I'm thinking about buying a sword.

Where's a good website to go.

I've been looking at MWArt.com Anyone know anything about them? Any other suggestions?

I might also go local to avoid shipping costs.

[from what I've seen so far, I really like this one.]

Bear in mind that all those sorts of swords are for decorative purposes only, don't try using them actually as swords..

Swords Online?
Greg Dean (the guy who does Real Life) has a mini-comic there...

Big K

(mag)

Mort-Hog, I know that. Thanks.

I like the Molotoch, Slayer Sword found here as well:
http://www.excaliburcutlery.com/swordsfantasy.html

Damn, I wish I had more money than sense :p

hehe...
*sizzle*

I need some damn money

Build one.

I can't build one.

Shut up. :p

Museum Replicas would be my recommendation.

I personally don’t own any swords of any type, but I’ve heard that Windlass Steelcraft (swords sold by Museum Replicas) are some of the best swords on the market.

I'm trying to convince my metal shop teacher to let me make a sword.

Not from forging, mind you, but from a blank on to heat treating and finishing.

I am reminded of the Alliance guy in Serenity, and how he'd always drop people on a sword like they would back in the Roman era..

SwordsOnline has a decent selection of bokuto ("shoto", several other names... the wooden practice katanas and kendo swords)
but does anyone know of other sites that sell those? i'm looking at a padded 40" one to spar with a friend here at school ;D

wood dowel + pool noodle=much cheaper

Doesn't work good, and it looks like ***.

If you need GOOD LIVE STEEL go to


[url=www.chenessinc.com]Cheness Cutlery[/url]



these swords are MEANT TO BE USED. I personally recommend their "mokko" model.

A decent sword MUST be forged. Anything else would probably fail outright when used. (the tip would probably chip or bend, and it would not be able to hold a decent edge)

That's an awesome link page... Except I'm more interested in european blades. Is there a site that sells "live" european swords?

I don't know of any such site that sells european stuff. Japanese blades are used in various matrial arts where full contact durability is essential (the Cheness products are for Tameshigiri, which is the art of cutting things with a katana) so live steel is definitely in demand since using a wall-hanger for practical use is the best way to break it.

Since there are no real applications other than decor for most european swords (with the possble exclusion of the rapier and other spring-steel type swords, which is not what you want) you're probably out of luck.

Probably your best bet is to get something that is high carbon steel, one or two-piece construction, (in the case of two-piece construction, full tang is ESSENTIAL) and hope for the best. (I wouldn't use anything for full/heavy contact use unless it has been specifically designed for it, as in the case of the Cheness blades) Your only other alternative is to get someone to custom-forge a blade for you to live steel durability specifications, but that can be quite expensive.

I remember this one nice place in Chinatown of Los Angelos where they were selling some swords for about 150 bucks or so.

ahh, here we go.