I am thinking about purchasing a Hanwei Scottish Court Sword. I am concerned about its authenticity, particularly with respect to its weight, which strikes me as excessive for a small sword of the 1730's. Any reviews or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
Ron

Its okay, but it really is too large and heavy. I've handled both the standard version as well as the version with the fencing blade. The standard version has a very beefy blade, and the fittings seems to be over-proportioned. The balance is good, but due to the weight it simply doesn't feel like a typical antique smallsword. The fencing version has a lighter blade, but with the exact same fittings, so it balances heavily in the hand and therefore isn't very "lively" at all.

Now, it also is very inexpensive, and I think its a decent sword for the price. Its very sturdy, and its pretty good looking to the average eye. If you study a lot of period pieces, you'll definately notice that the individual bars are a little "fat" looking, and the relief work isn't as crisp as one usually sees on antiques. As always, it comes down to how much you want to spend to get the better details.