Swords as an investment

Lew · 12th October 2008, 08:38 PM

Generally when times are good nice swords hold or appreciate in value but when times are bad they drop because people have more important things to spend their money on. So I would not buy swords as an investment. If your going to buy do it for the love of collecting and not for investment.

rand · 12th October 2008, 09:01 PM

The most important arms are always purchased because of their historical interest, and cost , though important, is a secondary concern.

Applying the same logic to you collection is not a bad idea.....

rand

CharlesS · 12th October 2008, 09:59 PM

What makes this even more unpredictable...and interesting...is that the antique arms market is now more of a global market than ever before.

I wonder if, or indeed, how, that will affect the high prices we have seen develop over the last 5 years??

BBJW · 13th October 2008, 12:44 AM

I do know that my collection has taken less of a hit than my 401K! Things will get better slowly. Like people getting fat....it didn't happen overnight.

Cheers
bbjw

A. G. Maisey · 13th October 2008, 01:04 AM

During the 1970's and 1980's in Australia, a well known dealer in Japanese swords used to promote his wares with the line:- "---better than superannuation---"

Well, when some people tried to cash in what they had invested in as "better than superannuation" they found that it was not quite so.

One of these people had connections with a world-wide business conglomerate that has its roots in rural Sicily.

The dealer in Japanese swords left Australia, and has not been heard of since.

I've been involved with keris and other eastern edged weapons for most of my life. Relative prices over the last five to ten years have, in general, fallen for keris and Indo-Persian weaponry. However, in the absolute top percentile of the market, prices have steadily risen, and continue to rise. Proof of this can be demonstrated by examination of the catalogs published by (especially) UK dealers dating from the 1950's through the 1970's.

Yes, the world is currently going through some economic turmoil, but quality items will continue to sell and if the past is any guide, will continue to rise in value. However, realising that value is not always easy, and in my opinion nobody should collect for any reason other than the pure joy of collecting.

Bill M · 13th October 2008, 01:52 AM

Invest in mattresses.

Just make a hole in the mattress and deposit your investment cash....

fearn · 13th October 2008, 02:25 AM

Given the price of copper these days, I'd suggest investing in brand new, bronze weapons. Think of it as investing in a commodity metal whose value is enhanced by its artistry.

Gold swords work even better for this purpose.

F

Mytribalworld · 13th October 2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

During the 1970's and 1980's in Australia, a well known dealer in Japanese swords used to promote his wares with the line:- "---better than superannuation---"

Well, when some people tried to cash in what they had invested in as "better than superannuation" they found that it was not quite so.

One of these people had connections with a world-wide business conglomerate that has its roots in rural Sicily.

The dealer in Japanese swords left Australia, and has not been heard of since.

I've been involved with keris and other eastern edged weapons for most of my life. Relative prices over the last five to ten years have, in general, fallen for keris and Indo-Persian weaponry. However, in the absolute top percentile of the market, prices have steadily risen, and continue to rise. Proof of this can be demonstrated by examination of the catalogs published by (especially) UK dealers dating from the 1950's through the 1970's.

Yes, the world is currently going through some economic turmoil, but quality items will continue to sell and if the past is any guide, will continue to rise in value. However, realising that value is not always easy, and in my opinion nobody should collect for any reason other than the pure joy of collecting.

I totally agree that the joy of collecting must be in the first place.
About the value I think there a big difference in what really scarce and "what people think its was scarce" The simple fact thats whats scarce ( and wanted) will rise in value, is still unbeaten I think. Japanese swords for example where quite high many years ago, but nowadays you see that more an more people are selling their stuff on Ebay etc. Of course there where a lot captured during the war and the come now more easy for sale than before.I wonder what will happen when whole India has his own laptop

12th October 2008, 09:01 PM	#2
rand Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 539	Best Arms The most important arms are always purchased because of their historical interest, and cost , though important, is a secondary concern. Applying the same logic to you collection is not a bad idea..... rand

12th October 2008, 08:38 PM	#1
Lew (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: East Coast USA Posts: 3,191	Generally when times are good nice swords hold or appreciate in value but when times are bad they drop because people have more important things to spend their money on. So I would not buy swords as an investment. If your going to buy do it for the love of collecting and not for investment.

12th October 2008, 09:59 PM	#3
CharlesS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greenville, NC Posts: 1,854	What makes this even more unpredictable...and interesting...is that the antique arms market is now more of a global market than ever before. I wonder if, or indeed, how, that will affect the high prices we have seen develop over the last 5 years??

13th October 2008, 12:44 AM	#4
BBJW Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Idaho, USA Posts: 230	I do know that my collection has taken less of a hit than my 401K! Things will get better slowly. Like people getting fat....it didn't happen overnight. Cheers bbjw

13th October 2008, 01:04 AM	#5
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,048	During the 1970's and 1980's in Australia, a well known dealer in Japanese swords used to promote his wares with the line:- "---better than superannuation---" Well, when some people tried to cash in what they had invested in as "better than superannuation" they found that it was not quite so. One of these people had connections with a world-wide business conglomerate that has its roots in rural Sicily. The dealer in Japanese swords left Australia, and has not been heard of since. I've been involved with keris and other eastern edged weapons for most of my life. Relative prices over the last five to ten years have, in general, fallen for keris and Indo-Persian weaponry. However, in the absolute top percentile of the market, prices have steadily risen, and continue to rise. Proof of this can be demonstrated by examination of the catalogs published by (especially) UK dealers dating from the 1950's through the 1970's. Yes, the world is currently going through some economic turmoil, but quality items will continue to sell and if the past is any guide, will continue to rise in value. However, realising that value is not always easy, and in my opinion nobody should collect for any reason other than the pure joy of collecting.

13th October 2008, 01:52 AM	#6
Bill M Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Georgia Posts: 1,599	Invest in mattresses. Just make a hole in the mattress and deposit your investment cash....

13th October 2008, 02:25 AM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Given the price of copper these days, I'd suggest investing in brand new, bronze weapons. Think of it as investing in a commodity metal whose value is enhanced by its artistry. Gold swords work even better for this purpose. F