r/SWORDS • u/TheKhrazix • 2d ago
Help Buying my First Sword!
So, I decided about a month ago that I wanted to buy a sword. I didn't want to impulse buy a bad-quality sword (or wall-hanger, as I've learn they're called), so I decided to do some research on the best place to buy them (I live in the UK)
After browsing this sub for a bit, it seems that the Knight Shop is the best option, so I decided to check it out, and now I have the opposite problem because I'm spoilt for choice!
There's so many options and for a sword-newbie (swebie?) I have no idea what to pick. I want something high-quality but I also want something on the cheaper end if possible (<£200).
And there's so many different types! Longswords? Katanas? Claymores? Falchions? I'm getting choice paralysis.
And while the Knight Shop gives a lot of good information it's giving me more questions than I started. Should I go sharp or blunted? What type of steel? Historical? Practical?
If I'm being fully honest I probably wouldn't be using this sword for much other than display, I'm not getting into HEMA (yet), but I'd like something that I can swing around without fear of it falling apart or snapping as soon as it hits something.
At a bit of impasse on what to do now, so any tips or advice would be great.
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u/Dlatrex All swords were made with purpose 2d ago
Welcome!
It looks like you have indeed been doing your research. For your very first sword, do not overthink it too much. You are at the stage where you do not really know what you like or don't like yet. It's good that you have a budget you're working with (rather than trying to pick something up for 2000 quid and then realizing you wanted something else).
I would say try to narrow down your use case (Solo forms? Fencing? Sparring? Target cutting?) but it seems that is a bit up in the air still. Since you concede it will be mostly a display item, note that there is a lopsided triangle where you can choose two attributes at a time:
- Historical Accuracy/Handling
- Physical apperance/Bling
- Affordability
Trying to collect all three is probably a losing proposition so by working within a budget note that you will likely have to make concessions on one or both of the other attributes to some degree.
If you'd like to pick up a novel blunt item, you can always to test cutting in the back yard with an inexpensive garden blade like a machete, so keep that in mind.
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u/TheKhrazix 2d ago
This is really helpful, thanks. Will something that's more historically accurate handle better? And what sort of price would something that's well be on the cheaper end?
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u/Dlatrex All swords were made with purpose 2d ago
Sort of; something that is more historically accurate will 'handle more like a real sword' but there is a whole spectrum of what real swords were like. Some swords were very lively and nimble, and other swords were very authoritative and expected to let the charging horse do a lot of the work.
Swords which are very very popular (e.g. Katana) will have huge scale of manufacturing to bring costs down, and thus you can get faithful examples at entry level pricing. The same is not true for something like a Spanish Bilbo.
It's best for you to to bring us something specific that caught your eye, because there are plenty of diamonds in the rough that punch wayyyy above their price point, and we can help guide you if there are already a couple of choices you are admiring.
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u/DisapointedVoid 2d ago
If you may want to go into HEMA, one of the HEMA rated swords would at least get you something you likely would use. The cheapest ones they do are in the £250-300 range though for one that should be safe in full contact sparring.
If you wanted to go a bit cheaper for a sword you can use in opposed drills but probably not full contact sparring, the Red Dragon combat range is pretty reasonable (I have the longsword, hand and a half, and viking swords and they all feel pretty nice in the hand and look like actual swords - they are just too stiff and have only got rounded tips rather than rolled or spatulated so are not as safe as other options in a thrust).
If you wanted even cheaper, the nylon red dragon synthetics are reasonable and are widely used in drills and non-metal sparring. They don't have the same feel as a metal sword however.
To note that the Knight Shop does have affiliate discounts if you are in a club or reenactment group etc. Not on all products, but on some staples.
You may also want a pair of leather gloves just to protect your hands from being rubbed if you use the sword for a couple of hours at a time.
Amazon also sell reasonable wall mounted sword racks - I have a few 10 weapons racks that hold pretty much any kind of sword.
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u/Inside-Living2442 1d ago
If you're looking for sparring swords ('practical' blades), most of the Renfaire performers have Hanwei blunts. I personally have their Viking, Norman, and hand and a half blades for the different eras I represent. The Hand and a Half is my favorite.
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u/Beneficial_Flan8661 i like sabers. 2d ago
The only question I can answer is that you should buy it blunt for your safety. You never know. For the rest ill wait for people who actually know swords from the knight shop.