What to look for & look out for in a sword?

Riboflavin

Riboflavin

Joined
Apr 6, 2003
Messages
17
I'm looking to add a sword of some sort to my collection of stuff, probably from the next Dixie Gun and Knife Show. I don't know much about swords, I'm know I want something more European than Japanese styled but don't know much about specifics since I'd need to handle one. On price/quality, I'd like to get my hands on something that's not too expensive but that won't fall apart if I try to cut something with it (though it's incredibly unlikely that I'd ever use it to cut anything but a plastic bottle); along the lines of the CRKT knife I recently bought, not one of the really expensive custom deals. So, what good qualities should I be looking for and what should I really look out for? If you know of a place near RTP that stocks them that would be great, I know of several stores that have a wide variety of knives but none that stock swords.
 
1. Stay away from decorative swords. None of the mass marketed swords inspired by popular films are made for using in mind. They are for hanging on walls.

2. Stay away from stainless swords. Stainless swords are made for looking good on a wall. There are a few custom makers using stainless materials, but those are exceptions.

3. Pick it up and check its weight and balance (careful not to stick anyone). Good swords are light and quick.

4. Check if blade thickness tapers. Almost all historical swords are tapered for balance. Swords without this taper isn't necessarily bad, but it's a sign the sword is performance oriented.

5. Check the handle, all the parts should be tight. Remember it's the handle that holds the whole sword together and it's the first thing to develope problems. The pommel in particular should be secured by peen or nut, and not just screwed on to the handle in a decorative manner.

6. Nothing with plastic parts is ever good!

7. Make sure everything is straight, not bent, twisted, or off angle.
 
To add to the already good advice!


If you have oppertunity to Hold teh handle and tip of teh sword and bend the sword. It should flex a bit, dont try to hard, Just a few degrees. It should pop back PERFECTLY straight. This is a sign of a well tempered sword. If you cant bend it with your bare hands (dont be an eejit and slice yourself) then is a crowbar and not a good sword. Here is an extreme example of bending..My Lutel Rapier www.lutel.cz. this blade came back perfect after this bend. Broadswords do not bend nearly as much tho..

bend1.jpg


Hold the sword by the handle with the blade straight up.. Whack it on the Pommell and the sword will vibrate. There should be a section of the blade that doesnt move when teh rest does. This is the Center of Precussion or the sweet-spot. Where people like this to be is subjective to the user. This is the spot that when you hit something you do the most damage while also having the least vibration back to your hands. If the sweet spot is where yoou would envision yourself making most hits with then its a good sword "for YOU". If there is any rattling when doing this then its a dummy and leave it.


Ciaran
www.axeforum.com
 
Riboflavin, a few points, since you asked:

1) Unless you specify that you want it sharp, which may cost extra, most swords in the less expensive ranges will come unsharpened. This does not mean that they will be unwieldy clubs, but it does mean that they will not be suitable for cutting practice without sharpening. Many dealers and makers will sharpen a sword for you, but will charge extra to do so. I speak here of western swords, I don't know about Japanese swords.

2) You should really look around and decide what type of sword interests you before you start shopping for one. There ae, qhite literally, dozens of types of historical Western swords from which you can choose, and this doesn't even address fantasy swords, some of which are so made that they are usable.

3) Do look into the reputatio of any specific sword of interest to you. As an example, Paul Chen has a very good reputation for many of his products, but his Godfred "Damascus" steel, really pattern-welded steel, Viking sword has a reputation for very spotty heat-treating that needs to be checked out before you buy one. He may have cured the problem, I don't know, but I wold certainly want to know before I laid out the bucks for one.

4) One possibility for learning a lot about swords in a limited period of time is to participate in SwordForum.com. They even have a "Beginners Sword Forum" for people to start out with. But they do rigidly require a very polite style of posting, so be prepared.

Good luck and please keep us posted on your progress.
 
FullerH, the problem with your point 2 is that I won't really know what type of sword I'm looking for until I've handled a few; I'm kind of thinking of some flavor of broadsword, but I don't really know whether a real one will feel good in my hand or not. Often I'll be deciding on/shopping for something for months then one day find exactly what I want and buy it on the spot, and I seem to have a good instinct for when I've found what I really want.

Thanks all around for the advice, I'll let you know when/if I get one.
 
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