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WWII JAPANESE ARMY SAMURAI SWORD - KATANA - #5
The Samurai sword has captured the imagination of people for hundreads of years. Its legendary strength,
simplicity in design and outright beauty have earned it a top place among military antiques and collectibles.
Many of these swords were brought back to the US as war souvenirs by returning soldiers after WWII ended.
The sample shown here is a Japanese WWII Samurai sword. Very representative of those issued to the armed
forces in WWII.
The swords were often marked in the tang section. The pictured below illustrate some of those markings.
Among the information placed there include the date in which the sword was made, the name of the maker, Name
of the town or school where it was made.
The sword here also has an arsenal marking, which is shown on the right side photo.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for Samurai swords.
Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point
out clearly defined points that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my Samurai Sword worth?".
A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the swords is
reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth
of the edge weapons in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality
military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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The temper line (Hamon) is still visible in this sample. This line was used by the maker as a way to personalize
the sword. It was sort of an informal signature. The shape of the temper can help you determine the master
who created the sword.
The horizontal marks across the blade are an indication that a previous owner attempted to sharpen or polish
the blade in an incorrect manner. Sharpening these type of swords require great skill. An owner should never
attempt this unless he/she has had previous training.
Serious collectors will send the swords back to Japan to be restored and sharpened.
The scabbard is wooden and the lacker paint shows some wear.
Some sections are peeling off near the hanger and the throat.
The handle wrapping is typical of the one used by the Imperial Japanese Army. The
wrapping shows some freying. The Menuki is clearly visible. It shows the three Chrisantemums,
which is the correct style for the Japanese Imperial Army during WWII.
The tip of the blade has some small rust spots. The picture on the
right shows the Tsuba, which is the type employed by the Japanese armed forces.
The Katana sword was developed during the Momoyama period. It was normally 24" to
30" in length.
This Samurai Sword may be currently reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because
the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with
the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this item.
Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of
the collectible.
If you have an interest is seeing other Japanese Samurai swords, you can do so by going to our
Japanese Samurai Swords Price Guide
identification guide. Where we cover Samurai swords from all periods.
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