Swords are popular collectibles, but genuine material is in short supply which is good news if you have got one at home that you are thinking of selling.

According to Mr Ian Whyte of Whyte's in Marlborough Street, Dublin: "It's very hard to get the material. A lot of big country house auctions - you'll see maybe two or three swords in them. And they usually fetch good prices there.

"But when you get them into specialised sales, they'll fetch a lot more."

People starting out to collect swords can pick up a decent regular issue 19th or 20th century military or naval sword for between £100 and £300 (€127-€381).

But if it is a decorative presentation sword, with something special engraved on the blade, "there you can pay big money, £500 up to £10,000, for 18th to 19th century presentation swords", he says.

Irish-made swords are very popular, such as those made by the famous Read & Co in Parliament Street.

Mr Whyte says: "They were the oldest shop in Dublin. They closed down only recently. . . For over 300 years, they were making swords in Dublin."

A broadsword, in the style of the 16th century, at a recent Whyte's auction fetched £300, a little below the estimate of £350 to £400.

"That's because it's a 19th century copy. If that was an original 16th century broadsword, you'd be talking about £2,000 to £3,000. But a good 18th to 19th century will fetch £300 to £400. And it was popular to copy them for decorative purposes," says Mr Whyte.

An attractive late 18th century infantry officer's sword, the type of sword which, according to Mr Whyte, you'll see quite a lot of, with blue and gilt decoration on the blade, went for £240.

The accoutrements to the sword add to the value.

For instance, a late 18th century German court sword with bullion dress knot in its leather scabbard with brass mounts fetched £160, above its £80 to £100 estimate.

An English general staff officer's 1822 pattern sword sold for £120. "You can almost say for nearly every Victorian sword, provided the thing isn't rusted, you're looking at £100 minimum, and probably nearer £150 or £200 if it's nice."

A 20th-century naval warrant officer's sword with its bullion dress knot and leather scabbard with brass mounts went for £190, a little more than its £160 to £180 estimate.

Mr Whyte maintains this is good value considering a new officer's sword would cost about £800 or £900.

A 1935 Japanese officer's sword fetched £400. Japanese swords are as popular outside as in Japan. "I was quite amazed at the number of Irish people who enquired about Japanese swords too. And that's a very recent sword. Now if that was a British sword or an American sword you'd be looking at £100."

A Polish Navy dirk (a short sword, halfway between a dagger and a sword) fetched £150. A 1902 Royal Navy officer's dirk went for £200, above its estimate of £150 to £170.

A German Third Reich Luftwaffe officer's pattern dagger sold for £200.

"On average, you'll pay £200 to £300 for Nazi stuff," Mr Whyte says.

Mr Stuart Cole of James Adams in Dublin says Irish presentation swords are rare.

However, Adams's recent auction of the William Kearney collection had at least 10 or 11 such swords.

"They were very interesting because they were by Irish makers and they were really showing off the craft of Irish sword making at its height [late 18th century], when there was the money around to pay for it.

They made up to about £8,000. The mean price would have been about £2,500 or £3,000."