Value of Japanese Samurai Swords
Both the monetary value and the cultural value of a samurai sword depend on what variety of sword, how old it is and whether it was machine-made or forged by hand..
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Significance
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Samurai warriors deeply respected and valued their battle swords, known as katana. Their lives depended on these weapons. The tempering process that forged the razor-sharp blades mirrored the discipline and honor of Bushido, the samurai code of conduct.
History
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No one knows the exact total, but possibly as many as a million Japanese swords were brought to the United States by American soldiers during World War II and U.S. occupation of Japan. The Samurai Sword Identification & Price Guide, a good source for estimating sword values, states that "the number of Samurai swords found in the U.S. is greater than those found in Japan."
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Types
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Most war trophy swords stem from the Japanese military's mass production of so-called Shin-Gunto or "New Army Swords" presented to all Non-Commissioned Officers in the Imperial Japanese Army beginning in 1935.
World War II factory-made swords display a stamped serial number and all have so-called "blood grooves" along the blade designed to make the sword lighter to carry. The value of authenticated Japanese army swords ranges from $300 to $500.
Considerations
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Fine hand-forged samurai swords can be found at prices in the hundreds to a few thousand dollars. Genuine antique samurai swords approach museum-quality values of $8,000 to $30,000. Serious collectors never buy online, only patronize reputable dealers, get more than one appraisal and build legal safeguards into the transaction.
Potential
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Interest in martial arts and Japanese culture has inspired many to value precision hand-forged samurai swords from modern swordsmiths who have mastered the art of samurai sword making. These serious weapons range from a few hundred dollars to around $1,000.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Rodrigo Della Fávera
