For those Dopers who collect swords, I have a few questions.
First, how to do you tell if you’re getting a good sword, or for that matter, a realistic one? I suspect modern replicas of old swords are probably built better the original due to better smithing.
Are the sword that are found in cataloges considered good quality or cheap look-a-likes to satisfy tourists? If so, where does one get the real kind? Hypotheically, could such swords be used in combat or combat training?
I’ve been thinking of making a brief foray into this, but it’s hard to find good information.
That’s probably not a good assumption to make. Modern replicas (unless they’re specifically made for re-enactment battles and duels) are generally made for looks, not use. Poor alloys, lousy joinings, weak construction…while smithing has improved in the time since swords were in general use, that doesn’t mean that they’re making the replicas the same way they used to make the real thing, just with better materials, etc. Frankly, most replica manufacturers wouldn’t expect their customers to actually intend to USE the swords…they’re mostly for hanging on walls nowadays.
www.sabersmith.com has combat ready swords guaranteed for life. The fantasy or replica swords you see are just decorations. You need to find a company who actual makes “battle ready” or “functional” swords. Hit up google with those terms to get a buttload of smithies.
This is horribly bad advise. You should be ashamed of yourself.
You of course test the mettle of the metal of a sword by ringing it off an anvil.
Seriously HPL, there were usually a few good Sword Smiths at PennFair each year. It would probably be a great idea to contact your local chapter of the SCA and see who they recommend in the area.
These two companies are widely considered the best production ( or semi-production, since they’re finished by hand ) sword makers today. Next step up in quality from here would be 100% custom: http://www.albion-swords.com/
I second Albion Armorers. Top quality replicas by people who cator not just to the collectors, but more importantly, to the historical martial artists out there. That’s important, because we are a picky bunch and nothing short of incredible performance (and usually historical accuracy) will satisfy us.
Most swords out there come in one of four varieties.
The wall-hanger. This is sometimes also sneeringly refered to as a SLO (sword like object). These are typically gaudy, ugly pieces that usually have no historical accuracy at all: not in their blade geometry or the style of the mountings, nor in their construction. Most are made of stainless steel and are so poorly constructed that swinging it around is likely to send the blade flying as the the rat-tail tang snaps from the stress. Dangerous unless it stays on the wall. It is also, ofcourse, extremely heavy and unbalanced. Purely for decoration. Most fantasy and movie swords fall into this category.
Stage combat/re-enactment swords. These can vary in quality, historical accuracy, and visual appeal depending on the maker, but for the most part they are only useful to actors and re-enactors. They tend to be heavy, unbalanced, unsharpened, and historically inaccurate, but man can they take a beating. They’re essentially large metal crowbars. You can use these suckers to bash in metal barrels to your heart’s content. Some fantasy and some movie swords fall into this category.
Steel blunts meant for HEMA. These too vary in quality and historical accuracy based on maker, but they are made with the historical martial artists in mind. Makers of these blades know that we’re picky, and that we put these swords through their paces. They are blunt, usually a little heavier than a true sharpened replica (can’t help that really). But in most cases care is given to retain historically accurate performance and handling with some added toughness for steel on steel play. Using these weapons for stage combat/re-enactment or inaccurate play fighting will likely damage them.
The modern replica. This is a historically accurate piece in all or most ways. Some are made in a traditional way, some are made in a more modern way, but regardless special care is made to retain historically accurate design and performance. Things such as correct fullers/risers, proper distal and profile tapering, proper tang construction, are all taken into account. For all intents and purposes these swords are expected to function as historical pieces did. Of course no a days we can only do flourishes with them, as well as test cutting on various materials. Im proper use of these weapons (such as trying to cut trees - I’ve seen it done ) WILL damage them. Most of these pieces are either based on a particular historical sword in a museum somewhere, or are based on functional properties of historicla weapons. Some, are more fantasticla in design, but retain most aspects of hsitorical functionality.
My cheif interesting is getting a realistic Roman short sword, which appeals to me much more the pretty much anything else I’ve seen. Does the SCA do Roman-era stuff?
Roman era swords are not my area of interest, but here are some things to keep in mind:
Do your homework. Go to the librabry and do some research on Roman era swords. Learn the differences between a Gladius Hispaniensis (early and late period) and a Pompeii type sword. What materials where historical pieces made from? Does it matter to you? Certainly most roman weapons were iron, in some cases case hardened, but they certainly weren’t using the same type of steel medieval smiths were using.
Make sure the construction is either very historically accurate, or retains a certain amount of historical accuracy, at least enough to retain the performance that you want.
http://angustrimdirect.com/index.html (You may want to inquire of Mr Gus to see if he could build a custom piece for you. Price varies, but you might be able to agree to a price within your particular range, wouldn’t hurt to ask).
I believe all those have roman swords in their catalogues.
) WILL damage them. Most of these pieces are either based on a particular historical sword in a museum somewhere, or are based on functional properties of historicla weapons. Some, are more fantasticla in design, but retain most aspects of hsitorical functionality.