Nihonto Antique Swords for Sale
Buy Real Japanese Samurai Katana - Swords Store
Real Nihonto - Antique Japanese Swords
The

antique swords

 in our collection are unique and authentic Japanese swords, or nihonto, that have been passed down for generations. An antique sword is more than just a weapon - it's an exquisite work of art that is the very embodiment of Japanese culture and spirituality.

There are still a few hundreds swordsmiths making similar nihonto in Japan today, using the same traditional forging techniques that once produced these antique swords. Our nihonto collection is however more focused on the real swords used by actual samurais - dated between the Heian Era (782 AD) to the Shinshinto Era (1876 AD). These are authentic swords - much sought-after one-of-a-kind, unique, museum quality antiques that have great historical value.

All of our antique samurai swords come with a certificate of authenticity from the Nihon Bijitsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK), the authority in judging the historical importance of each real katana, tachi, wakizashi, and tanto from those sword periods. The appraisal of each nihonto has been conducted in Japan - information includes the sword era/period, the province/school where the antique sword was crafted, signature of the smith, and thorough examination of the sword structure, curvature, hamon, and more.
About SwordsContact SwordsSwords Network

Antique Katana

Item#: XKAN-001
Era: Late Kamakura Era
Signature: Enjyu
Paper: NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho
Price: $17,000
Details
Item#: XKAN-002
Era: Early Edo Era
Signature: Hizen no Jyu Harima no Kami Tadakuni
Paper: NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
Price: $19,000
Details
Item#: XKAN-003
Era: Middle Edo Era
Signature: Tanba no Kami Terukado
Paper: NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
Price: $11,000
Details

Antique Tachi

Item#: XKAN-004
Era: Early Nanbokucho Era
Signature: Kuninobu
Paper: NBTHK Hozon
Price: $10,000
Details
Item#: XKAN-005
Era: Nanbokucho Era
Signature: Bishu Osafune Morimoto
Paper: NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
Price: $15,500
Details
Item#: XKAN-006
Era: Nanbokucho Era
Signature: Bishu Osafune Hidemitsu
Paper: NBTHK Hozon and and NBTHK Kicho
Price: $23,000
Details

Antique Wakizashi

No items at this time.

Antique Tanto

Item#: XKAN-007
Era: Early Muromachi Era
Signature: Hoshu no Jyu Kunimune
Paper: NBTHK Hozon
Price: $3,750
Details
Item#: XKAN-008
Era: Late Edo
Signature: Bizen Osafune Yokoyama Sukekane
Paper: NBTHK Hozon
Price: $11,500
Details
Item#: XKAN-009
Era: Early Nanbokucho
Signature: Tomoyuki
Paper: NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
Price: $26,000
Details

Antique Samurai Swords - SOLD

Coming soon!

Ordering Process

If you find an antique Japanese sword that you like, please contact us to check its availability. We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Please allow a 24 hour turnaround for all inquiries.

The ordering process is as follows:
  •  We accept certified money orders or bank wire transfers only for the sale of our antique swords. Payment instructions will be provided when appropriate.
  •  Once the funds clear in our account, we will apply for the necessary export permission from the Japanese government. By law, all antique swords leaving
     Japan need authorization papers. This process takes around 2 weeks.
  •  Once we have the export authorization, we will ship the sword to you. Shipping may take between 1-2 weeks, depending on your location.
  •  Shipping and insurance for all of our antique nihonto is free.
  •  The buyer assumes full responsibility over customs clearance and any applicable entry fees into his/her country.
  •  All sales are final. Swords.com does not accept returns, unless an item is deemed to have been damaged during shipment. Please refer to our policies
     for more information.

Information and Resources

Antique Japanese Swords Periods

Antique Japanese Swords Eras


Authentic Japanese swords and their development have closely mirrored the major events that saw the rise and fall of the samurai class in Japan. Prior to the Heian period, circa 900 AD, swords in Japan had straight blades - a design that was directly modeled after Chinese and Korean swords, since most of the craftsmen of the time hailed from China. These blades, called Chokuto, had a single cutting edge and were extremely thin - they were most likely used for ceremonial purposes only.

The Koto era, also known as "old sword era" was a tumultuous time that witnessed many wars across Japan. The Heian period saw the first nihonto - swords made from Japanese smiths with their very own styles and techniques. Samurais used many different types of weapons in battle - the preffered weapon being bows, even while fighting on horseback. The naginata (spear) was common with foot soldiers. Even though swords were also carried in battle, they were considered to be a secondary weapon - used only if the bow or naginata failed.

It was only in the Kamakura period that swords gained prominence as the weapon of choice, a period that also saw the emergence of the samurai class. The daito (long sword) changed from a straight blade to the signature curved blade that we now commonly associate with Japanese swords. The daito of choice at that time was the tachi. It was widely used by warriors on horseback, its curved blade making it easier for them to strike from above (thrusting). This eventually eclipsed the bow as the samurai's primary weapon. The tachi had to be long, as well as be light enough to hold with one hand - this sword was, as a result, designed to be slender, with a cutting edge of 3 feet. The tachi is representative of the category of antique swords commonly referred to as the Koto (Old Sword) blades .

The signature forging technique of Japanese swords originated from the Kamakura period. Swordsmiths at the time had to come up with a blade that was hard enough to take and maintain an sharp cutting edge, while being flexible enough to not crack, chip or break under a heavy blow. The Japanese smiths achieved this breakthrough by wrapping a hard (high carbon) steel around a softer (low carbon) steel core, and hardening only the edge of the blade via heat treating.

The Kamakura period was witness to the Mongol invasion of Japan - a period that saw a resurgence of close-quarters fighting. The tachi blades of the time became wider and heavier - requiring two hands to wield. These swords were obviously no longer used on horseback, but by foot soldiers. The edge of these swords also grew broader to withstand the rigors of battle by allowing them to be polished/sharpened many times. The development of the tanto became more prominent as well - their foot long blade making them extremely convenient for hand-to-hand combats.

During the Nambokucho period, five swordmaking schools emerged across Japan, each with their own distinctive methods and traditions. These schools, called the Gokaden (Five Traditions), were: Yamashiro School (Kyoto), Yamato School (Nara), Mino School (Gifu Prefecture), Soshu School (at Kamakura), and Bizen School (Okayama Prefecture). Almost all the swords produced in Japan over the next several centuries were attributed to one of these schools.

The Muromachi period was one of intense fighting across the whole country. Demand for swords became huge, leading to mass-produced blades that were vastly inferior in quality. However, the most important development to come out of the Muromachi was the Uchigatana, a uniformly curved companion sword that could be used with one hand.

Towards the beginning of the Momoyama period, the Uchigatana had evolved into a pair of blades that could both be worn at the waist - making them practical for indoor fighting. The longer sword (24-30 inches) was called Katana , and the shorter one (18 inches), the Wakizashi. The Shinto era ("new sword era") was thus born. The slightly shorter katana, a direct descendant of the tachi, gained prominence as the primary weapon of choice for ground combat. Contrary to the tachi, which was worn with the blade facing down, the katana was worn with the cutting edge facing upwards, allowing the samurai to swiftly draw and attack in one single move. Together, the katana and the wakizashi became the trademark of the samurai.
(continued)

The katana was forged with a wider hamon than the tachi. Different ores and forging techniques of the time resulted in shinier blades, making the katana a much more flashy weapon to wear. But in the late 1500s, at the cusp of the Edo period, Japan was unified and war was all but over. Commoners were forbidden to own swords, and sword ownership quickly became a status symbol.

The Edo period of the Shinto era was a peaceful one - the romance of that time saw the trend of decorating the samurai sword with various artistic forms of expression, such as dragons, flowers, etc. Some of the most exquisitely decorated antique Japanese swords hail from the Edo period.

It was during the Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1868) that the symbolic value of the katana was tied with the samurai's honor. The meticulous etiquette around the proper way to wear, touch, and use the Japanese sword was established during that period. Even though the philosophy of the Bushido (Way of the Warrior) originated from the Muromachi era, the Bushido code that governed the way of the samurai life was only formalized into law by the Tokugawa shogunate. When Tokugawa Ieyasu famously said that the sword was the 'soul of the samurai', it forever cemented the association between the samurai and a katana.

The Edo period was however a rather ironic one for the samurai class. Samurais and their katanas reached legendary status, mainly via widespread artistic interpretations and pure myths, even while an absence of battle deeds saw the samurais fall out of favor. The rise of the merchant class resulted in a proliferation of beautifully decorated swords worn by civilians as a symbol of prestige.

However, the traditional craft was soon lost as the quest for profits and a culture of corruption too center stage. Quality became compromised as smiths found it harder and harder to earn a living. The finest swords of the time were the ones commissioned by the wealthy - those make up the majority of the much sought after swords of that period.

The Kamakura, Nambokucho and Muromachi periods are now regarded as the Golden Age of the samurai swords. Japanese sword smithing reached its peak, producing such legends like Masamune - whose work is now considered a national treature in Japan. Around 1780 AD, there was a revival in interest in the Five Traditions and in the great swords times past. It lead to a period of experimentation, leading to an era of sword making called the Shinshinto ("New New Sword Era"). Swords from that time were very flashy and artistic. This barely lasted 100 years however - it all ended during the Meiji Restoration, when the samurai class was banned and wearing of swords in public were forbidden.

Modern swords from the Gendaito era were military swords - they were mass produced and had very little in common with the antique swords of the previous era, except for their overall curved shape. Most of these have been destroyed after the two World Wars. The Americans even banned the production and possession of swords in Japan until 1953.

The resumption of swordmaking after the prohibition has since been a government controlled affair. In our Shinsakuto era (Newly Made) swords have to be made as objects of art, not as weapons. There are tight restrictions on who can manufacture a sword - swordsmiths have to follow a 5-year apprenticeship under a master before getting their license. There are also monthly production limits on each smith, and each sword in Japan must now be registered with the police.

The Nihon Bijitsu Token Hozon Kyokai (NBTHK, or the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords) was founded in 1960 to foster the study, promotion and preservation of swords. The NBTHK plays an important role in assessing the historical value and authenticity of antique nihonto from the older eras.

Nihonto: An Overview



Nihonto Overview The term "nihonto" or "japanese nihonto" gets tossed around quite frequently within the sword collecting community, and while most folks understand the meaning of the term, there are still many out there who may be confused about its true meaning. Very simply put, a nihonto is a real Japanese sword, forged by smiths whose training took several years. To understand the basics of nihonto, one must be aware of the different varieties and the manufacturing process of these exquisite weapons that were key to the art of ancient warfare.

As stated, a nihonto is an authentic Japanese sword, so all the common varieties of Japanese swords can be included in the nihonto family. The most popular in this family is the katana, and is still one of the most collected swords presently. The tachi is a long, curved, single-edged weapon, akin to the katana, that fell into disfavor by samurai warriors as they focused their skills on the shorter and more accurate katana for ground combat. All these weapons, along with several others, can be considered nihonto, but only if they were manufactured following strict instructions by a master smith. Even modern weapons manufactured in this manner can still be considered nihonto, but no mass-produced Japanese replica sword will ever be considered nihonto.

The manufacturing process is where most of the confusion regarding nihonto lies, as many new sword collectors have difficulties discerning why a one katana is nihonto when another is not, although they may appear to be quite similar.
(continued)

A real Japanese sword is a weapon forged with the utmost respect to process, perfection, and tradition. Nihonto were/are painstakingly forged, generally by a team of artisans under the direction of a master smith.

In many cases, the master smith would forge the rough shape of the blade, while his apprentice would fold the metal, which was mostly tamahagane (also known as "Japanese steel"). This is a type of metal crafted in Japan, made from two different steels. One will quickly realize that the main tenet of nihonto is its association with all things Japanese. The finished product would be a resilient weapon with a hard, razor sharp outer edge, with a slightly softer inner core that could withstand impact without breaking.

Along with the masterful forging of nihonto, of utmost importance was the employ of a togi, which is an artisan specially trained in the art of sword polishing. This step is crucial to the final look and performance of nihonto.

All swords would be tested to make sure they were perfect in all ways, including weight, balance, sharpness, etc. To do this, a smith, apprentice, or the samurai himself would perform tameshigiri, or sword testing. Today, this is done with specialty mats, but in feudal Japan, the testing of these antique swords was often performed on the bodies of executed criminals.

Antique nihonto are some of the most beautiful and deadly blades ever crafted, and collectors often spend considerable sums of money to get their hands on these amazing weapons made by smiths who dedicated their lives to perfecting their art.

Nihonto Etiquette



Nihonto Etiquette Nihonto, or authentic Japanese swords, are true works of art that command much respect from their owners and wielders. Fuedal Japan was a place of strict rules, regulations, and etiquette, and not surprisingly, there was a strict set of guidelines regarding carrying a nihonto. The following code of conduct outlines the correct way to view this real Japanese sword.

When handling a nihonto that is not your own, it is of crucial importance to ask permission from the owner to examine it, especially if one is going to remove the sword from the saya. When permission is granted and the weapon is handed to you, bow to show respect not only the sword's owner, but also to the sword itself. In almost every case, the owner would hand the nihonto to the viewer with the sword's edge facing himself. Again, this is an issue of respect.

Nihonto are such revered heirlooms in Japan, that not bowing is considered quite disrespectful. In feudal Japan, where these swords were considered to be the soul of the samurai, any form of disrespect often lead to serious trouble.

Generally, when handling a nihonto that is not your own, you will first inspect the saya (scabbard) and the tsuka (handle/hilt) first for any ornamentation or special features. Although this would likely be a standard course of inspection, one needs extra permission to view the blade itself, as this has a whole new set of rules.
(continued)

When permission is granted to view the blade, one must do so in a very specific manner, based on traditions dating back to the feudal era. First, the saya should be held roughly in the middle with the edge facing up in one's left hand, while the right hand is firmly gripping the tsuka. When this is accomplished, the blade is removed from the saya by sliding the back edge (mune) against the saya, taking delicate care in not letting any of the polished surfaces come into contact with the saya. One should note, that due to the special lacquer used in a nihonto's saya, one must always wear gloves when grasping it. Also of the utmost importance, one must never, ever, under any circumstances touch the steel of the blade. The natural oils on a person's hand can cause a blade to tarnish. One can use rice paper or another type of cloth.

Once the blade is back in the saya and it is handed to a third party (with permission of course), there is yet another set rules. The first viewer must hand the nihonto to the second viewer with the edge facing in, and with each hand on an opposite end of the tsuka. This leaves enough room for the secondary viewer to place one hand on the tuska, and the other on the saya. It is customary to give the sword a slight wiggle when both parties have their hands on the weapon, to indicate that you are about to release your grip. This way, a sword is less likely to be accidentally dropped. When the sword is eventually returned to the owner, it must again be handed in the same fashion.

Although this seems like a lot to remember, when one becomes accustomed to the tradition surrounding nihonto, it becomes second nature. While these rules aren't always observed presently, it is still considered an honor to inspect and hold a nihonto, and paying attention to etiquette and tradition will not go unnoticed by the owner.

Antique Sword Care



Antique Sword Care The quest for an antique sword, to the serious sword collector, can be akin to the search for the Holy Grail. There are many antique swords out there, but the one you are looking for always seems to elude you. Your quest may take you many years and cost you tens of thousands of dollars, but when you finally find what you've been looking for, the feeling is nothing short of spiritual. This sentiment is indeed true of antique Japanese swords as well. Perhaps the very blade you hold in your hands was once wielded by a proud samurai warrior defending his country against foreign Mongol invaders, or maybe he held that tanto firmly as he committed seppuku rather than die at the hands of his enemy.

Any way you look at it, having an authentic sword from Japan is a truly special ownership experience, and extremely special care must be taken in order to preserve its beauty and luster. Having these real swords remain as clean and rust-free as possible is of the utmost importance to the longevity of the weapon. A few things to consider regarding the safe-keeping of your antique nihonto are humidity and how to properly clean and care for your prized possession.

Humidity plays a huge role it metal oxidation. If your sword is continuously in a humid environment (or any metal, for that matter), it will likely develop surface rust that may eventually lead to permanent damage.
(continued)

Since most antique sword owners paid a handsome sum for their weapon, it is wise to also spend some time and money on the display you choose to use. A sealed case where the humidity is always below 25-30% would be an excellent investment. To keep this low moisture level in high-humidity area, a desiccant is required. A desiccant is a substance that sustains dryness in the air.

Handling the blade of your antique sword with your bare hands will certainly cause it to tarnish. No matter what the value of your sword, this is always an unwise handling practice. The natural oils on one's hands cause the metal to eventually rust, leaving an unsightly mark on the blade - which can affect its value.

It is critical to thoroughly inspect the blade for tarnish several times a year. If you are unfortunate enough to find some light rust, there are ways to safely and effectively fix the situation. The easiest and safest way is to apply a light coat of oil onto the blade. Allow the coat of oil to sit on the blade for a few minutes, then remove it with a soft cloth. Any light rust should wipe off with the oil.

If the rust is particularly stubborn or plentiful, a professional polisher's assistance may be in order. However, keep in mind that a professional polisher will remove a very small amount of steel on your antique sword, so full polishes should be done sparingly on your collection of antique swords, especially if they are extremely old.

Join Affiliate Program  |   Tweets  |   About Us  |   Swords Blog  |   Contact Us                                        Terms of Use  |   Privacy Policy  |   Swords.com Guidelines


All materials on this website are protected by United States copyright law.
Copyright © 2009 Swords.com, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Page copy protected against website content infringement.