Tanto Sword

Can somebody give me tips on how to authenticate and judge sword qualtiy?
I am an amateur sword collector with three pretty good swords to start with.
However, as I look around for somewhere to get another good sword, I find myself asking "is this real, and how do I know?" So I look to yahoo! answers and you to help me.
If you have any experience or tips in buying, selling, authenticating, or have overall knowledge of swords, please give me tips on how to know if the sword I'm buying is the real deal, or another cheap anime piece made in Ohio. Btw, I'm more interested in European and middle-eastern sword than Japanese Katana, Tanto, etc...
Yahoo or google medieval arms or swords of the ages, many sites exist and many will certify or authenticate their swords. Many forgeries exist, but by looking at museum sites, a true sword of the era will be represented.
Metal work throughout the ages has changed, and can be subjected to testing for newer materials that were not available in olden times. Regimental swords will usually have regimental markings that will give a timeline of manufacturing.
Tamahagane Steel Samurai Katana Sword Hand forged Tanto by Takemoto
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NIHONTO NBTHK HOZON NAGAHIRO KATANA SAMURAI SWORD MINO JAPANESE TANTO WAKIZASHI | ![]() |
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US $6,499.00 | 2h 15m |
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TantoSuke MitsuJapanese swordKatanaWW2DaggerSored | ![]() |
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US $2,999.99 | 4d 1h 9m |
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Authentic Antique Signed Japanese Dagger Knife Tanto Aikuchi Samurai Sword | ![]() |
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US $2,500.00 | 14d 7h 7m |
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Koto Soshu Aikuchi O Tanto Japanese Samurai Sword Mino Iron Kodugu | ![]() |
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US $2,000.00 | 14d 7h 29m |
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ANTIQUE JAPANESE SAMURAI SWORD WAKIZASHI KATANA TANTO TACHI | ![]() |
14 Bids | US $1,258.00 | 4d 6h 10m |
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Barry Dawson Knives Custom Millenium Tanto Sword 12 | ![]() |
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US $950.00 | 4d 4h 43m |
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EARLY PAUL CHEN KAMI TANTO SAMURAI SWORD DAGGER FOLDED STEEL FIRST RUN | ![]() |
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US $950.00 | 29d 6h 2m |
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VINTAGE EARLY PAUL CHEN LTD SAMURAI SHINTO TANTO SWORD DAGGER DRAGON | ![]() |
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US $950.00 | 29d 6h 2m |
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VINTAGE EARLY PAUL CHEN LTD SAMURAI TANTO SWORD DAGGER GREAT WAVE | ![]() |
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US $950.00 | 29d 6h 2m |
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VINTAGE EARLY PAUL CHEN LTD SAMURAI TANTO SWORD DAGGER BUTTERFLY | ![]() |
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US $875.00 | 29d 6h 2m |
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EARLY PAUL CHEN TIGER TANTO SAMURAI SWORD DAGGER FOLDED STEEL FIRST RUN | ![]() |
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US $850.00 | 29d 6h 2m |
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Japanese Katana Samurai Sword HAND FORGED Tanto | ![]() |
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US $750.00 | 2d 9h 40m |
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Cold Steel CS88DT Dragonfly O Tanto Sword | ![]() |
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US $590.04 | 6d 12h 22m |
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VINTAGE EARLY PAUL CHEN LTD SAMURAI TANTO SWORD DAGGER WHITE TIGER | ![]() |
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US $550.00 | 29d 6h 2m |
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Cold Steel CS88T O Tanto Sword | ![]() |
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US $536.40 | 6d 12h 23m |
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52 Spain Monta Tanto Isabel Fernando Sword | ![]() |
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US $499.99 | 9d 23h 17m |
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Cold Steel CS88BT O Tanto Sword | ![]() |
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US $502.07 | 6d 12h 21m |
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Japanese Military Sword Orchid Tanto NEW | ![]() |
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US $474.50 | 6h 28m |
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RARE US Custom Made DE LEON Tanto Fighting Knife Sword | ![]() |
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US $450.00 | 25d 31m |
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pc1212 Paul Chen Bushido Tanto sh1212 sword cas hanwei | ![]() |
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US $404.32 | 11d 3h 33m |
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Japanese Military Sword Bushido Tanto NEW | ![]() |
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US $379.50 | 5h 30m |
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Paul Chen Wind and Thunder Tanto Japanese Sword | ![]() |
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US $359.95 | 23d 10h 7m |
























