JAPANESE SAMURAI SWORD REPRODUCTIONS -
There is a large number of Japanese Samurai sword reproductions in the market. Some of the
swords are produced in large scale by factories for the martial practitioners, novelty stores
and othe legitimate enterprises.
Other swords are being produced in smaller scale by people whose intent is to make money by
passing the swords as original when they are not. This is the class of swords that should
arise concern from collector's and enthusiasts. Many of the reproductions are coming out
of China and are being sold in on-line auctions.
The following table provides pointers that will help you identify Samurai sword reproductions.
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What to look at
What to look for
The blade of the sword
No pattern to the body of the blade. Many of the copies are made of stainless steel with very
bright and shiny blades.
The Tsuba
poor casting. The Tsubas created from WWII and before are of very good quality.
The Tang
No signs of aging or rust. The hole(s) for the peg(s) are machine drilled instead of being hand made.
WWII KATANA REPLICA SWORD EXAMPLE
As of late the WWII Katana swords have gained in popularity. As a result many replicas are being produced in
countries like China and India.
WWII KATANA NCO REPLICA SWORD EXAMPLE
The Japanese WWII NCO sword was a machine made, mass produced sword developed for the Non-Commissioned
officers in the Japanese Imperial army. In the 1980's and early 1990's these swords were not very desirable. They
gained a great deal in popularity in the early 2000's.
Over the last couple of years the Chinese and Indian sword manufacturers have began to produce reproductions
of the NCO sword. The fact that the entire sword is made of metal makes it easier to reproduce.
An example of a reproduction sword has been photographed for this page. An analysis of the differences between
the real and the fake is provided. Keep in mind that this is just one example. It is not known how many
different variations of fakes have been produced.
WWII JAPANESE KATANA REPLICA SWORD
This is another example of a Japanese Katana replica sword.
