Aoi-Art

[Jan Pirecki]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has bought a nihonto from Aoi-Art and shipped it to the U.K. in recent years.  

where there any issues with import charges, taxes, paperwork and the sort? Or was it mostly a smooth-ish process? 
 

 I would be grateful for any insights. 
 

Thnx

[Rawa]

Can you even import swords to UK now? I saw some sellers have UK excluded from shipping. 

[Rawa]

I want to redeem myself from previous comment

 

"It is illegal to bring into the UK, sell, hire, lend, give or possess in private the following, unless a legal exemption applies:

swords, with a curved blade over 50 centimetres (with some exceptions, such as antiques and swords made to traditional or methods before 1954)"

 

And more:

Swords with a curved blade of 50cm or more may be imported where the weapon:

• was made before 1954
• was made by traditional methods of making swords by hand
• is only available for the purposes of use in religious ceremonies or for martial arts
• is for use in a historical re-enactments or sporting activity for example a martial arts demonstration for which public liability insurance is held

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/import-controls-on-offensive-weapons

 

Just in case buy with papers. And maybe join some nihonto association.

 

[Jan Pirecki]

Thank you for your advice Rawa,

I agree buying with papers would be ideal. 

[Matsunoki]

I wish you good luck. Most UK carriers will not touch blades/swords. You will have problems with customs who seem to delight in making it very difficult proving the age etc and showing them Japanese papers which they can’t understand might not work. They will most likely apply 20% tax without a second thought and then sit and wait for you to prove otherwise. I have heard of some swords being returned to the overseas sender and I’ve also had that happen to me. I’ve had a sword opened and damaged. 
In the UK everything is being done to make shipping swords as difficult and unpredictable as possible.

There are several posts on this forum discussing this…..have a search around.

Speaking personally, I wouldn’t even dream of trying it now. 

[Rawa]

Aoi Japan would translate nbthk?. Im sure they also give they own estimation. Just NBTHK should be "fresh". And by all means he should join UK based nihonto association. In my country I even got gun permit. Just in case of some antique cane or even shikomizue.

[Bugyotsuji]

Ask Aoi Art if they would be willing, and able, to ship to the UK with confidence.