Abdül Hamid in the thousands (I mean USD, but the prices were written in yen, of course). So, these aren’t super cheap swords. I saw one in this video that was $3,500 and another that was $4,800. I’m guessing they’re all somewhere in that range.
@@tatumergo3931I agreed. I have two swords. One is a so called Army Type 94(1934) sword consisted of Edo era's no name blade and lacquered wooden sheath. It had been registered as an art piece. Another one is a Type 98 that is actual mass production model with painted steel sheath(鉄鞘 Tetsu-zaya) but blade had been changed to fake one to avoid the Swords and Firearms Control Low. It also has a taste.
In the US we have about 5 sword shows annually with San Francisco the largest. I've attended the Tampa show several times. Love seeing and handling beautiful blades. I was allowed to handle a $100,000 blade. The real treasure is all the old timers selling and trading Katana. They are great to joke around with and learn from. Many of them were around in the early days of collecting- the 50s and 60s, when a real masterpiece of a blade might be bought at a garage sale. These guys are dying off and with them the show itself as not enough young sellers are replacing them. For those interested in buying- often it's not the age of the blade but the quality and condition that sets the price. Factory ww2 blades can be had from $300-1000. Handmade swords maybe $2000 to 5000, depending on quality and condition, are a good starting point. The best book to buy is The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords. If you are serious, I would suggest handling as many authentic quality swords as you can.
As a European/Asian sword collector this is something we can only dream of. It’s so hard to get an authentic katana in the US because of Japan’s strict export laws on katanas. They’re considered national treasures of Japan and they don’t let them go easily.
@@Tremulousnut well yeah exactly those katanas in the museum were used by legendary ppl in japan during the sengoku period and edo period during those times. Or even way before that are sacred treasures
@@johnnymoreno5065 At some point you have to weigh realism, cost and practicality. Yes these are really nice and have history, but they're expensive and permission to export them is very rarely given. You can commission a professional weaponsmith to make one for under 1000-2000 bucks which is perfectly fitted to you and is at least as good if not better than one made in Japan 200 or 300 years ago. And unless you're an experienced sword collector as well as Japanologist you're not going to be able to truly appreciate these swords. Take my advice: If you really want to own a Katana, have one custom made by a reputable blacksmith who knows what they're doing. Care for it, then leave it to your kids who may leave it to their kids and so on. Why pay extra to own someone elses history when you can impart your own on a blank slate much more easily and cheaply?
@@conradoordoqui9737 Joke aside, the amount of cultural treasured carried off by US soldiers as souvenirs is heartbreaking. Most regular Japanese soldiers were only fitted with cheap, mass-produced standard issue swords, but since many officers tended to be sons from old and prestigious families some carried and lost family heirlooms in battle which were sometimes hundreds of years old. Imagine them rusting away in some attic in the US without the owners knowing that great-grandpa left it there.
No more like "Look I'll offer you $20 and I don't even know why I'm offering you that amount. They'll sit in the shop for a few months, you gotta understand, I'm taking all the risk here." :)
yea im sure most of them have flaws in the steel it's Pretty common to have a few cracks in your sword if you get them from Japan as long as its not fukure a big one or a big Shinae or blisters i would buy but i Already have Edo period wakizashi from 1641 i think i only need one sword
I have turned my place upside down looking for my car keys so I could go somewhere I had to be, and for two hours did not look at what I was clutching in my hand.
Interesting to see two Type 98 Shin Gunto there. They are, for the most part illegal to own without registering them. I assume they must have tradition family blades mounted as Type 98 to get around that law. Or, I guess they could also be blunted replaced "blades" in Type 98 mountings as well.
@@aleksandarzdravkovic74 Type 98's are WW2 Japanese military officer swords, many were made with the help of machinery by Seki Smiths (these are considered Showato's) though there are some traditionally newly made swords called Gendaito. As far as the whole being illegal thing I'm not entirely sure myself, I guess it's because Japan just doesn't want to have anything to do with the head taking and executing POW's with swords back in the war
@@aleksandarzdravkovic74 Basically there are mass produced swords Japan consider to have no artistic/collector value. Traditionally made, or old sword in military fittings are a different story.
lol most of these swords are made before ww2 ive never heard a japanese Soldier during ww2 cut down there sword Maybe before World War II they cut them down but not during ww2 the only Reason They were cut down Because the law before ww2 said sword had to be a Certain length to be legal to carry so they cut some of the swords down that did not meet there Requirements.
Are they whole swords? What I mean is are there authentic blades inside the scabbards? Or are they just fittings and scabbards? I'm guessing the blades are wooden.. I am not sure...
Don't you have to have a permit to own katana in Japan? Do you have to present that here before you can purchase? I'm very interested on how that works.
Very nice I’ve always wanted one, authentic one, I’ve seen a few repicas that are from Indonesia and other parts Asia, was tempted to buy it just for the looks, at 1/10 the price lol!!!!!
August 2, 2020----Thanks for the video....glad to see the Japanese have flea markets just like here in America. Only thing I wished was knowing what these swords were selling for. Not that I could probably afford one,. but still.....
@@Tremulousnut Functional, as in it was crafted good enough to cut bottles or tatami mats. As far as I know, swords are hella expensive in Japan especially since they are traditionally made rather than mass produced.
@@MrAllmightyCornholioz Not true. There are a lot of relatively cheap nihonto out there, because even with traditionally made swords, there are a lot of less well made pieces, which have less collector value. Some collectors will refer to them as "junk". Then there are some decent pieces that were so neglected that they are not economical for a dealer to restore.
@@Tremulousnut yes you are right you can buy a edo period wakizashi for around 900$ with a few Scratches but no rust i saw a few of those go up for sale
One of my Philippine friend work of art correcter has lot of Katana that sign of surrender from officers at the end of World war 2 , if some one could buy it Mr friend ready to show.
