Katana News — 2026-11-05: Bonhams Sale Day, Fortnite Zoro Cup, and a Sword-Anime Trailer
Bonhams' Fine Japanese Art sale goes under the hammer in London today, Fortnite's Zoro Cup arrives tomorrow, and a new trailer previews the Seedrun arc of Reincarnated as a Sword.
1. Bonhams Fine Japanese Art Sale Takes Place in London Today
Bonhams' Fine Japanese Art sale at New Bond Street, London, takes place today, November 5, 2026, with sessions at 11:00am and 2:00pm GMT and 400 lots on offer. The sale ranges from iron sword fittings to decorated export ceramics, and, as covered in yesterday's edition, includes a Meiji-era gold-lacquer and Shibayama-inlaid tanto koshirae estimated at £8,000–£12,000 (Lot 120). It is one of four sales in Bonhams' November Asian Art Week series in London.
Source: Bonhams — Web
From the shop:
2. Fortnite's Zoro Three Sword Style Leads Into Tomorrow's Zoro Cup
Fortnite's Treasure Hunters mini-season, which began on November 1, 2026, with update v43.00, added Zoro's Three Sword Style, an Epic-rarity melee weapon that lets players wield three katanas at once. Its Slash combo deals 160 damage across three hits, and its charged Dash deals 100 damage with a 12-second cooldown, while a related quest asks players to deal 700 damage with the weapon for 10,000 XP. The weapon is found in chests and as floor loot, no Zoro outfit purchase is required to use it, and Epic lists the One Piece: Zoro Cup for November 6, with the Zoro outfit scheduled for the Item Shop on November 7.
Source: TalkEsport — Web
3. Reincarnated as a Sword Season 2 Releases Seedrun Arc Trailer
The staff of Reincarnated as a Sword Season 2 released a new trailer on November 4, 2026, previewing the anime's Seedrun arc, alongside a new key visual and additional cast members. New episodes stream on Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. ET on HIDIVE with English subtitles. The series centres on a sentient sword and its wielder, Fran, making it one of the season's most sword-centred anime stories.
Source: Final Weapon — Web
4. IGavel Presents Part 1 of the Michael Quigley Collection
IGavel's Part 1 page for Treasures of Imperial Japan and the Samurai presents the collection of Michael Quigley, a longtime collector and scholar of Japanese swords, Asian antiquities, and military medals who died on November 29, 2025. The page notes that his remaining collections will be offered through upcoming auctions in the last months of 2026 via Lark Mason / IGavel and Emedals, spanning Japanese swords, Asian antiquities, medals, and decorations assembled over decades. No closing date or lot list for Part 1 was stated on the page read for this edition.
Source: IGavel Auctions — Web
5. Guide to Japan's Five Great Swords Explains Why Only Two Are Reachable
A guide published on November 4, 2026, by Shogo Suzuki walks through the Tenka Goken, the Five Swords Under Heaven, forged 800 to 1,000 years ago and now famous in Japan as game and anime characters as well as historic blades. It ranks the five from easiest to reach to hardest, from the Maeda clan treasure Odenta Mitsuyo to the temple-held Juzumaru Tsunetsugu, which opens only on rare occasions, and Onimaru Kunitsuna, held in the Imperial collection and almost never seen in public. The guide warns that Japanese museums rotate sword displays, so no blade is guaranteed to be on view on any given day.
Source: Shogo Suzuki — Web
6. SBG Thread Offers First Impressions of the Valiant Armoury Tauber
The most recently replied-to thread on the SBG sword forum this morning was Valiant Armoury Tauber First Impressions, with its latest reply posted on November 5 at 08:01 by sirsyan. It is a first-impressions discussion thread, not a formal review, and no verdict, price, or specification was verified from the thread listing alone. Other threads replied to overnight included a three-sword discussion and a cheap sharp jumyo uchigatana thread.
Source: sirsyan — Web
7. Sword Auction Discussion Draws 23 Comments on r/Katanas
A post titled Sword auction, by u/PerroCerveza, drew 7 upvotes and 23 comments in this morning's live-browser scan, making it the most commented katana thread in the window. It is a discussion post, not an auction listing, and no sale, lot, or price was established in the thread information seen. The thread's comment volume stands out against the day's otherwise quiet identification and buying-advice posts.
Source: u/PerroCerveza — Reddit
8. Grandfather's Sword Identification Request Draws 55 Upvotes on r/SWORDS
A member asked for help identifying a sword from their grandfather, drawing 55 upvotes and 13 comments in this morning's live-browser scan, the highest upvote count among the day's r/SWORDS identification posts. It is an identification request, not a verified attribution, and no maker, age, or value has been established in the thread information seen. A separate old-sword-and-sheath identification post drew 17 upvotes and 7 comments in the same scan.
Source: u/Nanar56 — Reddit
9. Demon Slayer Custom Katana Reel Reaches 11,000 Likes
A November 3 reel by @axp_yash, in which the creator poses with practice swords and invites viewers to guess the Demon Slayer character behind a katana giveaway, drew 11,000 likes and 1,000 comments in the engagement-ranked social search. Commenters largely identified the character as Shinobu Kocho and asked for a purchase link, and the creator replied directing people to direct messages and confirming custom katanas are available. It is a creator promotion and fan discussion, not a verified product listing, and no price was given.
Source: @axp_yash — Instagram
From the shop:
10. RVA Katana Reel Poses Tamahagane Tachi Against CNC Steel Sword
A November 3 reel from RVA Katana (@rvakatana) drew 420 likes and 45 comments in the engagement-ranked social search, framing an Election Day choice between an 800-year-old tamahagane tachi by a master craftsman and a CNC-forged S5 shock-steel sword said to survive blows against rock. The creator invites viewers to comment their choice, pitching craftsmanship and aesthetic value against durability. It is a discussion prompt, not a sales listing, and no price is given for either sword.
Source: @rvakatana — Instagram
More Hot Topics Today
Looking for a katana — A member posted a fresh buying-advice request, the newest r/Katanas post in today's digest handoff. It is a recommendation request, not a review.
Source: Reddit member — Reddit
Please help Identify and value this blade — A member asked for identification and a valuation, with 2 upvotes and 1 comment in the digest scan. It is a request, not a verified appraisal.
Source: Reddit member — Reddit
Thoughts on SpartanBladesClub — A member asked about the reputation of SpartanBladesClub, with 1 upvote and 3 comments in the digest scan. It is a seller-reputation question, not a verified review.
Source: Reddit member — Reddit
Looking for an Expert opinion on this sword — A member asked experts for an opinion on a sword, with 27 upvotes and 11 comments in the digest scan. It is an opinion request, not a verified appraisal.
Source: Reddit member — Reddit
Sailor Moon / Naoko Takeuchi's 30th Anniversary collaboration sword — A member posted about a Sailor Moon Eternal movie collaboration sword, with 8 upvotes and 3 comments in the digest scan. It is a fan topic, not a product launch.
Source: Reddit member — Reddit
What is this sword name? — A member asked for the name of a sword, with 1 upvote and 2 comments in the digest scan. It is an identification question, not a verified attribution.
Source: Reddit member — Reddit
Old Sword I bought in Korea back in the late 90's — A member showed a sword bought in Korea in the late 1990s, with 1 upvote and 1 comment in the digest scan. It is a showcase post, not a review.
Source: Reddit member — Reddit
First sword! — A member posted a first sword, with 13 upvotes and 3 comments in the digest scan. It is a showcase post, not a review.
Source: Reddit member — Reddit
Kult of Athena Hanwei Zatoichi Stick Sword 2026 at $239.99, in stock — Kult of Athena lists a 2026 Zatoichi stick sword with a forged blade, about 29 inches long, at 239.99 USD, in stock. It is a dealer listing for buyers who like film-style concealed swords.
Source: Kult of Athena — Web
Kult of Athena Citadel Wolf Katana Limited Edition I at $3,399.00, in stock — Kult of Athena lists a wolf-themed katana with a laser-cut iron tsuba, limited to 100 pieces worldwide, at 3399.00 USD, in stock. It is a high-end collector listing.
Source: Kult of Athena — Web
Kult of Athena Citadel Dragon Katana at $3,999.00, back ordered — Kult of Athena lists a water-dragon-themed katana, limited to 100 pieces worldwide, at 3999.00 USD, shown as back ordered. It is a high-end collector listing.
Source: Kult of Athena — Web
Kult of Athena Hanbon Forge Sanemi Shinazugawa Sword at $164.99, in stock — Kult of Athena lists a T10 high-carbon-steel Demon Slayer Sanemi Shinazugawa replica at 164.99 USD, in stock. It is a dealer listing for anime collectors and practical buyers.
Source: Kult of Athena — Web
Swordis / RVA Katana Shadow Dancer Nagamaki Katana — A recent buyer test video mentions a 1095 crucible-carbon-steel nagamaki with differential heat treatment, with about 533 USD noted as the retail price in the video, plus Hishigami fees. It is a video mention, not a dealer listing verified in this round.
Source: RVA Katana — YouTube
2026 Dai Token Ichi preview: Gallery youyou at Tokyo Bijutsu Club, November 21–22 — Gallery youyou previews its 2026 Dai Token Ichi catalogue, including a Juyo Token sunobi tanto by Nanki Shigekuni with a brown-lacquered tsuka and aizame-zaya aikuchi goshirae. The fair runs November 21–22, 2026, at Tokyo Bijutsu Club.
Source: Gallery youyou — Web
Tozando newly forged Sadanobu katana at $28,494.94 — Tozando lists a newly forged katana by Sadanobu at 28,494.94 USD, with yen pricing and customisation fees also shown on the page. The handoff did not verify it as a new listing today, so it is reported as a standing dealer listing, not a launch.
Source: Tozando — Web
SamuraiSwordMan publishes full specs — steel, hardness, and heat treatment — on every blade. If a listing anywhere won't do that, walk away.