Hey I am a fencer as well with the SCA. WHen people ask me about my hobbies and I mention fencing they say “Cool swordfighting” I get to looking all shifty eyed and reply" um… no, but I got a great deal on a TV for you."
I should just let you wonder…or make mysterious remarks about how difficult it was having to clean up afterwards.
Or maybe I’ll just ruin the image of me you’re building up by telling the truth. When we had moved into the apartment the previous occupant (a friend of the owner) had built up the floor of one room and installed a floor-level waterbed. Since this was shortly after we were married, it seemed very romantic at first, but after a while it lost it’s allure (and since it was only twin-sized it was a little small for the two of us anyway) and we went back to sleeping in a real bed. This left us with a useless room, so we got the owner’s permission to disassemble the waterbed and dispose of it. We managed to mostly drain the mattress by siphoning the water out of it with a hose, then we dragged it to the bathroom and dumped it in the bathtub. I then took out my handy sheath knife and cut it into pieces small enough to fit into trash bags. When I was done, I just left the knife on the toilet tank, and it was still there a few days later when the incident referred to in my post occurred.
Oh, and I have a full beard, so the closest I get to shaving is trimming the edges every so often. That’s a little tricky with a straight razor, so I usually just use a disposable.
Woman who likes swords checking in. I have a sword. I like my sword. It’s pretty, and it’s good for trimming hedges. I just got a large collection of Henckels knives for wedding presents, too, including a big cleaver. I’m very happy.
Hello, and make that another woman with swords.
I like 'em for the simplicity and craftmanship, and I like history also.
(I’m also partial to axes!)
Well, in that case, I’d perfer a chainsaw(perferably attached to my arm stump) and a couple cans of gas
Just as a warning
Watch out for that celing fan.
Personal experience perhaps?? 
Those who dismiss a sword as simply a phallic symbol or a compensatory tool are missing a great deal. They only see a sword’s shape, not its function. They may imagine a sword’s effects on human flesh independent of its symbolism and its discipline.
My name is Maeglin and I love swords. I don’t have any art pieces anymore, I just keep the weapons I train with. I am a classical fencer, and the study of the sword is one of the most important aspects of my life. I study foil, sabre, and most especially rapier.
The study of the sword is one of the surest paths to self-knowledge. After hours and then years of drilling, bouting, and fighting, a swordsman knows what he is capable of. He knows how he reacts under pressure, he knows what his physical limits are, and most of all, he knows how to discipline his mind and focus his energy. The sword is a symbol of this focus and discipline, for with training, it becomes an extension of my will.
Like others have said, the sword is barely contained violence. But unlike other kinds of weapons, the sword is violence conjoined with art. There are few more beautiful things than to watch an artist deliver a technique at the correct time, in the correct distance, and with harmonious economy of motion. It is a dance, to be sure, but it contains the function that dancing lacks. Swordsmanship is artistry not just because it is beautiful to watch, but because it works. A simple rapier attack by imborcatta in stesso tempo is as magnificent to apprehend as any sophisticated dance technique.
The sword is the symbol of a certain way of life. It represents awesome power and responsibility. With a sword and the skill that its use demands, a swordsman has the power to protect or to oppress. How he uses his skills is entirely up to him. The sword is the ability to compel the world to reflect one’s own inner vision. A sword represents independence and danger: with it one assumes absolute responsibility for one’s life and well-being. There is no lying with the sword, there is no faking. With it you can achieve fantastic exploits, but the risk is, of course, very great.
It is a symbol of brotherhood. Swordsmen around the world know what kind of skill and discipline is required of them. This facilitates easy friendship with other fencers and the peaceful exchange of knowledge and technique worldwide.
My rapier’s lines are clean, the curve of it’s cup hilt is perfect, and its blade is strong. It is power, grace, responsibility, and discipline all rolled into two pounds of carefully forged steel. It is my communion with hundreds of years of western swordsmen, it is the key to my self-knowledge, and it is the linchpin of my physical and mental discipline. It is beautiful.
I like swords so much it disturbs even my male friends. I just find them to be excessively aesthetically pleasing.
I own a couple now. Someday I will own more. After all, one never knows when one will be challenged to a duel, or accosted by outlaws on the high roads. Or you know, need to put holes in your drywall…
That should be imbrocatta, not imborcatta. Just in case there are other fencers on the boards…
Meaglin, Thanks, what an impressive post. I often wish I could write like that. I’ll just print that and show my wife to illustrate best what I am unable to express without grunting and waving my arms in an Italian way.
Od’s Blood! I’ve won and lost many a fight with the evil ceiling fans, considered it part of my training. Always a fierce challenge when their 4 blades are pitted against my 1, zounds!. My 13 year old son has also kept up the family tradition. Especially when he watches Errol Flynn’s “Robin Hood” and I’m not there to stop him. Ahhh, youth.
I found a wonderful blend of art and functionality with Angel Sword. They have amazing blades for all types, from high fantasy fans who want the sword [Lord Soth](http://www.angelsword.com/Angel Sword Assets/angelsword_gallery_pastwork.html) may have carried in the fantasy world of Krynn to blades in which the secrets of ancient Damascus [live again](http://www.angelsword.com/Avatar Assets/avatar_gallery1.html) as well as a wide range of more affordable works in The Bright Knight line.
For sword fanatics, there are statistics on each sword for sale including the degrees the sword has been bent through and still return to true. I’ve seen a good many of these blades in person, I even own one and I can vouch for their amazing flexibility and the fact that they return to true afterwards. Imagine bending a 15-inch long dagger blade through 30° and still having it return to true! That’s an astounding amount of flex for such a short blade. The master smith of the shop prides himself on making art swords that would stand up in real combat. From what I’ve seen of his work, and my experience with my own blade from his forge, I’m pretty impressed.
Enjoy,
Steven
Thank you for your kind remarks, BMalion. I happen to be blessed with a SO who enjoys a bit of melee herself, though sadly she refuses to play with me. 
Angel Swords are nice pieces, definitely, but as I recall, they are also very, very expensive. I haven’t handled one in several years, and no one I know has wanted to play with one of their Angel weapons just because they cost so much.
My epee was in the range of $500 and it’s from the Bright Knight line. I don’t think I’d actually USE a blade from the Angel Sword line (or heaven forbid one of the Damascus Avatars). I’m perfectly happy to use my epee though I don’t get much chance to. Maybe I’m wierd, but I take the attitude that it’s high-quality steel, it should be able to handle some use without being damaged to the point of worthlessness.
Enjoy,
Steven
OTOH I’m not far from the forge and I can go to their shows and see items that aren’t featured online. They have hundreds of blades of all kinds of price ranges(although they seem to start ~300 even for a stilleto**) which are not available online. They actually do have blades suitable for fencing under the 1000 dollar mark, but someone who only deals with thier website might not be able to see/purchase them.
I think Angel Sword’s real appeal to me is that the blades, even most of the art pieces, are intended to be fully functional weapons.(although I did see a scimitar with a marble handle that I probably wouldn’t want in a fight) All the blades I’ve seen and handled at their shows are remarkably well balanced and lightweight enough to actually use. Check the weights listed for some of their blades.
My wife bought a show blade, a blade like professional stuntmen who do the fights at renaissance festivals use. It’s not sharp and it’s molded, not hammered. It’s essentially a steel bar with a hilt and crosspiece welded to it. Fine for costume use, but it’s stupidly heavy and poorly balanced. The maker said it would tear through an Angel Sword and dismissed my blade as an “art piece that wouldn’t stand up in real combat”. I haven’t tested her broadsword against an Angel Sword, but I’d be very surprised if his claims were true. If so it’s probably because his swords are very little more than thin clubs. I have absolutely no doubt which is more lethal.
Enjoy,
Steven
Well the amount of swords thread on the SDMB sure jumped in the last week…
I’m a collector. It all started when I was about 12 and went to a neighbours house and saw swords up on the wall. He was in the Air Force and they were gifts. My instant thought was, “People can have swords?” And by the end of the year I had two. I don’t even know what my collections at now. As last count 17 or so. I also have a large collection of knives, probably 30 or more by now. Also axes and bows are all over the place.
I see a sort of majesty in them. They represent a time before life got complicated. A time of green meadows and quests. I dream of a time where you could just walk out with a sword on your back and a tent in your bag and wander around. You could come across towns and people. You wouldn’t be bound by what time your favorite show is on or home owner taxes. You find what your going to eat, skin it yourself so you don’t have to worry about what chemicals are thrown in. Swords represent a simpler more magically time for me. Thats why I like them.
On a side note, they’re also useful for keeping the ATF outa your face.
Seriously, it’s too bad more of us are not local to each other… an SD fencing group or Kenjitsu group would be a load and a half of fun.
I’m sorry to spoil the romance (and my roleplay character uses one), but times were not that simple back then.
How would you find your own food? (swords aren’t good for hunting)
How long would you spend building fires to cook? (3 times a day)
Where would you sleep? (your tent isn’t made of lightweight waterproof chemicals!)
What would happen if you got sick, robbed or had an accident? (no police or health system)
[de-lurk] Um, I’ve got a pretty wicked set of Cooking knives, 'zat count?
Having gone to a renaissance festival or four, I’ve seen plenty of ‘impressive looking’ swords and cutlery, but have thusfar avoided temptation. It all goes back to a rather traumatic time in my childhood where we were provisioning for a camping trip and I saw a Rambo survival knife for, golly, $7!
At least the fish hooks were sharp. 
I got quite a bit of ribbing from the older folks. Ah well, it builds character I guess.
Watching a show in the Discovery channel on one-on-one combat (I think it was the Top Ten Martial Arts or some such thing) They had a segment on, ah I forget. But to the uneducated viewer, it pretty much just looked like boys beating on each other with bamboo sticks. :rolleyes:
I’ll stick with kitchen utensels. (Except that I got a Food Processor for Xmas. Mis En Plas is a wonderful thing now.)
I too have a Galdius – a Roman short sword. Always wanted one even though it is probably rather boring and short compared to other types of swords.
When people see it and find it it is real, they have all thought it was stupid and juvenile for me to have – including my wife.
Fine, screw you all!!! 
Now, what I really want is a large Roman shield to go with it!!!