Do you own an authentic Japanese gusoku, yoroi or historical samurai armor that you are considering selling?
Supein Nihonto buys antique Japanese gusoku and yoroi directly from private collectors, families, estates and dealers worldwide.
We are interested in complete armors, partially complete sets and historically important examples with strong artistic, technical or collector interest.
If you are unsure exactly what type of armor you have, you can send us photographs for an initial assessment.
The terms gusoku and yoroi are both used for Japanese armor, although they can refer to different historical forms and construction traditions.
Earlier yoroi were generally associated with mounted samurai and often featured heavier, more elaborate construction.
Later gusoku developed alongside changes in warfare and were typically more practical, compact and adaptable.
If you are unsure how your armor should be classified, you do not need to identify it yourself before contacting us.
Complete and partial armor sets
A Japanese armor does not need to be perfectly complete to be of interest.
We can assess:
Complete armors
Partially complete sets
Armor assembled from historical components
Restored armors
Armors with replaced lacing
Armors missing minor elements
Individual historically significant components
The relationship between the different parts, their age and their originality are important when evaluating the armor.
Does the armor need to be signed?
No, many authentic Japanese armors are unsigned.
A signature can sometimes help with attribution, but authenticity and value are assessed through the armor as a whole, including its construction, materials, workmanship, period characteristics and provenance.
If you find any inscriptions, signatures or labels, please include clear photographs.
The value of an antique Japanese armor depends on a combination of factors.
These may include:
Historical period
Armor type
Completeness
Originality
Quality of construction
Lacquer
Lacing
Ironwork
Decorative metal fittings
Clan crests or mon
Maker or school
Condition
Restoration
Provenance
Documentation
Rarity
Collector interest
A complete armor with matching components may be especially desirable, but incomplete or restored examples can still have significant historical or artistic value.
Inherited Gusoku or Yoroi
If you inherited a Japanese armor and do not know much about it, you can still contact us.
You do not need to know:
The exact period
The maker
The armor school
Whether every component is original
The current market value
Clear photographs are usually enough to begin an initial assessment.
What photographs should i send?
For a gusoku or yoroi, please send:
Full front view, full rear view, side views, kabuto, menpō, if present
Dō / cuirass, sode, kote,
haidate, suneate, close-ups of lacquer and metalwork, clan crests or mon, interior views, signatures or inscriptions, storage box, certificates or documentation.
If the armor is already displayed on a stand, photographs of the complete assembled armor are particularly useful.
Complete the form below and upload clear images of the armor and any documentation.
We examine the information provided and determine whether the armor fits the type of material Supein Nihonto acquires.
We may request more photographs, dimensions, details about condition or provenance.
If an agreement is reached, we will explain the next steps for payment and secure delivery.
For important or extensive armor collections, arrangements can be discussed individually.
Selling a Gusoku or Yoroi collection
We also purchase collections containing multiple Japanese armors and related samurai objects.
These may include:
Several complete gusoku
Yoroi collections
Kabuto collections
Armor components
Menpō
Samurai weapons
Storage boxes
Documents and certificates
Mixed historical samurai collections
For larger collections, overview photographs are sufficient for the first contact.
Not sure whether your armor is authentic?
You do not need to authenticate the armor before contacting us.
Historical Japanese armor can be complex, and restoration, replacement parts and later reproductions can make identification difficult.
Send us clear photographs and any available information. We can determine whether the armor is relevant to our area of specialisation.
Sell your Gusoku or Yoroi
If you own an antique Japanese gusoku, yoroi or historical samurai armor that you are considering selling, send us photographs for an initial assessment.
Complete armors, partial sets and collections are welcome.
What our customers say
SupeinNihonto was born from years of dedication to traditional Japanese martial arts such as Aikido, Kendo, and Iaido, and a deep passion for collecting authentic samurai weapons and armor.
I had an excellent experience with Supein Nihoto. I purchased a katana and a wakizashi, and both pieces are truly beautiful — carefully selected and of remarkable quality. You can immediately see the attention to detail and the seller’s passion for what he offers.
The packaging was also exceptional: all the documentation was perfectly arranged in a refined envelope, which added a very elegant touch to the whole experience.
As a thoughtful gesture, he even included a small katana kake stand as a gift, which I greatly appreciated.
Beyond the objects themselves, the seller was very helpful, responsive, and clearly knowledgeable. His selection is outstanding, and you can tell he deals in genuinely fine items.
Highly recommended — I would definitely purchase from Supein Nihoto again
Legit dealer of Japanese treasures ! This man loves his work is not just reselling items, at first he is a collector and does this out of true passion.
I received a beautiful tokubetsu hozon nihonto for Christmas from Supein. Actually my wife purchased the sword after receiving some helpful hints and recommendations lol. She knows absolutely nothing about nihonto but Supein walked her through everything honestly and I ended up with something beyond my dreams and expectations, honestly. The packing was exceptional, shipping fast and the sword itself a literal work of art. Supein has a lifetime customer now as my collection grows. Thank you!
I had been looking for a tachi with a lot of curvature for a long time and I called Supein Nihonto. They didn't have any tachi with the sori I was looking for, but I was treated with a lot of love and professionalism and we were talking for a long time. The next day I received a call from the shop, telling me that they had received new swords and that there was a tachi with a lot of sori. That same afternoon he already had a lot of photos of the sword and its measurements. I found the price good, especially if I compared it to other Spanish sellers of Nihonto. The shipment took a day and the package arrived in perfect condition, as the person in charge of the packaging puts a lot of effort into the work and the result is a strong packaging. Without a doubt, Supein Nihonto is my 100% recommendation!
