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

• The Connoisseurs Book of Japanese Swords
• Click here to find genuine Japanese WW2 swords on eBay
• Replicas of these swords on eBay

Some WWII Japanese swords for sale on eBay:

WW2 STYLE, JAPANESE OFFICERS SWORD-GUNTO GENDAI-TO US $140.00 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 6:46:27 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

ANTIQUE WWII WW2 ARMY JAPANESE SAMURAI SWORD BLADE US $525.00 (3 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 13:23:39 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

WWII JAPANESE SWORD US $501.00 (6 Bids) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 13:47:42 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

WW2& WWII japanese saber military sword US $23.99 (1 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 15:40:23 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item

WW2 &WWII JAPANESE NAVY OFFICERS SWORD US $49.99 (0 Bid) Auction Ends: Thursday Nov-20-2008 15:47:41 PST Bid on this Item   | Buy this Item   | Watch this Item