overall a very nice condition WW2 Type 95 NCO Katana that will appreciate in value over the coming years. The overall length is approximately 38 inches in the scabbard. It is said that during battle soldiers would not use the ring but rather would stick the sword through the belt the same way as the Samurai in ancient times. If there are serial numbers stamped in the blade, it is a machine made The process of tsuka-maki (handle wrapping) is quite complicated. A real hamon The scabbard exhibits about 70% of its original olive brown. There are a bunch more issues with the sword, so if anyone wants to test their detective skills this is a good opportunity. A number of opinions have been provided, some with hints of the issues. Didn't want to explain to much, because that sword copys get better and better. People can scoff at paranoia as much as you like but the simple fact is they are getting better, whether through study of originals or reading well intentioned post. Maybe he is just one of the many merchants capitalising on a class of people with more money than they know what to do with. Steves last post real or copy? Serial range could be wrong as well but, I cant see them. To a novice who buys on impulse..then asks in the forums.you'll get BURNT. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. An excellent example of a World War II Type 95 Japanese Army NCO sword that was obviously carried in the field of combat operations. Obvious two issues are the scabbard pattern and additional screw. When in doubt, check the blade with a magnet. As I said in the other NCO topic. The serial number should be near the bottom of the blade, just above the habaki. There are some Chinese replicas of these out there, however this sword is definitely genuine. We assume no liability associated with misuse of our products. Yeah I guess Japanese military swords don't get much attention from the well known names. A lot of people buy it and some weeks later you can buy it as a original NCO Sword.. This sword is actually pictured on page 191 of Dawson . Japanese WWII swords are amongst the most copied/faked of all swords and prospective buyers should beware. It's also really interesting that it looks like the original serial numbers on the scabbard and blade matched before they were ground. Real swords, decorative, historical, fantasy; humor, social, ID requests, shopping help, art; all sword-related topics are welcome (we are not very strict about topicality)! Authorized for production in 1935, the Type 95, commonly referred to as the NCO sword was all-machine made unlike the more expensive and higher-quality Officer's sword. The above items are only a general guide. There are numerous Blade is 26.25 inches long, with an overall length of 36.25 inches. As originally produced the saber included a leather finger loop inside of the guard, which was riveted to the basket guard. It's 40 inches overall, with a 33.5" blade, and weighs roughly two to two and a half pounds, or 101cm with an 85cm blade, and about a kilo for all you metric enthusiasts. But as I have been at this for a while, I'm seeing how much better the reproductions are getting, and I realize that every bit of help they can get by reading posts like this, helps them make their fakes even better. Gun magazine laws, concealed weapons laws, laws governing new made display guns, airsoft guns, blank fire guns, and other items vary greatly by nation, state and locality. The Americans destroyed a large number of swords by dumping them into the ocean or by melting them. Around $1.000. Clear editor. It sounds to me like he was indeed a 3rd party procuring items. Cut-out version brass tsuba. from China I searched into the rest of the Japanese items on the site. I do share Greys sentiment though. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) Type 95 NCO Shin Gunto. Also, they definitely like those brass tsukas, don't they! Of the eight army arsenals active in the war only Kokura, Tokyo First and Nagoya were involved in the Type 95 program. The original thread is gone and buried somewhere and this, Saw these photos of a fake Type 95. The one thing that always sets off alarms on these is the tsuka almost looks blurred or sandblasted, the real NCO's are usually crisp and bold and well defined. Tokyo First Arsenal blade numbers. All correct! Even should they be able to reproduce the sword exactly, it is not just that one should be looking at, but a series of common features in patina that are universal to genuine, old NCO. You cannot paste images directly. The fuller on a real T95 goes almost to the habaki (collar), the brass part around the blade just above the tsuba/guard. So all of these swords are offered on egun.de, schwertshop.de and other german sellers. T95 NCO swords had copper hilts, or later, aluminum ones, never brass. the mounts can be interesting with hidden, spring loaded, pop out guards. About 80,000 of the Ko sabers were produced between 1899 and 1936, with the lowest reported serial number being 1175 and the highest one being 83390. Traditionally this function is assigned to the Habaki (blade collar). NCO copper tsuka (handle) that is actually painted on top of the handle, I have not seen that before. The grip still retains much of its brown paint, being approximately 70% intact, and the golden yellow paint on the cherry blossom menuki is approximately 50% intact. Many, many Given the large jump in value that NCO swords have experienced in the last few years and given how relatively easy it is to copy something that is cast and milled without a lot of hand work involved, I think it is only a matter of time, and not much time at that, before the fakes are indistinguishable from the real thing. Legal Notice - International Military Antiques, Inc observes all Federal, State and local laws. Arsenal stamps do not appear on pre-1930's blades. Look at the bohi at the kissaki and the arsenal marks are terrible! IMA considers all antique guns offered on our website as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. You cannot re-wrap the hilt with the silk cord that was removed. Many people tend to believe that if a sword View cart for details. Even the once "lowly" type 95 NCO sword has started to command high prices. Identification National Guard Marksmanship Training Center. NCO Katanas were issued to soldiers who did not want to take their family sword to battle or who came from poor families that did not have swords to pass down through the generations. Guaranteed authentic: A WW2 Type 95 Japanese army NCO's sword, Kokura arsenal stamp. October 27, 2017 in Military Swords of Japan. Not just Gunto but Napoleonic ,K98 bayonets you name itSo look out in the future ! . Machine made blade is good condition. Upload or insert images from URL. this rare early solid copper handled sword, serial number 631 is all matching and it is also one of the very few known to exist that still has the original leather tassel hanger (saru-te). locking mechanism works very well. Most WW II era blades are not sharpened all the down to the habaki (collar). Sponsored. But it would really help to see that. A real one would also be fine, but is too expensive for me. Something went wrong. An etched temper line will be seen as a smooth cloud lacking any internal features. 2- no screw is used as per T-95 usual fashion on the hilt but a special screw assembly located on the pommel and holed for the sword knot. NCOs will progress into the minefield of German militaria in the next couple of decades. can be. The scabbards and hilts are usually designed to resemble bamboo The blade must be examined in its entirety and not judged solely late, now sold). Pre-Owned. Anyway, if ok, can I post some pictures to get your expert opinion on my purchase? Most handmade Grain (hada) is sometimes difficult for beginners to recognize. Typical WWII Imperial Japanese Army style fittings, with a single suspension ring from the scabbard, known as the "New Military Sword" (shin guntou) style. I can't get over the prices on these nowadays.. crazy, https://www.ebay.com/itm/WW2-WWII-Japanese-NCO-OFFICERS-SWORD-WITH-MATCHING-NUMBERS/253234351978?hash=item3af5f18f6a:g:wxsAAOSwAHtZ94Dm. 100 % newly made. Some older (Shinshinto) The Type 95 NCO sword is similar in appearance to officers Type 94 and Type 98 Shin-gunt military swords, but is made of lower quality materials, most notably its hilt, which is made from metal and the scabbard was similar to that of the Type 32 with a prominent drag. The machine-made blade is 26 inches long. Usually the copies are considerably lower, making it very obvious. Because it's really quite a nice repro, thought I'd better share it here as for reference. So if they put their mind to it, an NCO sword should be no problem to reproduce. By the way, the MILLIONS of copy ROLEXS have not slowed the demand for the real thing, or stopped prices rising. Could this thread please get a Fake tag? Copyright 1995-2023 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mauser 99 in post 15 look to the scabbard throat and you should see the brass sleeve visible.Also with the MountCastle example the paint still looked fresh in the overly large fake serial number on the throat..Shame really because the one that is on the site with a painted hilt but marked sold is a real one,and nice too ! These items are purchased for the quality of the carving only. It's also really interesting that it looks like the original serial numbers on the scabbard and blade matched before they were ground. Sometimes they get irate. Everything for sale on ima-usa.com is completely legal to own, trade, transport and sell within the United States of America. Have a 3rd pattern nco Tokyo First Army Arsenal inspection mark "To" stamping serial number 141882 and wanted to know a possible year dating on that number range cheers Phil Quote Name: Stu W Posted March 7, 2014 Hi Phil, There should be no characters etched on the blade, just a serial number. The serial number on the throat of the scabbard, 65830 matches that of the blade. (NOTE: Some swords may have two mekugi - one near the guard and the other near the end of the hilt. The Kokura Arsenal did not produce any Type 95 Shin Gunto but over-saw the production of these swords so its identification stamp is often found on Type 95 swords. But a small percentage made its way back to the United States and into the collector market. I'll continue to post where I find different examples. I completely agree with Bill here. This example has a matching serial number 55250 on both the blade and the throat of the scabbard. The best place to look is at the serial Numbers. There should be no characters etched on the blade, just a serial number. Paste as plain text instead, Authorized for production in 1935, the Type 95, commonly referred to as the NCO sword was all-machine made unlike the more expensive and higher-quality Officers sword. Showing an average amount of wear throughout, this Japanese Type 95 NCO Shin-Gunto is a beautiful example throughout. There are numerous varieties of items made in the 20th Century as $159.50. Writing about whatever interests me, and maybe you. The biggest giveaway are the stamps. For questions or accessibility help - please call (908) 903-1200. The position of the number on the blade, configured to be read with the cutting edge down, identifies the sword as having been produced by the Tokyo Arsenal (The only other source for the Type 95 sword was the Nagoya arsenal, which impressed the number on the blade in such a. The collctors in China can spot the fake easily as well,and they pay more than us to get the real ones. WWII Japanese Army Type 95 Tokyo Arsenal NCO Shin-Gunto Sword $ 895.00 A World War II Type 95 Japanese Army NCO sword on which the sword blade and scabbard both have matching serial numbers. real, good condition, price is abit high. A new sword was pointed out to me recently which is very well made and in fact at first glance addresses a lot of the issues with obvious fakes. Swords with carved bone handles and scabbards are It's a huge tell tale. I agree, once they start nailing the kissaki and proper proportions it will be a minefield out there. The painted handle and scabbard color look very nice, even though there were still some parts not correct compared to the real one, but it will fool a lot of people, like many dealers, there main concern is profit, regardless of the piece being a reproduction. I sent the seller a message. Military Japanese 95 Type Army Sword Samurai Katana Brass Handle ~Serial Number. All Images and Text Copyright 2003-2023 International Military Antiques Inc. All Rights Reserved. You can post now and register later. no interest to Japanese sword collectors. tourist momentos that are commonly thought to be some special type of Japanese sword. Your previous content has been restored. Amounts shown in italicized text are for items listed in currency other than U.S. dollars and are approximate conversions to U.S. dollars based upon Bloomberg's conversion rates. Powered by Invision Community, Sword Shows, Events, Community News and Legislation Issues, Military Swords of Imperial Japan - Ohmura San, Nihonto-Japanese Swords as Art - John Eliyas, The Token Society of GB - Scotland Branch, Nanka Token Kai - Southern California Japanese Sword Society, Japanese Sword Society of the United States, The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Sword Culture (NBSK), The Japanese Sword Society of the United States, Nederlandse Tken Vereniging - Netherlands, San Francisco Nipponto Society *caution, http://mountcastlesantiques.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=277, http://mountcastlesantiques.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=276&zenid=qot0424cgushvekob07rapkkq2. Japanese WWII Type 95 NCO Sword. It now takes an expert to tell the difference between a Chinese $25 copy ROLEX and the real deal, right down to the automatic movement. Sure, there's lots of other details like proof marks to look for, but these 5 things are just glaringly obvious and easy to see in pictures, and one or more seems to be on every single repro sword out there, so they're quick and easy ways to ID fakes. on a single criteria. Learn how your comment data is processed. 2023 GriffinMilitaria.com. This thread is quite old. For questions or accessibility help - please call (908) 903-1200. The Phillips screw was only patented in 1932, and hadn't caught on in most of the world by WWII. There are strategies in place with most countries Customs and Border protection to seize and destroy fake watches, handbags, CD's DVD's etc, but swords are not even on the RADAR. Never use force to remove the handle.) This is due to the method However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the buyer to be in compliance of laws that govern their specific location. Overall the fit and finish is definitely far above a replica, which can be seen in the photos. Carlos,I remember your sword ( if it's the same one you first put on the site ) and it's 100%If you look at the sword by Shamsy in post no9 look at the seppa and how poorly it fits and how new it looks ! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. By Cheers to Dan for bringing it to my attention. I agree. The Americans destroyed a large number of swords by dumping them into the ocean or by melting them. The saya It comes with the original bag it came home from the war in. Unfortunately, the scabbards serial number does not match the swords . This looks good from a distance, but up close the details reveal the fake. The scabbard is painted the correct green color, and the spacing from the top to the hanging ring is the correct 3 inches. No single indicator alone will determine whether a sword blade is an Some of these bone swords will have very low grade metal mountings, commonly with the Tokugawa mon incised into or embossed on the mountings. I would recommend you check with your original person who raised the concern about it's originality. Something changed in the last 6 months. C $1,999.99 . Today I checked, just in case the sword was pulled from sale, and lo and behold there is a 'rare copper handle' now listed, clearly of the same manufacturer. There is no historical documentation that ninja used swords which were of a special design or differed from those used by other Japanese of the period.