old japanese sword, help!

[DarkStraw]

Someone is selling a japanese sword his grandfather gave him, he dosent know anything about it and neither do i, i dont want to pay to much so any idea of what it would be worth would be helpfull.

http://photobucket.com/albums/c348/darkstraw/?action=view&current=PICT0231Small.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/c348/darkstraw/?action=view&current=PICT0232Small.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/c348/darkstraw/?action=view&current=PICT0230.jpg

 

[Steak]

K, I'm no expert and cant be 101% sure from the pictures but the sword is NOT old. It looks like a manufactured sword Notice in the second pic, a bit down the scabbard (saya?) you can see the cheap wood/cardboard material underneath the fabric. This sword probably cost $10 or so to manufacture and is likely sold for $100 or more, what a rip!. (See swordsonline.com) Also notice that the handle looks like it was unravelled and hastily wound back on, heheh.

Anyways my advice, don't buy it.

 

[nice gaijin]

looks like something perhaps from BUDK.com - Knives & Swords At The Lowest Prices!

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Use Search Function.......

to find the post "Muramasa/Masamune Japanese swords" There's quite a bit of info in the 3 pages.
Welcome to JREF Dark Straw, nice talking with you in chat.

Frank

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

The sword is engraved with a maker's name at the Japanese sword.
it is turned out when the sword was manufactured.
A characteristic of a Japanese sword.
A sword curves.
http://www.hi-net.zaq.ne.jp/osaru/e_kakubu.htm


A list of KATANA
http://www.nihontouya.com/ichirank.htm

KATANA
Katana - Wikipedia



http://www.pref.gifu.lg.jp/pref/s11336/takumi/d_kogei/d_19_nihonto/nihonto.html

 

[Chipi]

Nagashima-San, thank you for posting the excellent link about the sword structure.. just printed it for myself

I´m no expert on swords either (I wish I was), but my first thought was also, that the sword in picture is way too straight for a Japanese sword?
Anyways, I bet you can find an antiques shop specialised in Asian/Japanese items and ask for their opinion..?

 

[Mike Cash]

Someone is selling a japanese sword his grandfather gave him, he dosent know anything about it and neither do i, i dont want to pay to much so any idea of what it would be worth would be helpfull.
http://photobucket.com/albums/c348/darkstraw/?action=view&current=PICT0231Small.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/c348/darkstraw/?action=view&current=PICT0232Small.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/c348/darkstraw/?action=view&current=PICT0230.jpg

It's a piece of junk that a dime store would be ashamed to charge a nickel for.

Seriously.

You need make no objective or material assessment of its value at all, as it has none. It's only value lies in 1) how much you want it and 2) how much your friendship can stand to be strained by financial dealings.