So anyone name any of their swords? What sort of names might yall use? Would a piece require a certain level of craftsmanship, or maybe "individuality" to deserve a name?

I've yet to name any of my swords, but maybe I just haven't become attached enough to one. I'm not quite sure if I would just give it an English name, or if it's a viking sword for example maybe research some kind of Norse name for it. As long as the sword feels "right" in hand I think a name is fine, but then again I've never held a custom level sword.

Nah, I just call them by what they are. "Darkwood Pappenheimer, Hanwei smallsword, etc." But then again, I do have names for my electric fencing foils, in particular "piece of ......" (darn things never work,lol)

I ran across a guy on SFI who named his Badger Blades... regular, everyday names too. It was rather cute, actually :)

I call my swords by the names given to them by the maker... Redeemer... Elven Leafblade... Gaddhjalt, etc. Probably the only sword I've ever named would be one I gave to a role-playing character of mine.

I only have one sword I would even consider naming; however, the Auld Dawg already gave Carmen a good name!

I don't see any problem naming swords. I believe it's fairly well documented that the Norse warriors or smiths named their swords with some regularity. Patrick would probably be able to verify/denounce that claim.

Cheers!

I just use the makers name and maybe a description.

For example I now have:

The "A&A GBS".
The "A&A Custom"

And will soon add:

The "CF/AT Redeemer"
The "Albion Regent"

After that I need to get a Rapier...and Aaxe...which will probably be named "Pimp Needle" and "Axe".

I that always liked the idea of using Latin words for names, for example i used the Latin word "Robur" meaning strength for the name of my sword for a while, it never really stuck, but i still use it every once in a while. To my thinking though, Latin is good because it was the language of educated people for so long, and because a great many inscriptions seems to be in latin. So naming the sword with a latin word has always seemed fitting. I can see, however, using viking or celtic words as well.

Here's my take on it.

Don't set out trying to give a sword a name. Some swords just don't deserve one. If the sword has a special meaning to you then give it a name. If not, don't force it. The sword won't be any better, and the name will probably sound corny. Make it something that has a meaning to you on a personal level, not some flowery sobriquet that sounds of if it came from the latest Dragonlance novel.

I've named two swords in my 20+ years of collecting. "Milestone" by Vince Evans and "Big Johnsson" by Peter Johnsson (Peter translated that for me into Swedish but I don't know how to spell it). Both names are straight and to the point , without being overly complicated and have significance.

I've said it before but I often think that naming swords in the present day is a bit melodramatic. As Patrick says they tend to end up with silly names that do sound as if they were inspired by a fantasy novel. I've often thought that the names of a sword should actually have something to do with the sword. For example calling your sword "Bonechopper" when the most chopping it's done is pool noodles seems a bit silly. Of course people don't like necessarily want to accurately name their swords today. After all "Wallproper" or "Mantlesitter" sound a little less then cool. I think Patrick has come up with the best compromise, giving his swords names that aren't ostentatious and meaningful to him.

I realize I'm in a minority on this, but heck I even went back and forth on having Rob put that inscription on the baskethilt for me. I finally went with a nice historically accurate sentiment that I hope isn't melodramatic.

My Baron shall be named "Ceaite'ath-Eldogad'amanrohirish'hazad(ugeail ne hamin do'eleithien bisha'aneal)", which is Turn'ealdanoreanananan for "Grim harbinger of spontaneous yet carefully planned violence from the North by North-Western lands (which have a pleasant view of the sedate yet violent sea)".

I mean it. Really. No... really.

I suppose that would be easier.... makes for a much simpler introduction I'm sure. That'll do. :)

Actually, I have to come clean...

I have a bronze sword from the BA Foundry-- replica of an Irish sword. The hiltwork is being done right now in antler and boxwood. I have decided to call it "Beann", which is Irish for (among other things) "tine"-- as in an antler tine. It just seemd to fit the sword somehow-- not too pretentious (to me at least).

Of course when one chooses a name, one always hopes to find something that won't be shortened to something too silly or annoying. I have a suspicion that the other swords might call him "Benny" though...

David

Sure, I've named some of my swords. The exact criteria varies from piece to piece, so it's kinda inconsistent.
My usual criteria is whimsical -- whatever mood I was in at the time, I guess. Some examples:

DT 2104 Viking sword -- "Ceiling Biter"
Vince Evans S-hilt broadsword -- "The Mermaid's Song"
A&A St. Maurice sword -- "Space Cowboy" (listen to some Steve Miller Band to figure that out...)
EB Erickson S-hilt broadsword -- "Old MacDonald"
A&A Claymore -- "Schehallion"
DT Gothic Hand-and-a-half sword (5155?) -- "Thalhoffer's Toothpick"

And, a couple swords that are no longer with me....
India-made medievalish sword-like thing -- "Medieval Monstrosity"
India-made Brass Scottish-style basket-hilt -- "McApu"

Up until quite recently I referred to any particular sword by a generic description (Scottish Baskethilt) or the name the manufacturor chose (Halstatt or Arbedo). Now I am trying to collect a sword from most every major category. And, as my collection grows, generic names are not descriptive enough and manufacturor's labels can seem somewhat obscure and impersonal. So.... What I have done is to imagine if there was a great military hero/villain that may have carried a similar sword... if so the name of that person becomes the sword's name. So I have swords with names such as Odysseus, Turnus, Ambiorix, Olaf, Magnus, Wallace, Don Quixote and Rob Roy.

ks

i would find a saxon translation for something like "head-cleaver", you can't go wrong with that, i haven't named any swords that iv'e bought, although a have named personal swords iv'e made for myself, i guess i could name them like i name my guitars, name them after ex-girlfriends.

I have a friend who has named both of his Paul Chen Katanas. One is 'clothesrod' after the sword of a fellow Mushashi dueled, and the other is named 'little crow' due to the relationship between crow demons and the founding of a school of Ninjitsu, which he studies.

I thought this a little melodramatic, and after a period of contemplation, I arrived at the park to practice with him with my wasters. I informed him that I had decided to name my wasters, as he had named his swords. The Longsword waster is now "Dinglehopper." But I don't use it much, I normally use a somewhat short single-hand sword waster, with a bit of padding.

As I took that one, and my buckler, and faced him with it, he asked if it had a name.

I responded, "Oh yes, this one's name is 'scrotal smacker.' "

Whilst I have never actually hit him there, or even aimed there, his stance has changed a great deal since that day. I do believe that the name of a weapon should strike FEAR into the heart of thy enemy. For a practise weapon, this one has the perfect name.

(It's also my way of encouraging him to get a cup without actually injuring him.)