Anyone collect swords?

I know a bit about swords. Post a pic.

 

Does it have wheels?
Does it have an engine?

 

I know a little and have a few. No expert but that's a sabre.

 

I know more about medieval swords than those of later periods, but it looks like a 19th or early 20th century standard cavalry or officer's sabre. Civil War perhaps.

There's enough online reference material to get a good idea before spending $ on an appraisal. Google and there are many swords on ebay.

 

I've always thought medieval swords were cool. I have a display replica of a broadsword (i.e. would fall apart if you tried to swing it) in the States at my parents' house.

If you have your own collection of medieval swords I'd love to see some pictures.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Andrew,

These are all I have now.

The one on the left is an accurate and well-made repro of a 13th century arming sword, used by both mounted knights and men-at-arms on foot. This particular type was called a "bastard sword" because the long hilt allowed for a one or two-handed grip.

On the right is a two-handed Scottish Claymore, in use appx. 13th-16th centuries, lethal in the extreme. Cheapie "wallhanger" version of the one Mel Gibson carried in the movie Braveheart.

I do want to acquire a genuine 11th or 12th century Norman arming sword, such as used in the first through third Crusades. It'll be a one shot in a lifetime collector item, as those in decent condition generally sell for $5k-$10K.

Pls excuse my messy desk. It's in what I call "controlled disorder" ...jsa
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Google sabre and go from there. I've gotten a good amount of my sword information thus.

 

Those are very cool. I particularly like the arming sword.

I'd quite like to get a well made reproduction of a sword similar to those used by Camelot's knights of the round table in the film First Knight.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Thanks! They do make good office decor.

I've seen First Knight, but a long time ago. Wouldn't mind seeing it again. I'll see if I can get it streaming on netflix and keep an eye on the swords. Then, perhaps I can point you to a good repro maker with something similar.

Unfortunately, sword designs licensed from movies tend to be flashy and poorly made...jillions of them on ebay.

 

I'll have to wait a while (i.e. until I get a job and pay down some student loans) before I go sword shopping, but it'd be good to know where to get them.

Yea, that is the down side to decorative swords. A decorative sword I already have now creaks and squeaks at the hilt if you pick it up... as I found out, it wasn't that securely set when I brandished it in thin air. I would like next to find the sort of reproduction that could actually be used as a sword - not that I ever would be charging into battle with it, but it'd be nice to have something of that quality.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

Definitely a sabre.

Try: http://tortugatrading.com/ for answers

 

Guys, you have cool collection. I don't own a sword by myself, but I think it's a kind of collectible which triggers me I'm mostly interested in swords of medieval times. And I'm interested in the way how swords were used. Like the fact that European swords were more heavy but Asian swords were lighter and sharper. Do you know what I mean?

 

European broad Swords from the middle ages, were used as a blunt weapon - and mostly from a horse back, so speed & weight = huge damage to chainmail.

Short swords were used for hand to hand combat where you did not have a lot of room for manouver tight formations - from roman times, was still the preferred infantry tactics... the long bow really made swords more of a last chance survival or clean up depending on which side you were on.

Asian swords were very sharp so they could cut thru leather & bamboo armor. also they were weighted for better balance and an open attack / defence posture. Most people did not die from a direct sword hit, but from the infection or blood loss over time. I'm sure there were some swift decapitations etc... but that was not the rule.

In the middle ages the Axe was the real terror weapon, easy to puncture a skull & armor.

by the 1700's calvary swords were mostly two types - straight Rapier like swords with a slightly sharpend edge but mainly used for puncture and wide crushing blows carried by Heavy armored calvary - Cruirassiers and then a curved Hungarian - Turkish Saber with a sharpend hardend steel blade with a blood grove down the center... normally carried by lighter calvary troups - Hussars, Carbiniers etc... by the end of the Napoleonic wars Calvary was mostly used for scouting, screening and rapid persuit... although there were some mass charges - the gatlin - repeating Gun really took care of that. The last real calvary charge was in Flanders in WW1 by combined british and french against the Germans.... slaughter was huge. Some armys kept mounted calvary until ww2, but really tanks and mechanized armor took over that role.

I have a small collection of swords and I used to Fence so I like the history and art of the sword.

 

This is most likely a dress saber for an officer. It could do some damage but most likely was worn as a side arm.

Officers wore them up until Spanish American war... it could have been used in battle by a mounted officer, but from the blades appearance seems very unlikely to have seen any real use.

Used weapons have huge gouges in the blade, even after being re ground & cleaned, and most of them have battle dates engraved in the hilt or blade.

 

This thread has me revisiting both quality and cheap repro sword sites as well as ebay. The difference in what you can buy for $50 - $200 and $200 - $1000 is marked. There are plenty of quality repros in the $200 - $500 range and $1000 or so will buy something really nice.

I paid around $225 for the arming sword in my office photo and it's a real sword...mass produced, no doubt in China or India, but of authentic design, materials, and construction technique, and surprisingly high quality. I'd go into battle with it!

The Claymore was bought off ebay for $39.95 and it's a piece of crap, suitable only for decoration. The crossguard was set crooked when I got it. I fixed it and replaced the ultra-cheap original leather with what's on there now.

As far as actual use goes, 40+ years of movies based on oriental martial arts have made traditional Japanese swords and swordsmanship a part of our own popular culture, with those of Europe largely unnoticed until the last 15 years. Now, big-budget movies such as Braveheart and Kingdom of Heaven, made with a high degree of visual and technical accuracy and set at least within the bounds of real history, have brought wide attention to and interest in medieval European weapons and martial arts.

I've seen something online about an association that studies and practices medieval European swordsmanship, with techniques sourced from period texts and historical accounts.

I'll review my list of relevant websites and post some links.

 

Sword sales and info:

Quality production repros:

http://www.therionarms.com/reenact/sharp_swords_western.shtml

Upscale repros & custom:

http://www.albion-swords.com/

The standard reference work on medieval swords:

http://www.algonet.se/~enda/oakeshott_eng.htm

There's much, much more sword stuff online; these are the basic websites I have bookmarked.

 

Japanese army sabre perhaps:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Japanese_army_sabre.jpg

usually a "bring back" from the war.

 

My first job out of school was as an apprentice swordsmith. Crazy, I know. Think of it as a form of running away and joining the circus. During that time I gained a real appreciation for the craftsmanship of the old Japanese masters.

As a result, I have a small collection of swords, but my collection is strictly relegated to Japanese swords and tsubas (the hand guards... these are works of art that can stand alone).

This could very possibly be a Japanese sabre, I'm not really sure as all of my knowledge in this area is focused on blades and trends long before the Meiji Restoration era, but just about all of the Japanese military blades, particularly the stamped ones (like this), contain the Imperial Chrysanthemum motif in some form. The earlier sabers usually had this worked into the hilt in some way, but once the war started, this "frivolity" went out the window and the flower was simply stamped into the blade... typically right about the serial number, or in the same location (near the hilt) on the opposite side. Any flower imagery on this blade hidden from the view as seen in the pictures?

It's been a long time, and my memory is a bit hazy, but that's what comes to mind at the moment.

 

Happy to be of help!

That's great. You took the road less traveled and came out with something unique and of lasting value.

BTW, I picked up a really nice sword book the other day: Spirit of the Sword: A Celebration of Artistry and Craftsmanship, author Steve Shackleford, published in 2010.

High quality book with thorough discussion of both Oriental and European swordsmanship, chapters on contemporary sword masters, and a long alphabetical list of swordmakers currently working, with excellent color photos of their work. Some unbelievable stuff.

Cover price $24.99; I got a new copy at Half-Price Books for $7.99.

 

I will most definitely seek out a copy of this book. Thank you!