Quality sword under $200

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VolundoftheForge

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Jan 3, 2012
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My girlfriend wants to buy me something nice, and with lack of anything else I want I'm trying to convince her to buy me a sword. ;) Any suggestions? All styles are welcomed, I just want something that will hold up and function as it was intended. Preferably peened or integral but any sturdy option is acceptable.
 
Hanwei and Kris both have good options in that price range. I'm not sure you're going to find a "quality" sword by some people's standards, but you can get something sturdy that can do an okay job cutting.
 
VolundoftheForge said:
My girlfriend wants to buy me something nice, and with lack of anything else I want I'm trying to convince her to buy me a sword. ;) Any suggestions? All styles are welcomed, I just want something that will hold up and function as it was intended. Preferably peened or integral but any sturdy option is acceptable.
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How about a "short" sword? There are plenty of very nice machete-sized knives in that price range. Check out the Condor and Becker and go from there.

http://www.condortk.com/productsdetail.php?prodid=85
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n2s
 
Darksword caters to re-enactors, stage and rennies. If that suits your criteria, they may not be a bad choice. However, they are not terribly useful using swords and more anachronistic than any other manufacturer at that price.

Windlass and Hanwei are better bets for medieval type swords but with Hanwei, avoid the cheaper line (unless you like the looks)

What are you going to do with it? That may seem a bit curt but if you have no idea what you really want, and can't express a more specific want; these threads kind of turn into twenty questions.

Del Tin is another option but will start a bit higher. Browse Kult of Athena in the medieval swords section.

I want to be clear about my own distaste for Darksword and my negative outlook revolves around the owner's practices, sales pitches and less than open dialogue about the manufacturing process. Aside from that, once you look at historic swords for awhile, you will see what I define Darksword swords as anachronistic. One simple truth is that the sharpening option sucks and this is absurd if the company's "forge" is actually based where they are sold. The Sharpening is regarded by buyers as horrible and there is no excuse for that at the selling end.

Check into www.myarmoury.com and read the articles and features section, along with browsing the galleries there along with reviews. Spend more time than you might think to getting that first sword.

Check out the Sword Buyer's Guide boards as well.

Cheers

GC
 
Maybe something from the Hanwei/Tinker line would do the trick.
 
Well, I want something useable but not just something for wacking around. It needs to have a good weight distribution, sturdy to take on abuse on soft targets, etc. I don't plan on chopping trees with it, but I don't want something that can't handle what swords were originally designed to do basically. Also preferably one handed. I like sabres, but on KoA the majority are nut or threaded designs which kind of worry me. Also I have no clue what to look for in a cavalry sabre or ancient designs for that matter.
 
If you like sabers then Cold Steel or Military Heritage are the best present sources (though still not up to the calibre of originals, of course)
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
If you like sabers then Cold Steel or Military Heritage are the best present sources (though still not up to the calibre of originals, of course)
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Skip Military Heritage unless you are willing to sharpen and can actually reach them. There are other sources and for all intents and pruposes, the Cold Steel sabers are better (and sharp). There are a couple of other people aside from MH that sell the Weapon Edge swords and you might note that some weapon edge catalogs show items identical to the Cold Steel.

I say let someone figure out what they actually want first and then do some serious reading. I don't know if it is their first sword but it kind of seems so. Honestly, for a nice one handed old style sword I would point to say something like the Hanwei Cawood or Irish vikings. In the right price range, handy. Peened. Will take getting used to just like anything. I am not really into shopping for someone elses preferences anyway ;)

Cheers

GC
 
BTW, that Starr 1812 I linked to is massive in comparison to the typical American Civil War sword and even heftier than the ubiquitous and "legendary" 1796 light cavalry.

Again, I think many would be shocked at how slim the tangs are on early modern sabres.

Cheers

GC
 
Thanks guys. I was under the impression that good sabres were all peened. To know Cold Steel makes some decent ones is good to know. I would like a swedish styled viking sword but the only option is quite poor from Windlass.
 
More, just for grins and giggles (by the way, did you look up the Cawood sword?) hre are three modern threaded tangs. Ironically, or not, the widest blade has the narrowest tang and the narrowest blade the widest tang. All three swords have been through the mill of some pretty serious abuse. The Oscar actually used to pound on armor strapped to a side of beef (honest injun). The Del Tin I use around the yard and was actually limbing small branches from a fallen tree last year. The Windlass has had an enormous amount of use and granted a thicker thread but the construction is the least of its issues.

TangTable.jpg


If that's not enough ear tweaking, consider the big falchion next to them on the left is threaded as well. Also the two Angus Trim and two Arms&Armor swords further back on that table. The Patton 1913 sword on the other side is Windlass and as full a tang as you can find. I think they retail for about $169 these days.

Happy hunting

GC
 
horseclover said:
More, just for grins and giggles (by the way, did you look up the Cawood sword?) hre are three modern threaded tangs. Ironically, or not, the widest blade has the narrowest tang and the narrowest blade the widest tang. All three swords have been through the mill of some pretty serious abuse. The Oscar actually used to pound on armor strapped to a side of beef (honest injun). The Del Tin I use around the yard and was actually limbing small branches from a fallen tree last year. The Windlass has had an enormous amount of use and granted a thicker thread but the construction is the least of its issues.

TangTable.jpg


If that's not enough ear tweaking, consider the big falchion next to them on the left is threaded as well. Also the two Angus Trim and two Arms&Armor swords further back on that table. The Patton 1913 sword on the other side is Windlass and as full a tang as you can find. I think they retail for about $169 these days.

Happy hunting

GC
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Nice collection. Would you go Cold Steel, Hanwei, or windlass for a sabre?
 
Nice collection. Would you go Cold Steel, Hanwei, or windlass for a sabre?
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Which type? At some point you need to list what you have already considered to be in the running. It is impossible fo me to make the recommendations based on your own preferences (actually a lack of specifics). In general, I place them all at a par value based on price. In the end, it will still be your choice, not mine.

That table shown is the tip of an iceberg and the photo from 2005. Look at the cavalry sword thread just below this one.

Cheers

GC
 
If I had to get specific, I'd want an infantry model I'm assuming. Something I could carry on hip. Given I never plan to use it save for fun targets, but knowing I COULD is a lot of the fun. I prefer something light and fast, but still capable of devastating thrusts and slices. I was looking at the "light" saber my CS, but apparently even that is extremely tip heavy. Honestly I'm really open to any style sword that is durable, on the lighter side but not lacking in performance. Something you could keep going with and wouldn't tire you out. Also if we're talking medieval or earlier, I'd prefer probably a shorter blade, still lighter and fast like above. The word "graceful" comes to mind.
 
Please don't take offense but what is your age?

What do you consider devastating and what historical precedents have you found that match your expectations?

Have you looked at the entire inventory of sabres from the vendors you mention? Made a list of "likes"? Done any real research aside from this thread?

I am at my twenty question limit, so am likely to be of little use at this point.

Cheers

GC
 
I've pretty much looked through all of KoA and haven't found anything that I've found to be what I want. Guess it's back to looking up reviews. Thanks.
 
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