Antique Swords becoming illegal in Great Britain?

[britainsword]

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

 

I have been told that the sale and possesion of edged weapons - including antqiue Nihonto - is going to become illegal in Great Britain.

 

Is this true? I can't quite beliebe this but would appreciate any information you may have. I own several antique swords and am affraid I will no longer be able to keep them or sell them then if I ever should have to.

 

Thank you,

 

Mike

[IanB]

Mike, I don't know where you have heard this from but I suspect you are mistaken (although having said that, anything is possible). As things stand, antique weapons are exempt from the Prohibited Weapons Act and that includes Japanese swords. What has been added as an amendment to the act are replica swords. Rather strangely even replicas are legal if they can be shown to have been made by traditional methods (whatever that is supposed to mean). What has happened that may be the rumour you have heard, is that eBay, in their infinite wisdom, have decided to ban the advertisement and sale of all swords and knives of whatever kind and origin in the UK. The only exception to this is tableware. As I understand the situation, anyone selling a sword or knife to a UK buyer will be banned from selling on eBay. So, as from the 10th March, we can browse eBay International and look, but there will be no way of bidding. If you know someone in the US or elsewhere, they can buy on your behalf and then ship swords to you perfectly legally, although you will have to go through the usual pantomime with HM Customs.

Ian Bottomley