If the serial number is on the blade itself typically on the Shinogi (the blade Ridge) near the habaki then it is authentic Japanese WW2 sword. It was among those that were mass produced by the military and stamped using roman numerals. Seeing the serial on the habaki itself to me would doubt the legitimacy of the sword. For an officer the serial numbers are usually more discrete and in 3 separate places (the buttcap, the fuchi, the spacers and the handguard). Typically if a member of a samurai family how had the sword went to war then you would see their sword in army issued fittings. Here is where you would typically see the officers treatment I mentioned above. If it is a fake out of China - then I would say its not worth very much other than as a novelty piece.
I'm not an expert though so please take this with a grain of salt. There is always exceptions to the rules!
The worldbayonets.com bayonet identification guide features pictures and dimensions of bayonets from around the world; along with history and other information to aid in identification. This reference is by no means exhaustive, but does cover many of the bayonets encountered on the collector’s market today, as well as some rare and unusual specimens. The guide is a work in progress. It currently includes over 460 bayonets; plus more than 100 frogs and related items from 66 countries. I will continue adding additional examples as I acquire new pieces and find time to photograph them and do the required programming.
Japanese WW2 TYPE 32 KO Cavalry SWORD Army NCO SABER Here's an original Japanese Type 32 army sword, with matching serial numbers. The type 32 pattern sword was adopted in the 32nd year of the Meiji reign (1899). Sword production was believed to have ended in the mid 1930s, but the swords continued to be issued and employed till the end of World War II. Commonly called cavalry swords, there are actually two versions of the type 32 army sword, the 'ko' (first model) and the 'otsu' (second model). The ko sword was for cavalry use, while the shorter otsu was intended mainly for foot soldiers. This is an 'ko' type 32 sword.
It measures 39 5/8 inches in the scabbard. The sword length is 38 inches, with a blade length of 32 3/4 inches from tip to seppae. This sword appears to have never been issued. I say that mainly because the edge has never been sharpened. Normally these have bayonet type sharpening, that is a ground edge on the top half to top two thirds of the blade.
This one has a shaped kissaki (point), but the rest of the edge is square, similar to a trainer blade. I sold a mint otsu Type 32 two or three years ago that was also without an edge.
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That sword had been made in 1914, and showed no sign of use. My guess is that surplus production meant for long term storage were left this way? Anyway, if you want a melon slicer, you would need to grind an edge on this sword. The sword is undated.
Wwii Japanese Sword Value
The only marks on the crossguard are the Tokyo Artillery Arsenal logo and the chief inspector's stylized stamp. The inspector's mark is also on the ricasso and scabbard drag. Serial number on the sword is 84546 and matches the saya number. Though maybe not issued, the sword has condition issues. Moisture in the scabbard has caused black oxidation in places on the blade, especially near the tip. Oddly, the chuha (spring scabbard lock) has been snapped off, away from the guard slot. The rest of the sword is pretty nice.
Wwii Japanese Sword Identification
It still has the leather finger loop which is flexible and undamaged. The handle, hand guard, and scabbard are in very good condition, with no visible dents. All parts are there, except the chuha tip, and everything is solid. The leather washer (seppae) at the base of the blade is in excellent shape. The dull edge of the blade is perfectly smooth.
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Wwii Japanese Sword Serial Numbers
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Copper/brass hilted NCO swords are very rare and have been extensively faked for export in China. I'm leaning towards this one being a Chinese copy for the following reasons: 1) poor detail to the upper hilt casting 2) the serial number on the blade is upside down compared to most NCO swords I have seen. 3) the scabbard paint just doesn't look to be the right shade and resembles the color of green on Chinese copy cavalry sabres. Nothing beats a in hand inspection, but I would pass on this sword based on the photos.
Hi, I'm sorry to say that i disagree with the other members,this sword is not a Genuine Japanese type 95. Early swords, some 6000 were copper handled, not brass, they were followed by aluminium painted handles and finally wooden. Several things are immediately apparent: 1. Arsenal mark is Kokura (albeit a good one), but scabbard and serial number stamping are carried out in Nagoya Arsenal style (hence the upside down serial numbers). Numbering NEVER commences with a leading '0' 3. The arsenal inspection stamp (centre one on the fuchi and before the blade number) doesn't exist. Stampings are obviously punched and not rolled on.
The well worn look is due to inferior moulds made from original handles and lack the finer details of originals.This is particularly noticable at the pommel where the tassel gets attached. The scabbard throat shows tell tale signs, in that a gap seems to exist around the locking plate and the inner sleeve. The character fonts of the numbers are wrong, they look like the ones in my garage, not the ones used on type 95's. What cannot be seen is the start of the groove from the blade collar, originals are between 5mm and 8mm, the Chinese repo's are nearly always way off, either extending in underneath the collar, or starting anywhere up to 3 inches from it. Also the drag on the scabbard should have a brass plug on it if it is genuine, aluminium and wooden handled swords had a plate drag on the tip.
If you look in 'Military Swords of Japan' by Fuller & Gregory, or Jim Dawsons book, you will see that it is indeed a fake. I'm sorry for the bad news, but ebay is full of them, even people not from china trying to palm them off and recoup their losses.
Just have a look for yourselves. I have some 20 of them and am confident of what i say. I'm not sure how to post pictures yet or i would show you what i mean. I hope this helps Ernst.