Question: Sword Collecting

[GGL]

I am having trouble filling my collection. I started collecting swords after a college course on medieval weaponry (had to fill a elective) bout 5 years ago. The class focused on the tech of weaponry used in different societies... so I was fascinated with each major society’s theory of swordsmanship. Currently I have 2 Japanese based swords, 2 Thai based, 2 Chinese based, and 2 Scottish based. I want to expand my collection, so I am turning to KFO for ideas... what do you think, any ideas on some different cultures of anyone’s interest?

Thanks

[shaolin kungfu]

Kali uses lots of bladed weapons. You might try doing a search.

[Becca]

You could also try some of the Spanish type Raipiers. And the French had some good Sabers from the mid1400s - 1800s. Or you could try some movie replicas. My dad just bought a replica of the Lord of the Rings sword. It's beutifull- as big as his Scottish Claymore with a combat cutting edge. An uncle of mine also has a replica of Excaliber, though the jewels on it are not real.

[Chang Style Novice]

What's the minimum length you figure defines a sword? I used to have a real nice site bookmarked that sold kukris of different styles and sizes. Let me see if I can find it...

edit - here it is, himalayan imports

http://www.himalayan-imports.com/
They also have some other south asian blades, a Tibetan double edger called a Kre Ti and a single edger (provenance unspecified) called a Tarwar. I have it on good authority from a choppy-stuff nut friend of mine that their goods are top-choice.

double edit - from their store:

Sirupati - 30 inch
The Sirupati, traditional khukuri of the Rai and Limbu people of Eastern Nepal, is quick and agile which makes it a favorite of martial artists. Excellently balanced. Light but still strong enough to do a heavy day's work. Scrollwork and brass inlay along back of blade add to the beauty of this already magnificent blade. This knife is going to come in at 1/2 + inch thick and will weigh around 3.5 pounds. Don't get it unless you are physically fit and strong. (http://www.andale.com/stores/sf_itemHome.jsp?foo=bar&sid=95360&cid=7402588&lid=24972563&mode=1)

Looks pretty sweet to me!

[Radhnoti]

I have an excellent site for you to look into:

http://swordforum.com/


Looks like you have to joinup though to reap the benefits, good luck.

[Xebsball]

Go to

http://www.claudiospage.com/

click on Historical Arms and Armour

then click on Arms, Armour, My Swords, My Armour

i almost have orgazmz lookin this shyte

[1renox]

SwordForum is one of the best sights for weapons enthusiasts I've even visitied. It is well worth the registration.

There's an excellent book named, "Dictionary of The Construction, Use and Decoratin of Arms and Armor in All Cultures in All Times" published first in 1934. It is avaialabe at most good book stores and while much of the information has become out dated, it is still a fascinating and valueable reference with many pictures.

Somebody once wrote on sword forum that weapons collecting is an obssesion filled with desire for things that can't be afforded.

[GGL]

All very good sites

THANKS

[GeneChing]

Got lots of weapons here (http://store.yahoo.com/martialartsmart/weapons.html) at www.MartialArtsMart.com :D (You didn't specify modern or antique.)

I can't beleive you took a college course on medieval weaponry. What college? What department? Man, I would have been all over that if it was offered when I was in college....

[GGL]

HEH, good old local community college.. only way to fill all the basics ane electives at a fraction of the price.

[Marky]

Hi GGL,

Do you collect ornamental swords, or functional swords?

[Marky]

P.S.-- Check out swords-n-stuff.com

Not to PURCHASE weapons, but to get an idea of some of the cool weapons out there. When it comes time to buy, I'll assume you have your own place that you go to.

[Judge Pen]

Some of the swords offered at MAM are quality swords and not the "sword like objects" that you described. Specifically the Hanwei forge swords are good quality swords that you don't have to drop a grand or two to purchase.

[The Willow Sword]

i will take a look at it. i mean we dont fight with swords anymore so this is a collectors thing.. and to my knowledge collectors do not settle for hum drum stuff. angel swords are works of art and are the real thing, not mass produced. its well worth the grand or however much some of those pieces are.

when you work with a sword, especially the drop cast ones and the ones you speak of that are of better quality but still not balanced right, you tend to be a bit more lackadazicle when you weild it. i mean a real blade that is sharp and well balanced you tend to respect more its power.
i mean i have a kris cutlery blade and it is okay for what it is. but i have weilded a true blade and it is a different animal all together. if i had the disposable income to get one i would.

MRTWS

[Judge Pen]

Originally posted by The Willow Sword
i will take a look at it. i mean we dont fight with swords anymore so this is a collectors thing.. and to my knowledge collectors do not settle for hum drum stuff. angel swords are works of art and are the real thing, not mass produced. its well worth the grand or however much some of those pieces are.

when you work with a sword, especially the drop cast ones and the ones you speak of that are of better quality but still not balanced right, you tend to be a bit more lackadazicle when you weild it. i mean a real blade that is sharp and well balanced you tend to respect more its power.
i mean i have a kris cutlery blade and it is okay for what it is. but i have weilded a true blade and it is a different animal all together. if i had the disposable income to get one i would.

MRTWS

Most of the angel swords on the site were stunning and, as you say, a work of art. My question is that many o them seemed to be too heavy to be functional. A good blade is strong and well made, but not necessarily heavy. When people's lives depended on swords in battle, they wanted them to be light enough to weild effectively without becoming worn down too easily. But, then again, we are talking about collectors now so it's a moot point. :)

[The Willow Sword]

angel sword goes to the renaissance festivals to sell thier works.
the texas ren fests happen every october and half of september.

and battle swords were heavy,,they had to be in order to pierce armour. i picked up a claymore of theirs and was like "holy shiite"
but when they took it up to a piece of inch thick metal and slashed right through it without even a scratch on the blade. i was sold,,,,in impression anyway.

Many respects,,The Willow Sword

[GeneChing]

The stuff from Hanwei forge (http://store.yahoo.com/martialartsmart/hanweiforge.html) is solid. So is the stuff from Dragon Well forge (http://store.yahoo.com/martialartsmart/dragonwellfo.html) and Shaolin (http://store.yahoo.com/martialartsmart/shaolinsword.html). And none of our pieces are cast in pot metal - actually I take that back, the retractable (http://store.yahoo.com/martialartsmart/45-52.html) and samurai (http://store.yahoo.com/martialartsmart/japaneseswords.html) guards might be, but the blades are all real steel. If you're referring to something like a wushu sword (http://store.yahoo.com/martialartsmart/45-66wu32.html) the guards are made of light steel, not pot metal, and are chromed. The Chinese haven't really discovered pot metal for their swords yet, not even the wushu ones. Next time, konw your sword terms before you start throwing around terms like pot metal.

FWIW, you all might check out my former company too - The Armoury of American Fencers (http://www.amfence.com/html/armoury.html). The swords aren't pretty unless you ask us to polish them up, and they're built to last. Ask for the Maestro and tell him Gene sent you.:p

[norther practitioner]

Ask for the Maestro and tell him Gene sent you.

Sounds like an episode of Seinfeld.....:p



What do you guys think of the Paul Chen swords?

[Judge Pen]

Originally posted by norther practitioner


Sounds like an episode of Seinfeld.....:p



What do you guys think of the Paul Chen swords?

that's the Hanwei Forge swords. I have the practical tai chi sword that MAM carries and it has an excellent balance and weight. It's still flexible, but stiff enough to actually penetrate somthing if stabbed. It's not chromed or plated, so it requires regular maintenance, but its a bargain for the price.

Gene, can I have a 'got qi' shirt now?

[The Willow Sword]

Actually i DO know my sword terms. Temple forge weapons have good "cut" steel. (as in the metal is cut and then a grinder is put to it to shape it, then polished) but you see the tang does not go all the way to the pommel. rather a long metal bolt is tig welded to the metal blade(a MAJOR weakness). i have clashed a temple forge blade and it broke off at the hilt(where the bolt was tig welded on)

i havent been able to look at the hanweiforge,,for some reason the MAM site is not loading up.

the Kris cutlery feng blade that i have is Full tang but still the metal is "soft" with only minimal tempering to it. Kris used to take spring shocks from old Jeeps and hammer them that way,,but now with mass production they have gone to the grinder and cutting metal pieces. just like temple forge does.

the art of actually hand forging a sword is almost gone,,there are some traditional forges in japan and a few here in the USA(www.angelsword.com) but to a "Collector" these are what they go for and thats what i assumed GGL is doing.
sorry if i offended you with my pot metal comment but i know what i know, Gene, and mass produced weaponry uses recycled metal compressed in big sheets 1/4 inch to 2inch thick. its hardness is from 440(display quality and useless for practice and clashing) and occasionally you will find some hardness levels at 320c which is good(sort of).

Many Respects,,TWS

[GLW]

Having handled most of the brnads listed here...I can say that the Angel sowrds are definitely pricey...but if I were going to spend the money on a sword, that is the one I would buy.

They are perfectly balanced, I have shaved a business card with one, they are stong and durable...and just plain beautiful.

But, it is not like my wife would let me spend $1000 - $2000 or so on a sword... In fact, I USED THAT LOGIC to finally talk her into my motorcycle...you just have to make some hard choices at times....:)

[The Willow Sword]

LOL

BTW take a look at this Animal.
http://www.angelsword.com/Bright%20Knight%20Assets/bk-jian.html


MRTWS

[GLW]

That's the one...Although the one I played with had a 34 inch blade...just right for me...

He also had a Taiji Dao...beautiful.

I have three friends that have bought the Jian. One passed away and it was one of his possessions that was stipulated to go to a family member as an inheritance.

You sure don't see that kind of passing on of swords on any others.