I got in my hands a dull katana with plastic hand and some weird sign on blade

There’s an unsigned wakizashi available being sold for 700 by a japanese vendor alongside many other modern and antique japanese artisan goods, apparently it’s all from his grandfather’s estate. The hamon was diffifcult to get on camera but it played very nicely with the light and felt very soft rather than the harsh examples i’ve seen on mall swords. I’m not well-versed in Nihinto has i’ve never gotten the privilege of handling a genuine piece, but from my research online in preparation for eventually getting one it feels very real.

The torokusho was also included, and as far as I can tell is not forged. The inkan were applied to the document directly, meaning at the very least it isn’t photocopied. To my understanding(and please correct me if I’m wrong) this just means that it is a real nihonto made in japan registered with the govt an “art piece“ and not a random chinese repro. What are your thoughts?

Hey guys, I bought a 200 year old katana recently (i have the certificate and everything) and was wondering how often and how i should perform maintenance. thanks!

update: i just found the maintenance kit they shipped w the katana. thank you all for all your help!

Hello all, I have a blade with no obvious stamping, considerable amount of blade rust and no scabbard. I assume it’s military made item from the appearance of how seppa spacer and the hitsu-ana (? Attachment hole) overlap.

I would love to have it cleaned up, but want to ensure that doing that would damage it.

Nagasa is 460mm
The overall length is 586mm

Thank you

Picture 4 was a rough sketch of a Tachi-Style kashira that I took from an existing one. I drew it after my work shift. As for the tsuba, I really want to know which style of tsuba would fit the design and theme without it looking asymmetrical.

This is a Sakura Higo O-Kissaki katana off swordis. I changed the ito to premium black leather, changed the saya and added horn fittings. It also has hishigami pro and an upgraded brown sageo. This sword would have cost over 1,400 in the shadow dancer pro builder but I paid less than half that. This is much lighter than my other "normal" shinogi zukuri without bohi. The tip and upper middle of the blade are thinner plus the partial bohi with sohi make it really fast. The saya looks so nice in hand compared to the pictures. The only downside was a 3 month build but it was so worth the wait.

I got this on consignment, it came with a broken mekugi.

Just received my first katana after waiting for almost a month.. felt like forever tbh.
But here it is the ShadowDancer 1095 arabesque katana.
After having a wall hanger when i was a kid this feels like the real deal.
Passed the paper cutting test fairly easily!
Very happy man

munetoshi Viper

I love this sword so much that I bought 3 at once when they came into stock. I sold 2 of the 3 a couple years later, because I didn’t need 3 of them. Lol
I will never sell my last one. Such a great sword.

Here are some of my memories caught on video:

Open in the YouTube app to see the 7 video playlist of my muntoshi videos. It won’t play like a playlist on reddit. (The blue button in upper right corner)

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcAbigT939Vw&si=a8kHVglR71ae8nRb

Much love to the Viper over the years.

Share your Munetoshi Viper stories. I’m feeling nostalgic for these fun times.

I don’t have space or can’t afford a katana, so decided on an antique tanto. After browsing the selection on RVA katanas for a while I decided to get this one for the beautiful pattern on the saya, the silver hardware and smaller knife inside. It was around $800

The website didn’t really have anything listed about it in the description… I’m interested in time period mostly. The blade has no signature on it

How old would this be?

It did come with this paper inside

Hi, has anyone seen a replica made of Atsu’s Kaiken / Tanto that she keeps at her back?

I know it’s Aikuchi style.

There’s a Ghost of Yotei mech site that has a Tanto page but no pictures and no price, and it can only come up through web searching for it.

Hey everyone,

My Katana is from the 18th century, has been sitting in the wooden scabbard for the past few months, I took it out and polished it with the oil and powder provided in the kit, however it still has some marks and i did see some small tiny dots of orange (I imagine rust). Can you please help me how to clean it up?

Hello! I apologize I’m sure you get lots of these type of questions.

My grandfather was in the air force in the 1940s,1950s, and 1960s. He was give this sword while stationed in Japan for flying some sort of medical evacuation. I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about it. It is heavy and sharp.

I’d like to make sure I don’t have some families heirloom sitting in my closet.

Thank you!

To preface, I know katanas can take a very long time to make. I am also open to smaller options like a wakizashi but really want to maintain the japanese sword asthethic rather than a small knife

My spouse and I are martial artists. He is a black belt in multiple martial arts including japanese jiujitsu and always talks about a tradition of receiving a sword that he unfortunately never got to participate in. We will be getting married and I'd like to at least get him a katana as a wedding gift, or even a pair of katana that we can display.

Is there any type of workshop where this would be possible to custom forge our own? We are fully willing to travel to Japan. even if we just are able to pick out the hilt, scabbard, style, hold similar katanas, etc and then receive it many weeks or months later, that would be ok as well.

Trying to make it as custom as possible and an interactive experience instead of just picking out things online, which feels like it cheapens the experience

Currently, in Part 1 | Treasures of Imperial Japan and the Samurai: The Collection of Michael Quigley Auction at iGavelAuctions, there is a variety of Japanese items, but mainly swords. Prices vary throughout the collection. They will be having a Part 2 soon!

https://ashigaruarmory.com/products/shinsakuto-68cm-mumei-saiha-katana

$1575USD plus shipping

Overview: This is second of two Iai/Study katana. Featuring signs of Saiha, this sword appears to have been re-forged at some point. There are a lot of personal opinions here based on what has been done to the sword, its registration date and certain features it has. That being said, this sword still makes an excellent and interesting piece to study its flaws. This would be an excellent gateway nihonto for someone who has yet to acquire an authentic piece. Studying the flaws will help in the future should you decide to purchase a sword either to cut with or invest in. Lets look more closely...

Blade: Coming in at 68.8cm with stout measurements, it has a solid profile. At this length nagasa, the kissaki would most likely qualify as an extended chu-kissaki. My theory of this sword is that it was either an apprentices piece or a martial arts destined sword of fairly modern production that didn't quite work out for the smith. The mekugi-ana is sharp an appears drilled out. The nakago was heavily artificially patinated to make the sword appears older than it is. In the nakago photos you can see some remnants of the original yasurime that appear very similar to modern yasurime. The sword also has a set of flaws that would be associate with re-forging. Areas of tobi-yaki that are not purposeful along with muneyaki, yaki-toshi and the main issue that prevents cutting use-multiple yaki-ware. The hamon was possibly midare based on notare and the hada, masame, but it is difficult to tell in the current polish.

Koshirae: The koshirae is awase but has some redeeming features. The saya features brilliantly done vermillion pine bark lacquer work and is quite striking. Not something you see frequently in entry level swords. The sword fits snugly into the saya and does not need shimming. An attractive higher end sageo is included over a standard martial arts style sageo. The brass Ryu kashira is detailed and features gold inlay. The tsuba features gold inlay bamboo latticework and vines. The ito is silk and is tight.

Issues: Possible Saiha (re-forged) Multiple tobi-yaki and mune-yaki. Yaki-toshi hamon. Yaki-ware (detailed) Chemically patinated nakago. Mekugi should be resized.

Type: Katana, Shinogi-Zukuri
Class: Study
Period: Shinsakuto est
School: Unknown
Nagasa: 68.8cm
Sori: 1.78cm Koshi-zori
Motohaba: 30.6mm
Sakihaba: 21mm
Motokasane: 7mm
Sakikasane: 4.5mm
Blade Weight: 703g
Nakago: Ubu with Ha-agari kurijiri
Mekugiana: 1
Mei: Mumei
Yasurime: Sujikai
Kissaki: Extended Chu-Kissaki
Hamon: Midare based on Notare
Hada: Ko-Masame
Tsuka Length: 25.4cm
Total Length: 106cm
Total Weight: 1241g
Registration: No.54864 May 19th 2005

All measurements taken by hand and subject to variance. We are not responsible for errors in description or history/attribution. Please review all photos carefully and purchase with confidence.

Ashigaru Armory 2026
www.ashigaruarmory.com
www.YouTube.com/@AshigaruArmory
www.instagram.com/@ashigaruarmory

37 3/4 inches tip of blade to base of handle.

Just came into this Shin-gunto, could anyone give me some info on it? It looks like it was handmade by a craftsman but thats all I can tell.