- 1). Look at the location the sword is coming from. If it is being sold from China, there is a good chance that it is fake.
- 2). Test the sword with a magnet. If a magnet isn't attracted to the sword, it is a fake. Many reproductions are made of aluminum, which has no magnetic pull. Real Japanese swords are made of steel. However, not all steel swords are Japanese.
- 3). Examine the grain of the sword. There should be a slight gravelly texture to the blade. The texture is formed by the ancient process of folding the steel over and over again. If the blade has a flat, smooth texture, it is probably a manufactured fake.
- 4). Examine the temper line on the sword. In the middle of the blade you should see a faint symmetrical, curvy line running to both ends of the blade. If there is no temper line, it is a fake. If the temper line looks jagged, there is a chance it was ground down to look like a real Japanese sword .
- 5). Search the blade for serial numbers. Any kind of serial number on the blade is a dead giveaway that it is a manufactured reproduction.
- 6). Feel for the sharpness of the blade. If the blade retains a uniform sharpness close to the handle, middle of the blade, and close to the tip, it is another clue that it is a genuine Japanese sword. Fake Japanese swords were often only sharpened in the middle. Presumably the creators of the fake swords wanted to expedite the fabrication process.
- 7). Look on the sides of the blade for engraved pictures or symbols. If there is no tapered edge leading to the engraving, it is a fake. If the lines look like they could have been made on the back of a watch or necklace, it was engraved by modern tools.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -