You may have an interest in antique swords because you are a history buff who loves collecting knowledge, you are a collector of fine antique swords, or you want to find out as much as possible to learn how to make a sword. What ever the case may be, you are not alone. There is a lot of peaked interest around the world in this area.

Some of the most popular antique swords worldwide are the Katana, or the Samurai swords. Today we have glamorized the Samurai’s existence with movies such as Tom Cruise’s The Last Samurai, or influences in combat such as in Stars Wars. In actuality samurai swords and armor were used in defense for the Japanese military or the wealthy landowners of the time. Some of the history books even depict these warriors as destroyers of villages and rapist of woman and children. Fighting between the clans pitted samurai warriors against each other in ferocious battles. Personally I would like to keep the honorable, heroic image of the Samurai.

The samurai armor and swords can be very expensive depending on the combination of four things. First check out the quality of craftsmanship of the sword and second, how well it has been preserved. For your third and fourth points, if there is a famous story that is attached to the sword and/or a reputable or famous owner the value will go up. Antique swords with all four of these qualities will be an excellent investment since the value will probably continue to rise the longer you have them. You can also apply these four components to samurai armor and other kinds of antique swords.

Many collectors defer to replicas that are more affordable and available to acquire.

And if that doesn’t suit you, you can always revert to learning how to make a sword on your own. You can make a sword fairly cheap using just foam. Or if you want to put a little more expense into it you can use the best metals. Designing and making swords can be a great hobbie.

So whether you are a collector of antique swords, samurai armor or just want to learn about the history and how to make a sword, keep an eye out in this blog for tips that can help you.

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If you want the true authentic Japanese antique swords then you will want the antique nihonto.  The antique nihonto is for the serious collector or investor of samurai swords.  These are all handmade and hand forged in Japan in the traditional technique of the samurai.  These museum quality swords are one of a kind and date back as far as the Heian Era, early 1000AD.  Nihonto swords have their own registration and certificate of authenticity from the NBTHK (Nihon Bijitsu Token Hozon Kyokai).  The NBTHK is well respected and the premier sword association in Japan.  These swords will range in price $10,000 to $100,000 and more.

The higher end Samurai katana swords can range from $150 to $3000.  These swords are handmade or factory made using some of the finest quality materials.  Modern forging techniques are used.  These swords for the most part are functional and made by some of the industry’s most reputable makers.  Included are Paul Chen, Thaitsuki Nihonto, United Cutlery and others. 

Replicas are another option.  I find them to be more affordable and a better purchase for a novice collector.  They are made to look just like the original Japanese antique swords.  Most of them are made of high carbon steel or stainless steel.  Perfect for the younger collectors or first time collectors.  These make for great wall displays.  You can also find these for $250 and under.

Figure out who you are buying for, what their expectations and preferences are and the price range in which you will spend.  Then click on the following link and go to this website of Antique Swords and Samurai Japanese Swords, browse and see if you find what you are looking for.

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As you can see in the picture, the scabbard is hardwood and beautifully detailed with a rich and colorful design. When purchased, this Shinwa Katana Sword comes with a wooden display box, custom bag and a cleaning kit. With all of this included it makes a great gift.

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Being that it is time for Christmas shopping to start I thought I would spend the next two months showing you different swords and their accessories so that you can find the unique gifts that you are looking for. Black Friday is in three days. Take advantage of shopping from the comfort of your home (and miss the long crowded lines). Take a look at these antique swords before they are sold out and enjoy your shopping.

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And if you are like me and won’t be anywhere near New Orleans at that time go to your anime/swords wishlist.

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Tell me what does this black-lacquered gusoku samurai armor remind you of? Darth Vader maybe?!

Photo – Photo: Sendai City Museum, Miyagi Prefecture

New York Times

“Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-1868” runs Oct. 21 through Jan. 10 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. If you can get a chance to go don’t miss this one! 

If you want to see more pictures and get more info check it out here Art Of The Samurai – New York Times.

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• Oil

• Cloth – to wipe the old oil and dirt off of the blade

• Powder – this is to help remove the oil, this powder is called uchiko

• Another cloth – this cloth will distribute the oil on the blade

Your antique swords will need to be oiled more frequently in damper regions or weather to maintain an excellent quality. In this video you will find this that cleaning your blades can be done in 6 basic steps.

The basics of these steps are:

1. Disassemble the sword

2. Wipe the blade

3. Tap on the blade distributing the powder (uchiko)

4. Wipe powder off

5. Disperse oil with cloth

6. And once again assemble back together

There are two side notes given to consider. If you follow tradition, every time you wipe the blade you will do it 3 times. And second, beware of fingerprints. Fingerprints left on the blade could possibly cause your blade to corrode. Rust is never a pretty site on your antique swords. Watching the process of cleaning is usually easier than just reading about it, so enjoy the video.

As you can see, it is not hard to clean your swords. You just want to make sure that you handle your swords properly so that there is no damage done to you or your swords. If you are interested in cleaning your own sword blades, you can find all of your supplies here Clean Your Japanese Antique Swords

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Although we recommend you use a professional to polish your swords, you can do the basic maintenance of your antique swords yourself. The Japanese antique swords require constant attention. If you live in a damper region or it is the damper part of the year the blade must be oiled more frequently. So we have offered a beginners step by step guide to maintaining the polish on your swords.

First you must wipe away all of the old oil from the blade with a high quality paper called hosho. This special paper may be hard to get a hold of so you can substitute it with a good quality flannel or tanned deerskin. Too deepen the cleaning process to remove more oil and dirt apply uchiko powder. This has been replaced by some with talcum powder although I would recommend finding uchiko. Always wipe away from the tang towards the point to avoid cutting you and harming your blade. Do this until the blade is free from powder.

It is now time to apply your fresh oil. The traditional oil evaporates rather quickly, oil of cloves, so we now use camellia oil. If you still want the authentic aroma you may add two or three drops of clove. If heavier oils are used they will soil the scabbard and cause residue to accumulate giving way eventually to rust. Applying your oil is easy. Take a piece of a thin paper called yoshinogami (or a piece of gauze) and put the oil on it. Fold the paper or gauze around the back side of the blade and while gently pressing the metal wipe the blade from the tang to the point, just as you did with the powder. Make sure you distribute the oil evenly so it does not accumulate in one spot A whitish film will be seen on the metal. That’s all there is to it.

When storing your antique swords avoid camphor wood chests. The fumes from the camphor wood can cause your swords to rust. Should rust appear get your sword to a professional as quick as possible for a polish. Polishing needs to be left to the experts so there is no damage done to your swords.

Maintain your antique swords properly and they will keep their beauty and value for years to come.

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