Katana News — 2026-11-12: Yorke Results Smash Estimates, a WWII Bring-Back Tops Reddit, and a Viral LED Katana
The Bonhams Yorke sale closed with its leading wakizashi selling for more than three times its high estimate, a World War II bring-back signed Tadahiro became the week's most-upvoted sword post on Reddit, and a mist-blowing LED anime katana drew 40,000 likes on Facebook.
1. Bonhams Yorke Sale Smashes Estimates
Bonhams has published realized prices for Japanese Swords: The Peter Yorke Collection, which closed on November 11. The leading lot, a 15th/16th-century Soshu-school wakizashi catalogued under the Masamune lineage, sold for £83,700 against a £15,000–£25,000 estimate. A Bizen tanto dated 1558 reached £56,820, and a Musashi tanto by Kurihara Kenji Nobuhide dated 1862 made £31,200. Prices on the sale page cover 32 of the 71 lots, and the page does not state whether they include buyer's premium.
Source: Bonhams — Web
From the shop:
2. WWII Bring-Back Signed Tadahiro Tops r/SWORDS
A Reddit user shared photos of the sword his grandfather brought back from World War II, signed Tadahiro, and the post drew 738 upvotes and 32 comments on r/SWORDS, making it the most-upvoted sword post of the day on the board. The thread is a show-and-tell post with no sale attached.
Source: r/SWORDS — Reddit
3. LED Anime Katana That Blows Mist Draws 40,000 Likes
A Facebook reel from Neon Ronin shows a Demon Slayer-style LED katana on a display stand lighting up in blue and red-orange while releasing a thick white mist over the blade. The reel drew 40,000 likes and 260 comments, with viewers debating whether the footage was AI-generated; the brand replied that it is a real product, a scent diffuser and humidifier with LEDs.
Source: Neon Ronin — Facebook
From the shop:
4. Tozando Closes "The Named Swords of Japan" Series
Tozando published the finale of its named-swords blog series today, "The Named Swords of Japan, Part 3: Spirits and Omens," on the legends and omens behind famous named blades. It follows Part 2, published November 10, and a November 11 essay on Miyamoto Musashi and the blades he left behind.
Source: Tozando — Web
5. Hanbon Forge Bleach Swords Land at Kult of Athena
Kult of Athena lists two new Hanbon Forge replicas of Ichigo Kurosaki's sword from Bleach, marked NEW: Sword (I) and Sword (II), each at $165.99. They sit at the top of the retailer's katana listings, sorted by newest.
Source: Kult of Athena — Web
6. One Year of Tameshigiri: How Much Has Technique Improved?
A video post on r/SWORDS looks back on a year of test-cutting practice, with the poster asking how much their tameshigiri technique has improved over twelve months. The post drew 47 upvotes and 21 comments.
Source: r/SWORDS — Reddit
7. Sword Polisher Restores a Yoshikazu Tachi
Sword polisher David Hofhine of Kensei LLC shared a seven-slide carousel documenting the restoration of a Yoshikazu tachi, with before-and-after photos showing the blade's polished hamon. The post drew 180 likes.
Source: Sword Polisher Togishi (David Hofhine) — Facebook
From the shop:
8. Eight Tatami Mats, One Cut: Tameshigiri Montage Hits 650 Likes
A Facebook reel from Monde-katana opens with a practitioner slicing cleanly through eight stacked tatami mats, then explains that the feat relies on technique rather than strength. The instructional montage drew 650 likes.
Source: Monde-katana — Facebook
9. "Strongest DMC Katana" Unboxed on Instagram
Creator Miniwarrior unboxed a Devil May Cry-inspired katana presented as the "Strongest DMC Katana," showing its white tsuka wrap in a black diamond pattern, dark blue sageo cord, and ornate fittings. The reel drew 170 likes.
Source: @miniwarrior — Instagram
10. Edo-Period Tanto Listed at 350 CAD on SBG
A for-sale thread on the SBG Sword Forum offers an Edo-period tanto nihonto at 350 Canadian dollars. The thread, posted November 12, has 3 replies and 213 views.
Source: SBG Sword Forum — Web
More Hot Topics Today
Need help identifying sword — A poster shared eight photos of a blade with wooden scabbard and handle parts laid out on a sheet, asking for help identifying it. The thread drew 32 upvotes and 5 comments.
Source: r/Katanas — Reddit
How can I fix a loose fitting scabbard? — A buyer says a sword bought on Temu developed a loose scabbard within a short time and asks how to fix it. The thread drew 3 upvotes and 3 comments.
Source: r/Katanas — Reddit
Just bought my first antique in shirasaya — A first-time buyer shows the antique blade they just bought, kept in plain wooden shirasaya mounts. The post drew 27 upvotes and 7 comments.
Source: r/SWORDS — Reddit
Anyone tell me anything about this sword? Best offers are being entertained — A poster asks for information on a blade and says offers are welcome; the post is marked Selling and is a cross-post of an October 22 r/SWORDS thread. It drew 14 comments.
Source: r/Katanas — Reddit
BladeForums quiet for katana — The BladeForums Sword Discussion board has had no new katana activity since November 3. Its most recent katana thread, a question about a Swordis Shadow Dancer as a Christmas gift, last received a reply on November 3, 2026.
Source: BladeForums — Web
Swordis lists Shadow Dancer Sakura Higo O-Kissaki at $550 — A cherry-blossom themed Shadow Dancer katana with a large kissaki is newly listed at the top of the Swordis homepage. The shop also lists a Shadow Dancer 1095 Kiriha-Zukuri straight katana with gunome hamon as ready to ship at $1,000, down from $1,676.
Source: Swordis — Web
Hanbon Forge new arrivals — The Hanbon Forge homepage NEW ARRIVALS section lists six pieces, including the Karakusa Floral Scroll Katana in 1060 steel with a red silk wrap at $399.00 and the Akane Ume Katana in T10 with a real choji hamon and cherry blossom saya at $490.00.
Source: Hanbon Forge — Web
RVA Katana new arrivals — The new-arrivals page lists Phoenix Armory Stormweave Series katanas in harvest and golden mokume damascus at $600.00 each, Ghost of Yotei and Ghost of Tsushima themed katanas at $175.00–$200.00, and antique nihonto priced from $1,150 to $12,975.
Source: RVA Katana — Web
Dai Token Ichi fair set for November 21–22 — The 2026 Dai Token Ichi fair runs November 21–22 at the Tokyo Art Club. The Kokugakuin University Museum sword study exhibition ends this Sunday, November 15, with free admission.
Source: Gallery Youyou — Web
Reliks lists Hadhafang as coming soon — Reliks newly lists Hadhafang, Arwen's sword from The Lord of the Rings, as coming soon at 498.99 CAD. The page also lists a Duncan Idaho short sword from Dune at 141.99 CAD and Aerondight from The Witcher at 627.00 CAD as coming soon.
Source: Reliks — Web
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