Katana News — 2026-11-09: Elvish Sword Build Tops Reddit, Yorke Sale Nears Close, and a Forger's Tale
A finished elvish sword build tops r/SWORDS, the Bonhams Yorke sale enters its final two days, and a new Tozando essay tells the story of a smith who forged another master's name.
1. Elvish Sword Project Complete — and It Tops r/SWORDS
A maker shared a video of a completed elvish sword project, the most-engaged sword post of the window, with 1,320 upvotes and 64 comments on r/SWORDS. The video walks through the finished blade, a fantasy build presented as a completed project rather than a work in progress.
Source: r/SWORDS — Reddit
From the shop:
2. Bonhams Yorke Sale Enters Its Final Two Days
Bonhams' online auction Japanese Swords: The Peter Yorke Collection enters its final two days, with bidding closing from 12:00 GMT on November 11, 2026. The 71-lot sale is led by a Soshu-school wakizashi estimated at £15,000–£25,000, alongside a Bizen tanto dated 1558 and a Musashi tanto by Kurihara Kenji Nobuhide dated 1862, each estimated at £10,000–£15,000. Bonhams notes that the "Masamune" signature and 1346 date on the leading blade's tang are later additions, not verified attributions.
Source: Bonhams — Web
3. KOUGEI EXPO Closes Today in Yokohama
The KOUGEI EXPO in Kanagawa reaches its final day today, November 9, closing at 16:00 at Pacifico Yokohama, with free entry. The "Crafts x Touken Ranbu ONLINE" section displays two real swords: a mumei blade attributed to Chogi (Tokubetsu Juyo) and a Sadamune with futatsu-bi, both from the Nitroplus collection. Wooden postcards from the collaboration sell for ¥1,320 each.
Source: KOUGEI EXPO — Web
4. Tozando Tells the Story of a Forger Who Signed Another Smith's Name
Tozando published a new essay today, "The Forger Who Wasn't: Kuwana-uchi and the Strange Legacy of Mishina Hirofusa," about the late-Edo smith Mishina Hirofusa of Kuwana, who forged the signature of the famed Muramasa onto his own blades. Genuine signed works by Hirofusa hold NBTHK Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon papers, while his forged-signature blades lose value despite their fine steel — a case the essay uses to argue for NBTHK appraisal.
Source: Tozando — Web
From the shop:
5. Shadow Dancer 9260 Wakizashi Gets an Honest Review on Instagram
Creator Triafis TheSwordWolf posted a video review of the Shadow Dancer 9260 steel wakizashi from Swordis, bought for Niten Ichi-ryu practice at $210 plus a $30 Hishigami upgrade. He praises the weight, balance and price, but notes a loose saya, a duller edge near the yokote, and stubborn transport foil marks, and says the Hishigami upgrade is worth it. The reel drew 240 likes.
Source: @triafis_theswordwolf — Instagram
6. Auction Katana's Signature Read as "Katsushige"
A buyer who won a katana at auction in another state posted 20 photos on r/Katanas, asking for a date, advice on polishing, and display ideas. Commenter u/fnord_disc read the tang inscription as "Katsushige" (勝重) and advised getting an expert to assess restoration costs first, displaying the bare blade, cleaning it with alcohol, oiling it, and handling it by the tang only. The thread drew 7 upvotes and 4 comments.
Source: r/Katanas — Reddit
7. Peter Johnsson's 2022 Vorpal Sword Showcased
A vorpal sword made by Peter Johnsson in 2022 was showcased on r/SWORDS, drawing 152 upvotes and 11 comments. It is a maker's showcase, not a review or a listing.
Source: r/SWORDS — Reddit
8. Swords From Record of Lodoss War Shared
A fan shared swords from the anime Record of Lodoss War on r/SWORDS, drawing 51 upvotes and 4 comments. It is a fan showcase, not a review or a listing.
Source: r/SWORDS — Reddit
From the shop:
9. Mini Katana Safety Reel Warns Cheap Blades Can Come Loose
A Mini Katana reel from November 7 uses pumpkin cutting to warn that cheap katana blades can come loose: a full-tang blade is held by two bamboo mekugi pins, while the cheap blade shown is held by a single nut that can unscrew after cutting. The reel drew 80 likes.
Source: @minikatanastore — Instagram
10. Nagoya Sword Museum Announces November 17 Special Viewing
The Nagoya Sword Museum will hold a special viewing of a Nihon-go replica — an oversized spear — in natural light on Tuesday, November 17, from 13:00 to 17:00, with carver Yanagimura Munehisa in attendance. The museum's special exhibition "Gorgeous Sword Carvings" begins its second half on November 18.
Source: Nagoya Sword Museum — Web
More Hot Topics Today
Community Hot Threads
Where to buy a good katana or prop — A buyer asks where to buy a real katana or a realistic prop, wary of Etsy deals that turn out to be scams. Commenters suggest Kult of Athena and warn that the cheapest option often means poor service or quality. The thread drew 2 upvotes and 2 comments.
Source: r/Katanas — Reddit
Katana care and validity — An $80 yard-sale three-piece set is identified by commenters as a cheap Chinese replica, likely stainless steel. The advice: no oil or wax is needed, and do not swing it — the handle may come off. The thread drew 5 upvotes and 3 comments.
Source: r/Katanas — Reddit
Any info on this tanto — An antique tanto bought from RVA Katana is posted for identification. The only comment, by u/gabedamien, says the hamon and shape suggest Mino school, broadly, and little more can be said from the photos. The thread drew 13 upvotes and 1 comment.
Source: r/Katanas — Reddit
Currently on the Workbench — A new workbench showcase thread with swords in progress drew 640 upvotes and 21 comments on r/SWORDS. It is a workshop showcase, not a review or a listing.
Source: r/SWORDS — Reddit
A Tale of Two Swords — Two Western swords are posted for identification on r/SWORDS, drawing 81 upvotes and 3 comments. It is an identification request, not a verified attribution.
Source: r/SWORDS — Reddit
BladeForums quiet for katana — The BladeForums Sword Discussion board produced no new katana thread in the last 48 hours. Its most recent katana thread, a question about a T10 katana set and a possible upgrade to a Swordis Shadow Dancer, last received a reply on November 3, 2026.
Source: BladeForums — Web
SBG Sword Forum
Shadow Dancer and Cloudhammer listings cut in price — Seller metinemre posted price-reduction updates on two listings, a Shadow Dancer dragon sword and a Cloudhammer katana and wakizashi, on November 9. No new prices were stated in the updates.
Source: metinemre — Web
Free register for stolen and lost swords — A free register for stolen, lost-in-transit and missing Japanese swords (kantei.eu) was posted on the SBG forum on November 8.
Source: akura — Web
Bloodline custom handachi listed — A Bloodline Custom katana, a Harpy Eagle handachi, was listed on the SBG forum on November 8.
Source: Kris folkerts — Web
Wanted: limited Hanwei Paul Chen katanas — A buyer seeks Hanwei's Momo no Saru, Fuku Riu and Katsumushi katanas plus the 25th anniversary Shinto katana, posted on November 7.
Source: shinshinto — Web
Antique Swords & Japan
Kokugakuin University Museum sword-studies exhibition ends November 15 — The free sword-studies exhibition at Kokugakuin University Museum in Tokyo ends this Sunday, November 15.
Source: Kokugakuin University Museum — Web
Kyoto Honno-ji Treasure Hall "Five Famous Swords" exhibition, second phase — The second phase of the exhibition, covering the Soshu and Mino traditions, runs to February 14, 2027, and includes a signed Kuniyoshi tachi and a signed Masamune tanto.
Source: Honno-ji Treasure Hall — Web
Anime / Game / Film / Cosplay
Buggy joins Fortnite's One Piece wave on November 13 — Epic's official shop calendar puts Buggy in the Fortnite Item Shop on November 13, after Zoro, Sanji and the Chopper Sidekick arrived on November 7. Captain's Days fall on November 1, 8, 12, 15 and 22. Skin prices are unconfirmed.
Source: GameBeacon — Web
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