As I write this there are 3,653 hits when I search Ebay for "Japanese sword".  I would guess that something like 50 of them, if even that, are the real thing; the rest are modern fantasy pieces, modern reproductions, and out and out fakes.To make matters even worse for the beginning collector, there are fraudulent listings: stolen descriptions and pictures, hijacked Ebay identities, and more.  Given the high value of real Japanese swords, buying them sight unseen based on a couple paragraphs and a few pictures from someone you don't know is not for the faint of heart.  I've used my ebay 'ME' page to discuss common scams and how to ferret them out, and to present a side by side comparison, complete with pictures, of real and fake Japanese swords.  I also discuss sword care, polishing, and a few other items you might find useful.  If you'd like to see it you can get there by clicking on this link or by searching for seller greyguy0 (that's the # zero, not a capital o) and clicking on the ME button there. Hope you find this helpful; thanks for looking.  Take care,  Grey  (greyguy0)