"Ivory" Katana
purchased roughly around 1996
I didn't know much about katanas when I bought this one at a Science
Fiction convention, having only my display-only katanas prior to getting
it. To this day I have no idea who manufactured it, or how well it really
is built.
The vendor that I bought it from seemed like a bit of a con-man, but the
price seemed reasonable at the time even if he was exaggerating. He made
claims that it could be punched through a cinderblock wall and not break.
He also claimed that the hilt was real ivory, which I strongly doubted.
Functionally, it seems very comparable to the
Shinto Katana, including weight and balance, and therefore seems a
bit unremarkable to me.
In terms of it's "authenticity", the hamon (temper line) in the blade (which is
washed out in the picture, but it quite obvious in person) doesn't show
obvious signs of being fake. That is, it seems to have the right color,
and the pattern matches on both sides of the blade, and it's not too
"regular" to appear to be machine-made. Still, a lack of evidence to
fakery does not prove it's real.
Likewise, the hilt doesn't appear to have yellowed with time as plastic
might be expected to do, at least that I've noticed. It's possible it's
been sufficiently slight and gradual that it hasn't drawn my attention.
The feel is very similar to ivory, but I see
what could be a faint remnant of a casting seam. I have yet to try the
"hot nail" test.
The blade is also very rigid, perhaps even more so than the "Shinto".
Hitting the side with the palm of your
hand induces a visibly imperceptible vibration, not a flex or resonance.
Since I'm not as familiar with "proper" characteristics for Katanas,
I'm not sure how close to correct the blade properties are.
In any case, I considered it to be a gorgeous display item, so even if
the vendor was lying through his teeth, at that time I wanted to have it.
Based on some discussion on SwordForum.com,
it appears this is probably a Marto sword, similar to the #8164
here.
If this is the case, it appears the price I paid was reasonable.
| Overall Length |
37 ½ inches (95.25 cm) |
| Blade Length |
27 ½ inches (69.85 cm) |
| Hilt Length |
10 inches (25.4 cm) |
| Center of Gravity |
4 ½ inches from guard (11.43 cm) |
| 
