I've got a pretty fun problem that I could use some help with: how to display swords! About a dozen or so. A little more. Okay, twenty-two of them.

I had intended to put them in my "library". The trouble is, that room is more or less bookshelves from floor to peaked ceiling. The ceiling is still open. Hang them up there? I'd be worried about the occasional earthquake followed by some Damoclean beheadings. But still, the ceiling is open.

Anybody got good ideas for making a rack that goes on a wall? I don't have much wall space but I've got some in there. Or maybe a funky rack that fits on fireplace mantels? Maybe a giant coffee table with a glass top and the swords displayed beneath (ohh, a good one there).

I'm open to all suggestions, silly and serious. Have at it, lads. i need the help.

The rack should really go in your dungeon along with the hot pokers and pincers. :p :lol:

Well that was one " silly " suggestion. ;)

A bunch of standard solutions: http://www.kultofathena.com/display.htm

Also, do a search on the site as I remember there being a Topic a while back showing what a lot of people do from nice displays to stacked in a corner.

I haven't taken the trouble to buy or make anything myself but I could see a large square or rectangular wooden box divided into rectangular section in a grid-like fashion to keep naked blades from touching each other if not in scabbards.

The box with a wide base and weighted so that it won't tip over easily, even in an earthquake. :D
Now this can be crude planks, nicely painted / stained or made from some nice expensive wood.

For the lazy: A big and tall wicker basket with weighted base or an umbrella stand used for " umbrellas " and/or walking sticks.

How about bamboo tubes with the sections cut out to form an unobstructed tube, and attached together ? More swords !? Get more bamboo tubes. :blush: Or large PVC tubes ? ( Less aesthetically pleasing maybe ). Clear plastic tubes to be able to see the blades ???

This is sorta what I did, I made my own display. Cheap and easy.


http://sara.tss.uh.edu/swords/sworddisplay.jpg
http://sara.tss.uh.edu/swords/Axe-display1.jpg
http://sara.tss.uh.edu/swords/display3.JPG

You could also look for something like this. It holds 13 swords.

Every time this topic comes up I am the one who has to post the cautionary comment. I am solidly in the camp of "tuck 'em away". There is nothing worse than building up a nice collection of weapons only to have them lifted from your house or apartment one night when you are out at the baseball game. Unfortunately it happens and has happened to me in the past and I just want to point out that [a] collecting insurance on these things is a immense pain in the rear and [b] the amount of time it takes to rebuild a collection is huge. So..... although a wall full of swords looks awfully cool.......... and makes for a mouth watering photo for the rest of us.......... I recommend you don't display all of your guns/swords/coins/stamps/ in the open in one spot in your house. I guarantee that if a burglar gets in your castle they will be taking the swords off the wall long before they even look at any other artwork

There are also safety reasons to be careful with these sharps especailly if you have kids like I do.

Therefore my strategy has evolved to the point where I lock up my weapons in a safe while having a spot or two to display just a few at a time. Then I rotate the ones on display now and then.

Interestingly, this actually forces me to attend to my swords more often than if I just hung them all up. as each time I get one out for display I attend to its needs in terms of oiling etc.

as usual your mileage may vary

Usually, I say "nice rack" and get a good slap in the face from a buxom lass. But still, NICE RACK!

Those are drawer pulls, aren't they? Sheer genius! I'm using that idea no matter what happens ultimately.

Wow, cool pictures. This is GREAT.

And I do appreciate the "tuck 'em away" point of view. I think that's sensible. In fact, just this morning I was opining to She Who Must Be Obeyed that perhaps I would put just one sword on the mantle in a rotating display every two weeks. That would be about a year of swords (but I'll have to add a few to hit twenty-SIX swords.... aww, shucks).

Jonathan,

Here is another solution. I store this way both sharp and training swords. Ready perforated shelves purchased from a local hardware store. There is choice in length and color, as you can see.

Konstantin.

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sharp blades

The basic idea of what I did:


I've already stated this in about four similar threads, but if I could do it again, i would rip grooves on the inside of the framework and inset some safety glass to protect the blades and wandering fingers.

Hi folks,

Here is a rack that I made many moons ago. Easily built from two pieces of 6"x1" pine, dont forget to line the cut outs with felt or leather to protect the scabbards etc. I should point out that I was about 18 when this display hung above my bed, and I am now nearly 50, so my decorative ideas have changed somewhat :D , but the rack works well.

Regards,

Russ

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[quote="Gary A. Chelette"]

Jesse Zinn wrote:

Gary A. Chelette wrote: Gary, Hey there, sir. Nice work! I'm curious about the middle sword in the first photo. Is that the early Museum Replicas (late '80s), Hank Reinhardt designed "Bastard Sword"? Brass guard? Just curious. Thanks, -Jess Yes, as far as I can tell, this may have been a proto-type because these swords all were sold with steel pommels and guards. I maybe wrong, but that's what we came up with. EDIT: Del Tin version. http://sara.tss.uh.edu/swords/5156.jpg My sword: http://sara.tss.uh.edu/swords/dt5156s2.jpg [ Linked Image ]

This is sort of correct. Hank Reinhardt originally found the design in India at the Windlass Steelcrafts plant. Though they regarded it as "highly expermental" Hank decided to "seize on the opportunity presented by this blade" (I'm quoting from an early catalog) and had them do this one up, with the brass fittings. Later, Del Tin seems to have taken over and produced a version with steel fittings and a "bottle" style grip and more of a scent stopper style pommel (unlike the steel disc in the attached picture url).

I actually have that later del tin model on a rack now, as can be seen in the bottom of the rack in this photo:

Thinking of selling it, but haven't really gotten that desperate yet. it was re hilted by Albion at some point.

Here is my esoteric sword display/meditation area. I have some swords mounted in other areas of the living room as well. And I of course switch out swords in the rack whenever I have a mind to.

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[quote="C. Gadda"]

Gary A. Chelette wrote:

Jesse Zinn wrote: Gary A. Chelette wrote: Gary, Hey there, sir. Nice work! I'm curious about the middle sword in the first photo. Is that the early Museum Replicas (late '80s), Hank Reinhardt designed "Bastard Sword"? Brass guard? Just curious. Thanks, -Jess Yes, as far as I can tell, this may have been a proto-type because these swords all were sold with steel pommels and guards. I maybe wrong, but that's what we came up with. EDIT: Del Tin version. http://sara.tss.uh.edu/swords/5156.jpg My sword: http://sara.tss.uh.edu/swords/dt5156s2.jpg [ Linked Image ] This is sort of correct. Hank Reinhardt originally found the design in India at the Windlass Steelcrafts plant. Though they regarded it as "highly expermental" Hank decided to "seize on the opportunity presented by this blade" (I'm quoting from an early catalog) and had them do this one up, with the brass fittings. Later, Del Tin seems to have taken over and produced a version with steel fittings and a "bottle" style grip and more of a scent stopper style pommel (unlike the steel disc in the attached picture url).

Then do you think this maybe one of Hank's early pieces? Got any idea's on how many were made?

This is one of my favorite off topics! Does anyone else have a display area they would like to post? I really like seeing them!