Display or Play

S

Shiv

Joined
Aug 29, 2005
Messages
32
Howdy all, newbie here ( sharpens his tooth brush on the cement floor to be ready) So take it easy on me ..

I am new to all things swords and knives, i mean ive had a pocket knife on me since i was 9 but never anything that wasnt gathering dust from the local hardware store or hunting store. i wanrt to expand my collection, all 4 of them...I am very interested in Swords both real and display models from movies. I wanted to open this up and see if anyone had any ideas on what to start with for both a movie replica and or a collectors "real" sword, ie one that comes sharp.

What to buy?
What type of metal holds up on these bigger items?
What are the main things or specs i need to look for while browsing swords. abreviations etc?


Currently im saving for 2 pocket knives a fixed blade and also thinking about the Elven Sword from LOTR. So like United Cultrey has them, is that my only choice? Does someone make replicas that can actually cut?

Should I go Display or Play for my first sword?

Thanks in advance)
 
United Cutlery is DISPLAY.
AVOID stainless steel / surgical steel / battle ready and/or tree splitting sharp!
MOST ALL fantasy and movie replicas are not for striking anything. They will break and possibly onjure or kill you or bystanders.
RESEARCH here and elsewhere if you want something 'useable' as it may be in this age and society.
 
It all really comes down to you, your tastes, preferences, and what you actually intend to do with your swords.

If you intend to purchase swords for display, commonly referred to as "wallhangers", due to obvious reasons, then United Cutlery is a well known, and inexspensive brand that manufacture stainless steel swords for display purposes. All movie replica swords, are stainless steel, and are only intended for display purposes. Do not use them to cut at all, as they will break, and it is extremely unsafe to do so.
Some of the United items will say "functional" or "sharp", yet some might infact have an edge, but they are not made for cutting. Other than that, United make good replicas, and ornamental swords, much better than those cheap pieces sold at flea markets.

If you are after a sword that is able to cut, than you will be after one with a blade made from a high-carbon steel, which is sharp and functional, yet these take alot of care and maintenance, as the blades will rust easily if not cared for properly, and they are also exspensive, in comparison to stainless steel swords.

So it's up to you, and if you can be more specific, it will be easier to offer advice. Are you after samurai swords, or movie replicas, or fantasy swords ? If you are simply into Lord of the Rings/fantasy and other movie replicas, then your swords are only meant for display, as are all stainless swords such as katana's (samurai swords) and so forth. Many places sell these types of swords, and if you search around, the descriptions will tell you what these items are made from.

So good luck in finding what you want, and choose what is suited to your needs, and take safety when using swords of any kind. Hope this helps. :)
 
Shiv, there is a Beginners Forum over at SwordForum.com and I recommend it to you very highly, as well as the General Discussion Forum and any other of the forms that catch your attention. Getting involved in sword collecting can be a very expensive and frustrating thing if you get started wrong or it can be great fun and fantastically involving if you get started right. But you do need to decide what it is that you want from the hobby before you start, realizing, of course, that what you want may well change after a bit. But that is part of the fascination and you can always sell what you no longer want when your interests change.
 
FullerH said:
...... Getting involved in sword collecting can be a very expensive and frustrating thing if you get started wrong or it can be great fun and fantastically involving if you get started right. But you do need to decide what it is that you want from the hobby before you start, realizing, of course, that what you want may well change after a bit. .....
Click to expand...

That is good advice.

Shiv;

You've done the right thing by inquiring on the forum as to what item to purchase, as many make the mistake of getting into sword collecting before they are adequately knowledgable on the subject, and therefore are prone to making mistakes in that they purchase products of inferior quality, and so forth.

I suggest to you that you ask around as many places as you can, and hopefully gain some insight from those in the know, and do plenty of reasearch into what types of swords you want, and what personal needs you expect a sword to meet.

There are alot of products out there to choose from , and there are many dealers selling cheap, inexspensive, wallhangers, and then there are those whom sell quality swords and who know their products. These people will be able to help find a sword that suits your needs, and will set you on the right path to an enjoyable future of sword collecting.

As FullerH stated, it can be great fun if you get started on the right track, or it can be an exspensive and frustrating journey if you jump into it too quickly. So the best advice I can offer, is too take your time, and do your research, ask questions, and determine which product suits your needs best.

Some areas to look into, off the top of my head would be;

- genre; - fantasy, samurai, medievil, lotr (lord of the rings)
- steel; - stainless steel (display), high-carbon steel (functional)
- manufacturing; - forged, folded

Do you want a sword for display purposes ? (stainless)
or do you want a functional cutting sword ? (carbon)

Quality functional swords which are made from steel which is high in carbon, also require a fair amount of care, and maintenance, as this steel can rust easily if exposed to certain things such as fingerprints, moisture and so forth. Whilst ornamental swords manufactured from stainless steel require little, to no maintenance whatsoever, so decide if you are willing to dedicate your time to caring for a a high-carbon steel sword, or not.

There is tonnes of information on these subjects on the internet, and several other forums will also be able to assisst you, so take your time and research properly before making your first purchase, as sword collecting is a great hobby, and if you do it right, it is something to be proud of, and it is quite fulfilling. Good luck, and have fun. :D
 
You have to decide also what type of sword you are looking for.Are you interested in Japanese Swords,Civil War Calvary,Rapiers,BroadSwords,etc?
There are some companies that make high carbon steel swords that are "battle worthy" like Windlass made in India, complete garbage.Anything by United Cutlery,fantasy pieces, movie swords,are going to be usually made in Stainless Steel,and are going to be display only.Sword Forum International is a good place to spend alot of time reading up on different subjects.How to properly clean and care for a sword.Depending on the type of sword, the care can be very different.Japanese Swords have to be cared for in a different manner than from a Civil War Saber for instance.You can also get alot of info on how not to fall victim to scams and Fake/falsely represented Swords that you may come upon at places like Ebay.If you do your research and look around you can have a good start into the hobby,for relatively modest price you can find authentic real swords.
 
So far i am leaning towards a Cold Steel Scottish Broad Sword 88SB. Kinda of a middle ground choice, not quite a heirloom but from learning about steel and what not, not a glass sword either. Im not sure i could vanquish a ship of pirates but its damn nice looking and very inexpensive. I have loved that look as well. I decided i wanted something that comes sharp but doest cut up my wallet too bad. I have tons of time because i just blew my spending money on a few knives and lights hehe~ So the quest is far from over=)
 
Shiv said:
So far i am leaning towards a Cold Steel Scottish Broad Sword 88SB. Kinda of a middle ground choice, not quite a heirloom but from learning about steel and what not, not a glass sword either. Im not sure i could vanquish a ship of pirates but its damn nice looking and very inexpensive. I have loved that look as well. I decided i wanted something that comes sharp but doest cut up my wallet too bad. I have tons of time because i just blew my spending money on a few knives and lights hehe~ So the quest is far from over=)
Click to expand...


May I draw your attention to this link:

www.atar.com/

The fine gentleman that operates this website custom makes swords.His name is Dr.Jim Hrisoulas.He has a Doctorate degree in Metallography.He is quite well known and respected Sword maker.He has made swords for several movies and made swords for VIP's.In fact the Toledo Salamanga in "Highlander" was made by this gentleman.He makes them in a traditional fashion by forging.I have been lucky enough to own one of his broadswords.Interestingly,his prices are quite affordable.He can make baskethilts,rapiers.everything but Japanese blades.He makes authentic functional period weapons.I didn't pay all that much more for my sword than what Cold Steel is selling that baskethilt for in their catalog.You can custom make your sword to your liking with lotsa options,and put that money you have saved for the Cold Steel for a good down paymenton one of Jim's creations,and save some money up while you wait the several months as the sword get's made.When it is ready for you, you'll have spent a little more money and will have something very special in your collection in return.
Take Care,Ralph
 
There are a lot of production and custom sword makers out there. I would recommend starting with some production pieces first. A decent entry level company is www.kriscutlery.com . I would recommend staying away from the Cold Steel Western stuff at least. I've heard good things about their katana but a lot of negative stuff about the rest of their lineup. A cs grosse messer once in my possession snapped in half while cutting a pumpkin for example. Dr. Hrisoulas makes nice looking swords (although I think to some degree research and sword design has passed him by in recent years) but he also has extensive wait times. I would recommend trying to purchase from him only if you happen to be at a show where he has items on the table. Also that might be a bit more then you want to spend for your first user sword...
 
I kind of like Kris' Viking sword for the moneIf I did not have a different one already, I would really consider buying one.
 
also a comment about if youre getting a sword designed for use-

if its a katana, look for a forged or folded blade, paul chen swords are a pretty cheap place to start

anything else, make sure its carbon steel... and that it has a real edge, not a cheap 45 degree beveled edge. a functional sword's angle should not change much all the way from the ridge of the blade to the edge
 
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