How To Buy Your First Medieval Sword - A Beginners Guide
By Will Kalif

If you always wanted to own a medieval sword to hang on the wall, show to your friends, or
bring with you to a Renaissance Festival this guide will help you to make a good first purchase.

Sword buying can be a very confusing process. There are thousands of sellers, hundreds of
manufacturers, and a dozen different types of metals that swords are made out of. But you
shouldn’t worry too much about any of this. If this is your first sword then you should make it
a pleasurable experience by getting the sword that looks and feels right for you. If you stick
with a reputable seller then the sword should be of a good quality that will give you many years
of worry free enjoyment and maybe even start you on a sword collecting hobby.

Get your hands on some swords if possible

First and foremost you should, if possible, visit a retail or wholesale store that has a wide
variety of swords that you can actually hold and handle. If this means taking a twenty-five mile
trip in the car then it is worth the time and effort. Bring with you a small notebook so you can
take notes about the different swords you like and write down the different manufacturers and
model numbers so you can do some online comparison shopping for price bargains. It is
important to actually hold the sword and see it because the feel of a sword is difficult to convey
on a website.

If you are going to buy a sword online

If you cannot visit a place that sells swords and you absolutely have to buy one online here are
a couple of things you should do. Make very careful note of the weight of the sword then get
yourself something that weighs the same and hold it in your hands. You will be surprised how
this feels and there is a very big difference between a sword that weighs two pounds and one
that weighs four pounds. You should also note the length of the sword then use a measuring
tape to get a feel for the actual size of it. I would recommend you even cut a piece of
cardboard into the shape and size of the sword you are thinking about buying. You can hold
this cardboard mock up, swing it around and even pin it to the wall to get an idea of how it will
look on display.

Deciding why you want a sword

The first and foremost decision you have to make is why you want the sword. This will greatly
help you in choosing your first sword. There are two main reasons I will describe here. If you
want a sword to hang on the wall as a display piece that you occasionally take down to show to
friends then you should look for a sword that comes with a wall mount display or a rack
display all in one package. Because medieval swords come in many different shapes, sizes,
weights, and lengths buying a sword then trying to match it up with a rack can be a tricky
process. I recommend you get a sword that comes with the rack or wall mount.

If you want a sword to wear as part of a costume or as an accompaniment to Renaissance
Festival and Role Playing events then you should get a sword that comes with a belt and
scabbard. Again, because swords come in a tremendous variety of sizes, finding a scabbard
can be a very difficult task.

Narrow your decision down to one of the three basic types of Medieval Swords.

Because there are thousands of different swords you should figure out which of the three main
types of swords you want to get.


Replicas of original swords– You may want to get a sword that is a replica of an authentic
sword such as a Scottish claymore, Samurai sword, or Spanish rapier.
Movie Replicas: - You may want to get a sword that you have seen in a movie and Lord of the
Rings swords are very popular.
Fantasy Swords – These swords can have a very creative look, often times they have intricate
handles and unique blade shapes.
So now you have narrowed you selection down to the use of the sword and the type of sword
and you are ready to start looking at actually purchasing a sword. Here are some guidelines to
help you make a good purchase.

New or used?

I recommend you only purchase a new sword from a reputable retailer. This way you have an
ironclad guarantee that if there are any problems with the sword. You can just send it back and
try another sword. The big online retailers such as Amazon or Overstock are perfectly suited to
this. And if you find yourself looking at lesser-known sites or weapons specialty sites there are
a few things you should look for. Does the site have the hacker safe guaranteed logo? Does it
have a clearly posted customer support telephone number you can call?

Do your research and shop around before you buy

The Internet has brought with it the ability to gather information from a lot of different
resources. Search the web for sites, forums, and articles on swords and the particular sword
you want to buy. Take lots of notes so you can make an informed decision.

Swords have a two thousand year history and there are many manufacturers, sellers,
collectors, and experts of swords. But when it comes down to your first sword you should
decide on the sword that is going to make you happy and not worry about all the details that
can easily cloud your decision. Get a sword that looks and feels right for you and get it from an
established and well-know retailer and you will have a sword that will bring you years of
enjoyment and maybe even start you off on a new hobby.

For more information about Medieval Swords visit the authors website at:


The Medieval Sword Website

For medieval projects like how to make a catapult or trebuchet visit the authors
website at:


Storm The Castle.com

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