Delving into the world of Japanese sword collecting is a bit like drinking from a fire hose. There's a lot of information out there and it's difficult to make sense of it all. For a new collector, it's hard to distinguish fakes from the real thing, and it's tricky to learn about all the different types of militaria available online. I can't hope to provide you with a good overview here, but I can provide links to comprehensive sources, and point out some of the items currently available for sale.
The most popular WW2 Japanese sword, of course, is the Katana, or Samurai's sword. These swords often date back hundreds of years, but became popular "spoils of war" for returning American GIs. You'll find the genuine item for sale on eBay or in local antique shops. However, be wary of any deal that seems too good to be true -- swords being sold as the real deal are often fakes or replicas.
Genuine Katana swords from WWII sell for $1,000 or more. If that's too expensive for you, you'll also find replica swords available for sale that are attractive and make great additions to any beginning collection. See our Katana reviews for a few that we like.
More Info on WW2 Japanese Swords
Some WWII Japanese swords for sale on eBay:
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WWII military sword type98 japanese army officer used US $149.00 0 Bid  Auction Ends: 59m Make it yours... |
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ORIGINAL JAPANESE WW2 ARMY OFFICERS SHIN GUNTO SWORD US $1,775.00 12 Bids Auction Ends: 1d 14m Make it yours... |
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WWII japanese sword US $125.00 0 Bid Auction Ends: 1d 15m Make it yours... |
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WW2 JAPANESE KATANA SAMURAI ARMY SWORD GUAM ANTIQUE US $1,125.00 12 Bids Auction Ends: 13h 3m Make it yours... |
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WWII Japanese Sword hook for holding swords on belt US $15.99 0 Bid Auction Ends: 22h 12m Make it yours... |
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A WWII LAST DITCH LATE WAR JAPANESE BAYONET sword US $35.08 5 Bids Auction Ends: 22h 23m Make it yours... |
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ANTIQUE WWII JAPANESE ARMY TANK HELMET SWORD TEA CUP US $52.00 9 Bids Auction Ends: 22h 28m Make it yours... |
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WWII Japanese Army Officers Sword Katana w Tassle US $600.00  Auction Ends: 22h 33m Make it yours... |
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Japanese WWII Bayonet Sword w Scabbard Frog Marked US $145.00 0 Bid Auction Ends: 22h 36m Make it yours... |
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WWII japanese old military gunto sword w coffee braid US $69.93 0 Bid Auction Ends: 22h 55m Make it yours... |
August 11th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
My father brought a sword back from Japan(1940s). How do I find out more about it? How would I get it appraised?