simo8989 Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 64 Been collecting militaria for 50 years, mainly edge weapons these days, only been studying and collecting Nihonto in the last 5 years. 1 Quote
Brian Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 53. With the mind of a 25 year old, and the body of a 90 year old. 5 Quote
Kantaro Posted August 5 Author Report Posted August 5 That is 50 year average on 22 collectors. 1 Quote
DoTanuki yokai Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 34. you should have asked earlier, we would be younger 1 1 Quote
Alex A Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 8 hours ago, Mark S. said: Not sure why anyone has an issue with exact ages, but each to their own. Me: 57 I do believe the above statement is a huge reason for the older average age of collectors, but not necessarily the average age of those who are interested in the subject though. While I have been interested for a long time, it has only been the last few years I have been able to afford some nicer quality items and also have a few items polished and restored. I was optimistic about young collectors but now that's gone out the Window. I'm only talking UK here but sure more and more countries around the globe will zoom in on the subject. With what's going on in the UK at the moment and government shouting loud about knives and stop and search etc etc, its doomed. EMS now return blades back to sender in Japan that are on route to UK Anyways, don't want turn this into another Brit debate but its how i feel about younger collectors prospects of being involved and actually owning swords. Us older ones will hang on to what we have, then send to auction or pass stuff on to our kids should they want it. Understandably, they might decline. 2 1 Quote
Cola Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 17 minutes ago, Alex A said: I was optimistic about young collectors but now that's gone out the Window. I'm only talking UK here but sure more and more countries around the globe will zoom in on the subject. With what's going on in the UK at the moment and government shouting loud about knives and stop and search etc etc, its doomed. EMS now return blades back to sender in Japan that are on route to UK Anyways, don't want turn this into another Brit debate but its how i feel about younger collectors prospects of being involved and actually owning swords. Us older ones will hang on to what we have, then send to auction or pass stuff on to our kids should they want it. Understandably, they might decline. I'm 35. It may become a black-market kind of hobby at some point. Exciting times ahead! I may just quit my job and make a fortune smuggling swords from Japan to Europe and the US by boat. But for now we can still get them by mail, and we only have to smuggle them across the channel. I hope they don't train sniffer dogs on choji oil. 4 Quote
George KN Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 (edited) 13 hours ago, Alex A said: Young uns dont have the spare cash to waste 1 hour ago, Alex A said: Us older ones will hang on to what we have, then send to auction or pass stuff on to our kids should they want it. True, but so long as the government don't outright ban antique curved swords here again, we should be alright! All of my Nihonto have been from auctions because of the price issue, and while risky, it is quite easy to find low/mid grade swords and while it has got more expensive to ship nationwide, it is still doable with UPS or dedicated couriers. I think the major hurdle for newcomers (as has already been mentioned by others here) is information accessibility. Younger people lean more heavily on the internet rather than books, and this forum is basically the only large-scale website with detailed knowledge. As a hobby we probably need more outreach on YouTube, Reddit, Instagram etc and at the very least some more cheat sheets compiling some of the basics/mid level info.... If I had the time, one of these days I'd very much like to set up a simple website with that basic info (my job literally is building those things anyway). Might be a good way to actually force myself to learn more about the schools now that I think about it (Edit: shout-out to https://www.Japanese...ndex.com/nihonto.htm for also being an invaluable internet resource - it is exactly this kind of thing but with better mobile support and more images we need) Edited August 5 by Ghoul 2 Quote
Alex A Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 Hi George, agree its unlikely they will ban antique swords but who knows, one day may need a license to own them. For me the issue is importing swords, its being killed off slowly but surely. There just isn't enough for sale in the UK to keep me happy. As time moves on collectors can get extremely picky and the chances of finding what they want in the UK, is zero. However the market in the UK seems ok, folks are still buying up what comes available. Some folks in fact will only buy in the UK and that is understandable. 1 Quote
Tohagi Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 Just 50, I had my first nihonto at 27 ... Best, Éric VD 2 Quote
Kantaro Posted August 5 Author Report Posted August 5 Avarage of 50 years old on 29 Collectors. 1 Quote
robinalexander Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 How old are you Paris @Kantaro ?. been collecting long? 1 Quote
Kantaro Posted August 5 Author Report Posted August 5 Hahaha, true Rob, I forgot myself. I am 50+ so on 30 collectors the average age stays on 50. Been a collector for 40 years but Tsuba only a few weeks. A real virgin once again! 1 Quote
The Blacksmith Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 I started collecting them when I was about 22. In those days, good Shin- Gunto katana were about £175+ exceptional ones perhaps £250 !Those were the days . 1 1 1 Quote
Brendan campbell Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 69, bought my first sword at 19 on my return home from training with the British under 21 judo squad. 1974. 50 years on and off , sadly a lot of my original sword mates have now passed on, but I still have their memories. 2 Quote
singh13 Posted August 5 Report Posted August 5 23, started about a year ago after collecting Indopersian arms for about a year 1 Quote
Kantaro Posted August 6 Author Report Posted August 6 That is average 51 years old on 34 collectors. Quote
Sutraken Posted August 6 Report Posted August 6 I am 33 and started collecting nihonto 4 years ago. I collect custom knives, too. 1 Quote
Richard Thomas Posted August 6 Report Posted August 6 Young 58 here, very young,, except my knee, and hip , oh and back , and shoulder …. 😁. collecting about 16 years .. 1 Quote
chinaski Posted August 6 Report Posted August 6 I'm fairly new to this, but I am 48 going on 49 years old. 1 Quote
Jussi Ekholm Posted August 6 Report Posted August 6 35, feels crazy that after being in the hobby for ages I am still in "youngish" group. 3 Quote
Lewis B Posted August 6 Report Posted August 6 I'm curious if anyone is a crossover collector. Nihonto and kitchen knives. I was into the latter for many more years than I have been into nihonto, primarily because the price of admission is logarithmically lower. I have 5 blades that were made by a certified third generation swordsmith in his late 70's. His swordsmithing name is Kanekuni (Kato Kanekuni) and his kitchen blades are under Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Real name is Kiyoshi Kato. This is the family lineage up to the father Kato Sanehira Kanekuni https://nihontoclub....isplay=image&id=2229 1 Quote
Toryu2020 Posted August 6 Report Posted August 6 60+ started when I was 19. One great aspect of this hobby is how it brings the generations together... 2 Quote
Mark C Posted August 6 Report Posted August 6 59 and I to can remember the days of very cheap swords but in them days I was only on apprentice wages 1 Quote
Schneeds Posted August 6 Report Posted August 6 My wife tells me I'm 40 but I don't believe in age. 1 1 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.