     |
WARNING!
|
|
BASIC SWORD ORIENTATION 101 Before we get started in earnest, you might like to take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the basic types of swords that exist (such as Asian swords, Longswords, Scimitars, etc) or perhaps take a quick tour of the 'anatomy' of a sword and the most commonly used to describe it in my quick and easy guide to basic sword terminology.
|
So without any further ado, let's get started!
|
|
I think there are two main reasons why its better to buy a REAL sword than a purely ornamental "sword-like object" (SLO).
Firstly, lets face it, it's a whole lot cooler to hang an authentic sword on the wall than a cheap, lightweight wallhanger that for all its functionality, might as well be made from plastic…
And the second reason?
Well, let's be totally honest here...
And I don’t know too many sword enthusiasts who can resist the urge take their sword outside for a few practice swings.
And if you're anything like me, you'll want to have a little fun “pruning” with your sword in the garden or or maybe even spend an afternoon with friends hacking up cardboard boxes and water filled plastic soda bottles!
Unfortunately, most swords for sale on the internet aren’t designed to take ANY “abuse” (read as 'use') at all. And I still cringe when I think of that cheap, nasty wall hanger sword that flew out of the handle and over the neighbors fence one bright, sunny summer’s day…
Just see for yourself a "re-enactment" of this sword that I have dubbed "the little helicopter" flying through the air at around 40mph...
Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated event - these swords can fail in all manner of ways, perhaps most infamously - the Home Shopping Network video aptly demonstrates...
|
VIDEO: Home Shopping Network Sword Break Banging a sword on a table like that is never really a good idea. But with a stainless steel display sword - well, the results speak for themselves... |
It’s because of swords like these that when you buy swords online for the first time, it's a good idea to you get yourself either an "entry level historical sword" or a "beater", sometimes lumped together in the rather crude category of "battle ready swords".
Entry level historical swords are basically affordable replicas of historical swords. They look like historical swords. They handle like historical swords. And if you play with them too hard, they'll break like historical swords too...
At the other end of the spectrum, "beater" swords don't always look a lot like the historical swords they are based upon. And due to a heavier and thicker than historical blade, they tend not to handle exactly the same either. But a good beater is considerably more durable than any historical sword ever was and can take on a wider range of targets without fear of failure.
As such beaters make a great choice for many beginning sword collectors, but essentially it is a matter of personal taste...
The Difference Between a REAL Sword and a Decorative 'Sword Like Object'...
There are basically three main differences between REAL Swords and Sword Like Objects (aka "Wallhangers")...
1) REAL Swords are made from CARBON STEEL
Real swords are always made from carbon steel. The vast majority of cheap swords being sold online are made from stainless steel. While stainless steel is a great choice for knives, it starts becoming very brittle on anything longer than 12” and is NOT a suitable material for a functional sword, no matter what some marketers might claim…
2) REAL Swords have been properly HEAT TREATED
Real swords (at least these days) are for safety reasons always properly heat treated and tempered to create a blade that is not too brittle and not too soft. If a sword is described as “carbon steel” but there is no mention of how it is heat treated, then it probably hasn’t been heat treated at all. And if it hasn’t been heat treated, it doesn’t qualify as a real sword.
3) REAL Swords have a FULL TANG
The weakest point of most modern swords is the handle, in particular the metal insert into the handle attached to the blade known as the tang. Unless a sword has what is known as a “full tang” it is liable to break when struck against any surface. Or worse still, come loose from the handle like a helicopter blade when swung with even moderate force (and for obvious reasons cannot be called a functional sword).
Of course these three factors are a bit of an oversimplification. For more info and specifics about the different types of steel used, tempering methods and tang variations, I've explained it all in a lot more detail in my article:
'What to Look for in a REAL Battle Ready Sword'
And even more detail about what makes a sword 'authentic' in a more advanced article:
However fortunately, there is very EASY WAY to minimize the trial and error when you buy swords online. And that is by selecting a sword made by a well known and respected 'brand name' manufacturer...
We will come to brand name swords in a moment. But before we do, let's take a look at a very, very important factor to consider when you buy swords online for the first time - how much is a fair price to pay...
How Much Should You Pay for your First REAL Sword?
 A very beautiful (but pricey) Albion Sword |
It’s true that when you buy swords online, functional swords are usually more expensive than the ornamental wall hangers.
And at first (if you believe some people) you might be inclined to think that if you're gonna buy swords online that are any good, you'll need to have a spare $500 to $1,000 US dollars just lying around.
However when you're starting out, I don't think it's necessary to spend anywhere near this amount...
In fact, one of the reasons I made this site in the first place was because on numerous sword forums, the only advise many newbies would get when they said they were considering to buy swords online well under the "accepted" price range of $500 to $1000 was to "save up and get an Albion, Angus Trim, etc".
Now sure, if you have the money, such a response might be helpful. But if you are a younger collector, or a beginning collector or are on a budget or you just can't justify spending 500+ bucks on a single sword, it doesn't help much...
And I can tell you first-hand that as the owner of several quite exceptional "entry level" swords - with just a little common sense and education, it is possible to find some very attractive and fully functional swords at a low price point of between US$150 to US$300 tops.
Just one thing though...
When you buy swords online in this price range, you DO need to be careful.
While we do our best here to test and review swords to identify the real winners – most manufacturers tend to produce products with certain distinct characteristics, and in this price range, there are really only a handful that make functional swords that strike a good balance between price and quality...
Who Makes the best quality (low-cost) Swords?
At the end of the day, I've found that when you buy swords online, the best "bang for your buck” swords tend to be made by several well known sword manufacturers.
To help you do some research on the various ‘brand name’ manufacturers before you buy swords online – I have created a sister site:
Sword Manufacturers Guide is a comprehensive list of the major ‘movers and shakers’ in the sword industry, with up to date news, announcements, issues and more to help you make an informed decision.
You don’t need to visit it right now, but as you read the various reviews on SBG and get curious about a specific manufacturer, a link to this information packed site is only a click away...
Now, apart from simply knowing what to expect when you buy swords online by selecting a manufacturer that best suits your requirements, there is another good reason why you should buy swords online that have a recognizable “brand name”.
When you can easily identify the brand it makes it easier to do a decent price comparison, which is next to impossible when it comes to comparing “generic” swords.
It really does pay to do a little shopping around before you buy swords online. It never ceases to amaze me how the exact same sword can be sold at one website for a price sometimes fifty or a hundred dollars more than at another.
However, that said, it's definitely NOT always wise to buy swords online based on price alone…
How To Choose the Best Sword Seller
- (Caveat Emptor!)
In a perfect world, it would be easy to buy swords online.
You just select the sword you want, pay with your credit card, and a few days later you get that much anticipated long rectangular parcel to your door.
Only problem is, this isn't a perfect world.
Sometimes, part or all of your order simply isn't in stock and you've got to wait - sometimes weeks, and sometimes months, for it to come in - and once they've got your credit card details, they won't let you change or cancel your order.
Occasionally, you might even place an order with a start up company that offers swords at a great price, but goes out of business before you get your order (taking your money with it).
And then - there are the sharks, fraudsters and con-men who never actually intended to ever deliver your sword in the first place...
The easiest way to avoid these kinds of problems when you buy swords online is to select a sword merchant with a proven track record that has been in business for at least a few years, is decicated to customer service and competitive pricing.
To help you find the very best, established and recommended sword sellers I've put together a comprehensive:
This directory is based on my own personal experiences, a lot of reasearch and feedback from the Sword Buying Community in general. So check it out - it can save you a whole lot of time, money and heartache...
CONCLUSION
If you're not just looking for a decorative sword to hang on the wall, all of this info might at first seem a bit overwhelming...
But really, I could distill everything presented here into one sentence - when you buy swords online for the first time narrow down your choice to one that has been made by a reliable company, and get it from a reliable, established dealer. Oh yeah, and one more thing...
One common piece of advise to a newby sword collector is DON'T DO IT! Because trust me, once you buy swords online for the first time, it can get downright addictive! ;-)
Further Resources
For discussions and information on sub US$300 swords, check out the SBG Sword Forum
FREE Online Magazine Stay up to date with all the latest tips on how to get the best deals when you buy swords online, plus win competitions, get free gift vouchers, read interviews, learn sword fighting techniques and much, MUCH more. |
Some Recommended 'Starter' Swords
If you are going to ignore my sage advise and actually buy swords online (starting you on that slippery slope to total sword addiction), here's my shortlist of the absolute sharpest and meanest sub US$300 cutters I have found - but watch these babies, they are NOT toys by any stretch of the imagination...!
NAVIGATION: Related SBG Links
(1) ARTICLE: Types of Swords
(2) ARTICLE: Sword Terminology - Made Easy!
(3) ARTICLE: What to Look for in a 'Real' Battle Ready Sword
(4) ARTICLE: Authentic Swords – some additional defining qualities
(5) ARTICLE: The Best Value for Money Sharp Functional Swords
I hope this information on how to buy swords online has been helpful.
To return to sword-buyers-guide.com Homepage from WARNING: Do Not Buy Swords Online Until You Read This, click here
