Many so sold WW2 Japanese NCO Shin Gunto Katanas on eBay and elsewhere on the Internet are fakes, repros. Some are clearly easily identified. For example, if the habaki has a serial number on it, it is a fake. If the blade has large Japanese type letters on it, it is a fake. Of course the condition or rather freshness of the paint is a good identifier. But some of the repros are very hard to spot, especially when they have been deliberately aged by unscrupulous dealers / sellers.

Here is my list of things to watch out for; dead giveaways the sword is a repro / fake.

1) If the blade has a Nagoya arsenal mark, this should be upside down, the bottom of the numbers should be next to the edge of the blade, not the bohi groove. Be ware early NCO shin guntos had their serial numbers on the flat of the blade next to the habaki.

2) The sarute loop at the pommel end of the grip. This should only extend as far as the pommel ridge, not beyond it. If it has a larger sarute loop, one that extends past the pommel ridge, it is a fake. If there is no sarute loop, be careful, as this is the "quick" fake identifier many experts know, so experience rip-off merchants remove them.

3) The blade's bohi grove should start very close to the habaki. If it is more than 1cm away, be careful, it is most likely a fake. Caveat: Earlier blades did have the bohi start a little further from the habaki.

4) Painted fuchi's. The Japs never painted the fuchi. If you see a sword with a painted fuchi, it is a fake.