Katana News — 2026-10-20: Seizures, Auction Results, and Cutting Demos

Ten katana stories for today: a samurai sword turns up in Manchester drug raids, Christie's posts results from the Dr Walter Ames collection, a budo YouTuber opens a new Kyoto class, Reddit debates a blade dated 1512, and judges score tameshigiri at a Florida convention hall.

1. Samurai Sword Seized in Manchester Drug Raids Alongside Gun and £70,000 Cash

Greater Manchester Police recovered a samurai sword, a viable semi-automatic firearm with rounds, £70,000 in cash, and cocaine and MDMA after executing eight warrants on October 1 across Moss Side, Levenshulme, Moston and Harpurhey. Four men were arrested and five more later handed themselves in; all were bailed pending further inquiries. (Reported October 16.)

Source: Bury Times — Web

2. Christie's Posts Realized Prices for the Dr Walter Ames Japanese Swords Sale

Christie's has published realized prices for its sale of Japanese swords and sword fittings from the collection of Dr Walter Ames. Highlights include an Osaka Gassan-school tanto at USD 6,600 and a ko-wakizashi after Yasutsugu at USD 28,600 — the freshest verifiable auction data in this window. (Exact sale date not shown on the lot page.)

Source: Christie's — Web

3. r/SWORDS Asks: Is Ray Singer a Credible Source for Antique Blades?

On r/SWORDS, u/SimilarWoodpecker880 asked whether Ray Singer is a trustworthy source while researching antique blades, expressing a preference for Yamato-den style suguha hamon. The first response backed him as a class act, making this the day's freshest dealer-trust discussion. (Posted October 20.)

Source: u/SimilarWoodpecker880 — Reddit (r/SWORDS)

4. r/katanas Debates a Dated Mei: 1512 Kanemoto or Gimei?

On r/katanas, u/Tommyteabag asked for help translating the mei on a gunto-mounted sword bought for about $550. The inscription reads as Noshu-ju Kanemoto, Eisho 9, second month — a date of 1512 — but comments questioned whether the signature is genuine (gimei), advising a shinsa appraisal and offering care tips for the bent blade. (Posted October 19.)

Source: u/Tommyteabag — Reddit (r/katanas)

5. Let's Ask Shogo Launches New Shinkage-ryu Class in Kyoto

Shogo (Let's Ask Shogo / The Budo Baka) posted an online enbu demonstration video introducing a new Shinkage-ryu Hohgan-ha class in Kyoto, with footage from Dance Space cEL. The video also promotes enrollment and Shogo's own katana shop — genuine budo-school news from one of the largest English-language Japanese-sword channels. (Upload date approximate, indexed about three days ago.)

Source: Let's Ask Shogo — YouTube

6. New Video Tests Katana Against Samurai Armor Using The Met's Collection

A research-heavy explainer tests a real katana against real samurai armor, referencing an approximately 1550 do-maru on view at The Met (Gallery 377) and published sources including the Metropolitan Museum Journal and the Royal Armouries. (Channel and exact upload date not verifiable from the page text; indexed about one day ago.)

Source: YouTube — YouTube

7. Florida Budokan Hosts Judged Tameshigiri at Convention Hall

Florida Budokan (フロリダ武道館) posted a reel showing two martial artists performing formal tameshigiri on straw targets inside a large convention hall, with judges raising red flags. It was the day's only tournament-style cutting demonstration on the major platforms. (Posted October 20.)

Source: Florida Budokan — Facebook

8. Thaitsuki Bushiblades Posts Detailed Katana Showcase Tour

Thaitsuki Bushiblades shared a slow, detailed video tour of several Japanese katana on display — wrapped tsuka, ornate fuchi and kashira, tsuba, lacquered saya, and visible hamon. The post drew 660 likes and 7 comments, solid engagement for a niche maker/shop page. (Posted October 18.)

Source: Thaitsuki Bushiblades — Facebook

9. Viral "Katana Challenge" Reel Cuts from Water Balloon to Whole Egg

An Instagram reel from @zolard.ofc shows a young man cleanly slicing a water balloon, watermelon, pineapple, apple, and a whole egg with a katana, framed by a theatrical toy-gun stunt. With 840 likes, it was the window's highest-reach real-sword cutting clip. (Posted October 19.)

Source: @zolard.ofc — Instagram

10. "Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentosho" Gets UK Blu-ray Release October 26

Acorn Media International will release the 24-part supernatural samurai anime "Sword of the Demon Hunter: Kijin Gentosho," based on Motoo Nakanishi's novels, on Blu-ray on October 26. The series follows Edo-period swordsman Jinta across a centuries-spanning battle against demons. (Reported October 15.)

Source: AVForums — Web

SamuraiSwordMan publishes full specs — steel, hardness, and heat treatment — on every blade. If a listing anywhere won't do that, walk away.