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.
Find WW2 Japanese Swords
Some WWII Japanese swords for sale on eBay:
 | WWII Japanese Army Military sword Katana106cm US $18.26 0 Bid  Auction Ends: 11h 16m Make it yours... |
 | WWII JAPANESE TYPE 32 OTSU ARMY SWORD MILITARY US $500.00 0 Bid Auction Ends: 13h 1m Make it yours... |
 | »¿»¿JAPANESE SWORD ARMY GUNTO LONG SHINTO BLADE WWII US $850.00 0 Bid Auction Ends: 13h 12m Make it yours... |
 | imperial ww2 japanese warrior katana sword bronze saya US $47.77 0 Bid Auction Ends: 14h 33m Make it yours... |
 | WWII JAPANESE BRING BACK SWORD FOR PARTS US $135.00 8 Bids Auction Ends: 15h 18m Make it yours... |
 | Neat WW II Japanese Sword Scabbard NR US $228.50 9 Bids Auction Ends: 16h 47m Make it yours... |
 | VINTAGE WW 2 HANDMADE JAPANESE SAMURAI SWORD KATANA US $17.36 0 Bid Auction Ends: 17h 25m Make it yours... |
 | WWII Japanese Officers Samurai Sword Katana SALE US $795.00  Auction Ends: 18h 3m Make it yours... |
 | WWII Japanese Flag Officers Naval Sword Scabbard Parts US $79.00 5 Bids Auction Ends: 22h 26m Make it yours... |
 | WWII Japanese Army Officers Sword Katana No Res US $565.99 18 Bids Auction Ends: 1d 1h 20m Make it yours... |
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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?