The most important decision you will make when buying a Japanese sword is not which sword to buy. It is who to buy it from. The sword is only as trustworthy as the dealer behind it. Choose the wrong dealer,...

Read more...

A collector in the United States paid $8,500 for what was advertised as a "certified Edo-period katana" on a popular online auction site. The NBTHK papers were photocopies. The signature on the tang was fake. The blade itself was a...

Read more...

A collector in Germany recently purchased what was described as an "authenticated Edo-period katana" from a dealer in his home country — complete with certificates and a handsome price tag. When he had it independently appraised, the verdict was clear:...

Read more...

Some treasures are acquired. Others claim their owner forever. There's a defining instant many collectors recall vividly: grasping a genuine Japanese sword for the first time. The impeccable balance in your palm, the subtle curve whispering of battles long past,...

Read more...