Real or fake Japanese WW2 sword

[ferulz]

Hi, just wondering if anyone could help me find out a sword that I own is real or fake. I bought it off an antiques dealer 10 years ago. Also if anyone knows the signature on the tang and whether thats real or fake. There is also a piece of ribbon which I have been told is a surrender tag, if anyone could tell me what it says that would be great.
I will post some pictures (hopefully it will work)
Any help would be greatly appriciated, thanks.

[Daniel Griffin]

It certainly appears to be an original regulation Army officer's sword.





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[rbminis]

Missing a couple of seppa, but I would agree.
Please post photos of the tang with the blade pointed up if you would like someone to help with the kanji.
Ralph.

[Stu W]

Hello,

That's a IJA Officer Type 98 in leather covered wooden saya. Here is a link to a site where you can learn more on the model...

http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_021.htm

...and I'll rotate the photo but even then it's tough to read.

Regards,
Stu

[Stu W]

and the tag...

Regards,
Stu

[juoneen]

Its important NOT to scrape off the rust on the tang, even to read the signature, as that is an indication of true age....then do not fill the signature with anything to highlight it like nimrods do on lugers . The tool marks that make the signature help to authenticate if the signature is authentic...so yes what he said. It pays to learn a little basic sword etiquette before messing with them....so find a local who knows about them at some show, or read an ad from e j peppin to learn the very simplest basics before you buy any more(but do not deal with EJ peppin EVER!). Just like going to a show and lookie louing AROUND WITH THINGS YOU CANT AFFORD TO BUY ,and handling daggers without permission and then checking the blade with your bare fingers to see if it is sharp or touch them with your fingers..shows the dealer your iggorance is hanging out ..there IS a protocol to handling japanese blades too. but I am sure you already knew that, and probably didn't do either of these cardinal sins...

[GHP]

The first two kanji are POSSIBLY Narita; I can't clearly make out the first kanji for 100% accuracy:

成
田
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[nickn]

From the nakago
machine made oil quenched , if in fact it has a hamon, showato