For a wealth of information on Japanese blades, as well as a visual treat, try Tomoyuki Ohmura's site on Japanese edged weapons.
All the blades on this page were machine produced unless otherwise noted and most are stainless steel. All, unless otherwise noted, are 20th century and some have serial numbers and arsenal marks.
Japanese cavalry trooper's sword. The leather finger loops that should be inside the guard on this sword and the one below are long gone.
A second Japanese cavalry trooper's sword.
Japanese army parade sword.
A second Japanese army parade sword.
The 10 petal cherry blossom diagnostic for the army parade sword.
Japanese NCO's sword with aluminum handel and simulated "silk wraping".
Japanese officer's sword blade waiting for it's handel to be re-wraped by Fred Lohman Co., 3405 N.E. Broadway, Portland, OR 97232 U.S.A., Phone: (503) 282-4567 Fax: (503) 287-2678 Email: lohman@katana4u.com.
Chinese copy of a Japanese sword. I purchsed it in China as a WWII relic of Japanese occupation. The blade is two or three times as thick and much more heavy than actual officer's swords and the storage scabbard and handel have brass decorations on them which authentic ones don't. My first and probably last direct purchase from China. The sword I purchased from Poland was even worse - nothing ever arrived after having been paid for.
