Fictional or historic swords and inspiration.

[Robert Marotz]

Hey...here's a question for all you folks out there...

The sword is a weapon that humans have a sort of fascination or romance with. Either from a historical perspective (which I view them in) or in a fictional or fantasy role like Excalibur, Glamdring, et cetera.

In your own opinion, what stimulates your fascination with swords? Is it because of their significance historically, the aura surrounding them and their glorification throughout fiction, or just "cuz they're cool"?

This expands beyond swords too, medieval weaponry of basically any culture could be included.

Shinryû.

 

[e_utopia]

Well, I appreciate the history, but I do also like to see when things can possibly be improved-upon. Not that all modern changes to swords are actually improvements, but some are, in a perfomrance sense, at least. When I can actually afford it, I will most likely have swords both of historical accuracy, and of modern creation. All of them quality, however, as I have no interest in junk which is only useful for hanging on the wall, and would fall apart if you looked at it sideways. I know, swords are impractical nowadays, but they shaped the world we know today, so I feel that they should still exist as more than relics.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com

 

[FullerH]

The history involved is what gets me hooked. Were I to buy one, it would have to be an accurate reproduction and it would have to be a working piece, not a wall-hanger. I would not plan on using it, but I would not want something that could not be used for its historical purpose. If I were to become interested in a legendary sword, say Excalibur, it would have to fit within the historical context of sub-Roman Britain, so it would likely be some form of a spatha, very well made and highly decorated, not the High Madieval excresences that you see advertised as Excalibur.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller

 

[tallwingedgoat]

There is a nice quote on SwordForum Magazine:


Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for the fight.
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight,
Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower:
Raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power."

- Ancient 8th Century Irish Hymn


The sword is a symbol of a simple, decisive, bold solution to a complex problem. Take for example the sword in the stone, Gordian's knot, or Siegfried and the dragon.

In mythology, the archetypical hero is always confounded by an unsurmountable challenge until he or she is presented with a key or "magic wand" to begin the adventure. This key is almost always a sword. Its magic is in that it can make the weak strong, the brave heroic. In doing so we have made the sword into a talisman capable of effecting supernatural change. Think of Luke Skywalker when Obi-Wan presented him with his father's light saber. From the moment this key is handed to him, life becomes bigger-than-life.

Therefore, the romance of the sword is not a a new fancy of this generation, but it has been a constant object of desire throughout the ages. The sword is intwined with the growing pains of youths across culture and time. Deep down, we're all trying to get out of dreary old Tattoine.