Business & Tech
CityTypes: The Sword Collector
After obtaining his first sword at 10 years old--an Italian slicer from WWI--John Bell said he was destined to be an ancient weaponry merchant.
For over 40 years, John Bell has been buying and selling priceless works of weaponry from all over the world. Beginning at 10 years old, he was given a sword by his neighbors--an old Italian slicer from World War I. After ditching a scholastic stint in chiropractic medicine, Bell said he made his first real deal.
"I bought a collection from an importer that brought a bunch of stuff in from Afghanistan and wasn't able to sell it. I said–'Gee, I could sell it and that really catalyzed everything."
From that, the Collector's Armoury was born (1974). According to Bell, the sword's country of origin is the most expensive place to purchase weaponry. His strategy: "I'm buying stuff that has been here in America 40 or 50 years for the most part. Occasionally, I'll buy a collection that has been sitting since 1900."
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