What to do with two swords found underneath someone's house?

Question

My dad works at other people's homes as a domestic handyman: fixing pipes, water tank maintenance, electrical work and the lot.

One day, he was working underneath an owner's house (the house looked really old, probably 1950's old) when he found something very strange. He came out holding two rusty swords with half-torn scabbards. They look centuries old, as if it was back in the medieval days. Thankfully it's not sharpened.

My dad said that it looked pretty valuable yet useless, and the owner had no idea they were there in the first place. I was just really suspicious. We're talking REAL swords.

This is the issue. What do we do with them? We can't just let them sit there. We need a license to keep swords, to add to the confusion. I'm really not comfortable about selling them, since there are more than just legal issues that come in with that. Any ideas? It'll be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Give them to the current owner.

Answer 2

In all probability, if they're not sharp, they're probably decretive swords. If the handles look like brass and the scabbards are covered in what looks like velour, then they're for sure decretive. In the 40's right up to the 70's these swords were imported from India and Pakistan by the thousands. A sword that is authentic will hold it's sharpened edge for years. especially in a dry place like under a house. Take a good look at then and if they say a country of origin then they're fakes. Either way, You won't need a license for them. You can buy swords at most shopping malls and flea markets. The only time you'll run into trouble is if you're walking down the street with it. Even then, it's not illegal, unless you try to conceal it. My advise? stand them up in a corner and use them for a conversation piece.

Answer 3

First of all they don't belong to you. What does the house owner know about them? Why are you fussing about something that isn't yours. If the owner doesn't know where they came from and wants to give them to you ok. Otherwise it doesn't look to me like it is your business.

Answer 4

Take them to a scrap metal yard for the cash- or take them to a pawn shop for an appraisal or throw them up on ebay and sell them- some people pay serious money for stuff like that!

Answer 5

Maybe someone was hiding murder weapons??