For some time there has been a debate, often heated, regarding the accuracy of attributions produced by the major authenticating bodies. In recent months this has often become very argumentative with people firmly entrenched in one side or other of the “validity of papers” debate. I think this is in part because of the way buying and collecting swords has evolved in the past decade and I would like to put forward a few thoughts for consideration. For the sake of clarity I should confirm that I a
