I am just about to order my first sword, the Roman Riding Sword from Patrick Barta in the Czech Republic. Please look at his site at http://templ.oceany.cz/eng_z_ran-stred.htm which should show it on the top of the page. He is also involved with the group that SwordForum is now representing in this country, so that gives me a feeling of some security that I am not dealing with a fly-by-night outfit. His listed price is $260, but it comes to $360 with shipping to the States, half down with the order. The price includes a very nice looking scabbard, which he doesn't show on his site, but which he has in the full picture that he sent to me.
After some thinking about why this sword so appeals to me, I have concluded that this is what I would imagine Excalibur would have looked like, a sort of cross between a Late Roman Spatha and a Germanic Migration Era sword.
In any case, let me know what you all think.
After some thinking about why this sword so appeals to me, I have concluded that this is what I would imagine Excalibur would have looked like, a sort of cross between a Late Roman Spatha and a Germanic Migration Era sword.
In any case, let me know what you all think.