A certificate can be valuable when assessing a Japanese sword, but it is not always required.
We consider swords with:
NBTHK papers
NTHK papers
Previous auction documentation
Old collection records
Provenance documents
We also consider uncertified katana and tachi.
If your sword has no papers, send clear photographs of the blade, tang, signature and fittings.
Signed and unsigned swords
A katana or tachi may be signed or unsigned.
The signature on the tang, known as the mei, may provide information about the swordsmith, school or period.
However, a signature alone does not determine authenticity or value.
We assess:
Blade shape
Hamon
Hada
Nakago
Mei
Period
School
Condition
Polish
Koshirae
Certification
Provenance
Unsigned swords can also be historically important and highly collectible.
What determines the value of a Katana or Tachi?
The value of an antique Japanese sword depends on a combination of factors.
These may include:
Swordsmith
School
Historical period
Blade quality
Forging
Hamon
Hada
Shape and curvature
Length
Signature
Nakago condition
Polish
Blade condition
Certification
Koshirae
Tosogu
Provenance
Rarity
Historical importance
Collector demand
A signed sword is not automatically more valuable than an unsigned one, and certification should always be considered alongside the quality of the blade itself.
We buy swords mounted in complete or partial koshirae.
Associated fittings may include:
Tsuba
Fuchi
Kashira
Menuki
Kozuka
Kogai
Saya
Tsuka
Habaki
If your sword also has a separate shirasaya, please photograph both.
Original or high-quality fittings can significantly increase the historical and collector interest of a sword.
What photographs should i send?
Please send:
Full-length photograph of the blade, both sides of the blade, kissaki, hamon, hada, if visible, habaki, nakago / tang, signature or inscriptions, koshirae, tsuka, tsuba, fuchi and kashira, menuki, saya, shirasaya, NBTHK or NTHK certificate, storage box, provenance or documents.
Do not clean, polish or alter the blade before sending photographs.
The Nakago is particularly important
The tang, or nakago, is one of the most useful areas when assessing a Japanese sword.
It may provide information through:
Signatures
Dates
Inscriptions
File marks
Patina
Shape
Please do not remove rust or clean the nakago.
Its original surface can contain important historical information.
Blade condition and restoration
We also consider swords that are not in perfect condition.
These may include blades with:
Old polish
Light oxidation
Surface scratches
Worn mounts
Missing fittings
Minor flaws
Historical restoration
Serious damage can affect value, but imperfect condition does not automatically make a sword unsuitable for assessment.
Complete the form below and upload clear photographs of the sword, tang, fittings and documentation.
We review the blade, condition, mounting, papers and collector interest.
We may request more photographs, measurements or provenance details.
If the sword is of interest and an agreement is reached, we will explain the next steps for payment, documentation and secure delivery.
Sell a Katana or Tachi collection
We also purchase collections containing several Japanese swords.
These may include:
Multiple katana
Tachi
Wakizashi
Tantō
Certified blades
Koshirae
Shirasaya
Tosogu
Sword fittings
Mixed samurai collections
For larger collections, overview photographs and a simple list are enough for the initial contact.
Not sure whether your sword is authentic?
You do not need to authenticate the sword before contacting us.
The market includes genuine nihontō, later Japanese swords, military swords, reproductions and non-Japanese copies.
Send us photographs and the information you have available.
We can determine whether the sword is relevant to our area of specialisation.
Sell your Katana or Tachi
If you own an authentic Japanese katana or tachi that you are considering selling, send us photographs for an initial specialist assessment.
Individual swords, certified blades, inherited pieces and complete 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.
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Great atention from the stuff, all the question was nicelly answered and the armor was very decorative and real gorgeous piece of art. Very happy with everything! Many thanks Supein nihonto!
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Erika L
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Compré una armadura Gusoku y todo muy bien, tenía algunas preguntas y Eric ha sido capaz de contestar todo lo que no sabía, llegó todo muy bien embalado y bastante rápido. El Kabuto es muy bonito y está muy bien conservado.
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Eric T
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J'ai pu échanger de visu avec Eric. C'est un vrai passionné, qui maîtrise son sujet. Je le recommande vivement, surtout dans ce milieu ou le meilleur se mélange avec les pires escrocs
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Daniel L
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Hervorragende Dienstleistung, Qualität und persönliche Betreuung! Ich habe bereits drei Stücke von Supein Nihonto gekauft und hatte nie Probleme. Nach schlechten Erfahrungen mit anderen japanischen Händlern – lange Lieferzeiten und sogar ein verlorenes Paket – bin ich zu dieser Firma gewechselt. Ich werde ihnen treu bleiben und meine bereits beeindruckende Sammlung weiter ausbauen.
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Mik B
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Ho acquistato da Eric un’armatura samurai di grande fascino e qualità, e l’esperienza è stata eccellente sotto ogni aspetto.
Fin dal primo contatto si è dimostrato estremamente professionale, competente e disponibile nel fornire tutte le informazioni richieste, accompagnandomi con trasparenza durante l’intero processo di acquisto. L’oggetto ricevuto corrisponde perfettamente alla descrizione e alle aspettative, con una cura nei dettagli che testimonia una profonda conoscenza del settore.
Ho particolarmente apprezzato la serietà, la correttezza commerciale e l’attenzione riservata al cliente, qualità oggi sempre più rare da trovare. La spedizione è stata accurata e l’armatura è arrivata in perfette condizioni.
Consiglio vivamente Eric a collezionisti, appassionati di arte e cultura giapponese e a chiunque sia alla ricerca di oggetti autentici e di alto livello.
Grazie ancora per questa splendida acquisizione che rappresenta uno dei pezzi più interessanti della mia collezione.
Mik – Roma, Italia
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Emanuele S
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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
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Dimitrios K
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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.
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Burke J
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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!
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