My dad got me this katana for my birthday. He bought it at a family members auction sale along with one other shorter katana (not sure what the name of one of those is). I saw somewhere that this number likely means that the katana is likely fake and was wondering if anyone could possibly tell me more about it. Thanks!

https://preview.redd.it/7ekzqhbe0lge1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f07927f8cffdc4b20b0337224416817bd9d0841

I just noticed these two spots by the tip of the blade. However, I don’t think it’s severe to the point where it will have to be polished again.

Just whatever. I am in Japan and a little drunk.

Samurai Sword

Hi,

I would like to buy my wife and authentic samurai sword for Valentine's Day. She has a collection of more decorative, 'cheap', mass produced swords and I would like to get her something nice. Something real. And something authentic. My budget is probably around $20000 AUD (12-13k USD)but could go higher.

My question is what is it I'm looking for in a sword besides the way it looks and are there sword creators that I should look specifically for, or time periods, or does it just come down to how I feel when I look at the blade?

Thank you in advance

Edit - I'm in Australia

Pablo just released a new catalog. Even if you don’t need to buy, it is great eye candy !!!

https://new.uniquejapan.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Unique-Japan-Samurai-Sword-Catalogue-43.pdf

Saw this listing on eBay and was wondering what the small holes might be on the Same-kawa and Tsuka-ito, would it be some kind of bug?

I'm kinda new to the world of collecting katanas & have seen a few websites that offer Japanese made tamahagane katanas, but I'm unable to tell which are legit, made in Japan swords & which are knockoffs. The ONLY thing that I know is that there are a few sites where the prices seem to give away the fact that the swords AREN'T legit. Could anyone point me to a website(s) where there are authentic Japanese tamahagane katanas for sale?

I am 16. I absolutely love swords but do not own one. So I made a katana by bending a tmt rod I found . What do you guys think??

With Hanwei being moved to operate in tandem with Dragon King, their announcement insinuated some tweaks will be made to update some of their classic designs.

Which Hanwei sword do you think would benefit most from a ‘re-imagining’, and what would you like to see changed?

For me, aside from more consistent QC (obvi), I’d love to see the Practical Plus series continue, and for them to stop using that awful faux leather on the PP Classic and PP Pro/Pro Elite versions.

Hi, I want to buy the first katanam first in test cuts so far two katanan I thought one of the Shadow Dancer Musashi Katana https://www.swordcn.com/Basic-Musashi-Katana-Clay-Temper-p311085.html, which I would order with a lengthy tsuka and the other the Dragon King Warfire Katanahttps://www.kultofathena.com/product/warfire-katana/?srsltid=AfmBOopKVrcfbzyPDTPhbHRnoOp_qTvjB8D7sOEq8cKbmMdCv2yWqk1T would have a question of which one you think would be better thanYou know a better option in this price range?

Vim aqui há alguns meses para perguntar sobre o afiamento de uma Katana que eu usaria apenas para exposição. Ela chegou ontem, ainda tenho que limpar o óleo velho e aplicar um novo. Mas este foi o resultado (desculpe pelas fotos ruins, realmente mal tive tempo de tirar as fotos antes de ir trabalhar). É muito emocionante poder segurar esta espada, pedi uma vitrine para colocar no meu quarto (esta é uma foto improvisada na mobília da sala). Mas é um sonho que sempre tive e poder ter uma em minhas mãos realmente me fez derramar algumas lágrimas. (Mesmo que não seja uma autêntica, espero um dia poder ter uma enviada diretamente do Japão).

https://preview.redd.it/0x17mks3uxfe1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1d696b572c69bdbad6fe02f2f42a68348b3043c

https://preview.redd.it/nsbufls3uxfe1.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9a6b84173d238eaabef181d367c47223b7dc5ca8

https://preview.redd.it/u2d2cls3uxfe1.jpg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1ec621fa32f8b2ab3b08058bfead1743d7a0f31d

I have a katana from the 1500s. I'd like to leave the blade stored in the sheath and not inside the wooden blade guard.

Are there any risks (other than minor wear to the sheath) to the blade or sheath from this type of storage?

I plan to only unsheath it a few times maybe 5 at most a year and with great care.

Thank you!

There's a Zsey sword that I really like (picture below). But I do not have this kind of funds to allocate for a Katana.
So my plan is to get as close as possible using the custom katana builder from Swordis, and place the order with Hanbon directly, as some options were not available on the swordis builder (also not in the US).

No rush to order, I will take the time to think it over and make sure all the options are the right ones.

Just wondering if people with a lot of customization experience with Hanbon orders have any recommendations or feedback - such as things I should mention in my email to Yao, or if you notice red flags in my order! Thank you.

These are all the things I want and hopefully can get:

Steel Type

1095 Carbon Steel Clay Tempered

Blade Length (Nagasa)

28-28.5" (70-71 cm)

Cutting Edge (Ha)

Sharp with Niku

Blade Shape (Zukuri)

Shinogi-Zukuri

Groove/Fuller (Bohi)

Without Bohi

Tip Point Line (Yokote)

With Yokote

Temper Line (Hamon)

Ko-Choji (Real) or Notare (Real) ??

Blade Polish

Mirror Polishing or Hazuya Polishing ??

Blade Tang Inscription (Mei)

Please white name of the sword smith

Handle Length

11" (28 cm)

Wrapping Material (Tsuka-Ito)

C212 off-white / cream silk from Japan

Wrapping Style (Tsuka-Maki)

Hineri-Maki with Hishgami

Rayskin (Samegawa)

White

Rayskin Wrap Style

Fully Wrapped

Handguard (Tsuba)

IT201

Blade Collar & Spacer (Habaki & Seppa)

HS03

Handle Collar & Pommel (Fuchi & Kashira)

FK209

Handle Ornament (Menuki)

M324

Scabbard (Saya)

S301

Scabbard Cord (Sageo)

Same off-white / cream as the TSUKA-ITO (C212). Thick silk from Japan please.

Sword Bag

B05

Total $500

NOTES:

Silver Shitodome.

It's important that the silk for both TSUKA-ITO and SAGEO is off-white / cream (not pure white).

Inspiration:

https://preview.redd.it/edm9ov4tanfe1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a7e6314a074febb6071f17c93cc97d8316e0a1da