Alex A

Hi Colin, don't see any security issues with adding info i mention. Id rather do what i can, than see a £5000 sword or whatever stuck in customs for any longer than it needs to be. They have your address anyways and know the value on the package. Its all in the hands of the courier/customs. Ps, info in the box, not on the outside for everyone to read, Marked customs.

Customs have took an hard rap here over recent years but when you think about what they have to deal with, it must be a nightmare. They must come across hundreds of weapons every week, anything from a telescopic baton to a Roman Gladius back round to a ww2 Fairbairn sykes and fakes galore thrown in for good luck. In this day and age, i don't think its enough for the SERIOUS collector or Iaido (or whatever) practitioner to simply state their name on a package. I think its wise to state more about yourself and differentiate yourself from those that import weapons for dubious reasons. Perhaps stating the obvious here but often when i read posts about swords getting held and my own experiences, i cant help but feel that if more information was available to customs then hassles could have been avoided. For UK, date of birth i think is now essential as you have to be over 18. List in the package why you are importing the item, firms like UPS make you do this anyways when it comes to antique firearms. Be more pro-active. If you are serious about collecting or martial arts, join groups, societies, federations or whatever and state all this in the package. If you think will help, even list your job title!, do what you have to. Darcy covered swords brilliantly but times are changing https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/1860-importingexporting-and-customs-queries-and-advice/#comment-14557 Do not BS!!!!! or try to "wing it " with regarding the item, so to speak Anyways, just thought it may help folks, at the risk of repeating myself and boring folks to death that may already know this, last time i mention it, Anyone think of anything else, add it, as I've likely forgot.

Hi, my anti virus wont let me open your first link, but for ups Bladed products: It is forbidden to sell and deliver bladed products at a UK residential address without verifying that the recipients are over 18 years of age. Shipment should be made with the Adult Signature Required service available upon booking of the shipment with UPS. If sending a bladed product from outside of the UK into the UK, the Adult Signature Required service must be used regardless of whether the shipment will be delivered to a residential or business address. https://www.ups.com/...rohibited-items.page Anyways, as said, i don't list stuff as weapons, list as antique. Nowadays our service does not insure antiques. Going around in circles here, il just say never had a problem shipping a sword out of the UK. Only with customs coming into the country, usually because the sender has been inaccurate.

I have to do that to read Holts auction page, as the description is always off the bottom of the screen. Its like they make it intentionally difficult. Strange.

That's a bit confusing, as i know UPS ship antique guns and just had a sword delivered by DHL Maybe its a Belgian issue

Ok, then describe as Traditionally made Japanese cultural artwork If it is not more than 100 years old and it is an art sword, it is a "collectible item of historical/ethnographic interest." 9705.00.00.90 (Darcy's write up) Ps, Good to be member of stuff like Antique arms society Token society etc etc

Well, just don't write "weapon" on the package lol Just ask a sender to state "Antique Japanese artefact", which is what they are. Customs tariff no. whatever that is these days. Take it from there. etc etc

Just reading over this site https://finance.belg...nd-exporting-weapons "What are the exceptions to the licence requirement for the import or export of weapons? ‘Non-firearms', such as air rifles and side arms (knives and other cutting arms) are not subject to the licensing regime. This is even the case when the 2006 Arms Act does make it compulsory to obtain a licence for possession and use within Belgium. Some side arms are classified under the category of prohibited weapons. As is the case for all other prohibited weapons, the Regions do not issue licences for this category. Only a limited number of exceptions provided for in the Arms Act 2006 allow the import of prohibited weapons under licence. Traffic within the Benelux does not require a licence either," PS. quickly reading over your link above, cant see anything written other than "weapons" and "guns" Its very vague. Surely they cant be turning antique collectors into criminals, that's ridiculously stupid

Looking at your blade, the Kanji appears unusually large Saying that though, i used to own an Hizen blade where the Kanji was unusually large, as noticed by an Hizen expert and i agreed. Still, had NBTHK Hozen.

For a first blade its ok. Wouldn't be surprised if turned out to be something from the likes of Fujishima. A gimei blade is just a mumei blade wanting to be loved, lol

Old thread, i know. Though looking at the original post. Looks antique to me, simple solid construction Personally, think maybe its just a small rudimentary signal cannon.

Just to add, make sure you have not missed any exceptions for antiques in that legislation, sometimes you find it written elsewhere.

Aye, From memory, think the Token Society of GB sorted out some legislation with the government that was having a similar impact Paul B or other members here would know more Hope it gets amended as it sounds a terrible injustice to genuine antique collectors

Id drop some pul down it, let it soak Repeat then as above Ps, oil, not anything like wd40 it stains

Agree with Jean. I would just change the menuki and re-wrap tsuka, in this case.

TH don't have the sparkle it used to have. Looking over Aoi,s waks a few weeks back, think over 80% were TH. Some swords i wonder why. Many signed swords don't need papers at all as they kind of obvious they are legit. Mino Kanewhatevers etc Personally, only buy swords with papers because when it comes to sell the majority wont buy swords without papers. I am but an humble bottom feeder though. Agree with BIG, Hozen enough. Should back up what you already think. Cant comment on Juyo as have no real interest. They add value, obviously. As an example. Tadayoshi katana with Hozen .....................................£8000 Same without, whos brave enough and wants the hassle of shinsa?, shipping?, not many............................£half price, if your lucky. Without papers, think the online shopping would become high risk very fast, for many.

Reminds me of that ww2 cutting through a machine gun barrel tale. Ps, difficult to price. Could see this being really appealing to some folks, like $700 appealing. Sometimes surprising what stuff goes for, put it on Ebay and see, $300 reserve.

Not "top notch" status but could be a good deal for someone wanting an old SIGNED blade.

I will look into that, thanks Axel

Is the nose a fukure? Only joking, cool

Weird, links above work but when i google search and try to join it i get this Just tried Bing, same that way too Internal Server Error The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request. Please contact the server administrator at webmaster@82-sho-shin.mars-corp.com to inform them of the time this error occurred, and the actions you performed just before this error. More information about this error may be available in the server error log. Additionally, a 500 Internal Server Error error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument

Recognised that sword by the time i got to the 3rd pic. Congrats, was a good deal for TH.

Just thinking out loud Sam, observations. We all learning. Always exceptions to the rules rules and all that.

Just reading that, a blueish look to the steel doesn't remind me of Sue Mino From Connoisseurs. "the colour is black without being blueish black" Added a pic of one of my swords, Mino. In sunlight its obvious dull black, next to another blade stands out as black, no blue. Crap at photography but hope it shows.

For clamping the saya together, i just wrapped some elasticated string around it, got it from work. It worked ok, left it for 4 days before i put the sword back in it. Seen woodwork guys using clamps that you operate with one hand, would have been ideal but don't have any yet.