Swords as an investment

[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.