Looking for Floor Standing Sword Displays... recommend? -- myArmoury.com

Chris Artman

Hi All, I'm moving closer to work to a new rental house (no more commute and a free standing unattached house). Besides, the (8) 18" subwoofers don't work well in a town house...

I'm looking at all the holes I'm going to have to patch in my current rental house and I am thinking I do not want to do that to the new rental house since I will most likely only be there 1.5 years (hoping to buy a house when I save enough for downpayment).

In any case, I thought a floor standing sword rack would probably be the best way to go. I guess the Maces, flails, and other items can lean against the wall, unless there is a display solution for them as well. Since I'm only going to be there for about 1.5 years, I don't want to have to drilll any holes...

So far these are all I have come up with... Anyone else have anything they recommend that is nicer/different, and anything that works well for other types of weapons like Flails, spears, maces, etc?

http://www.thekeeneredge.com/plaques-racks_products1.html

http://www.handmadesword.com/148.html

http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Spear-Display-...mp;sr=1-46

http://www.amazon.com/Black-16-Piece-Sword-St...amp;sr=1-5

http://www.amazon.com/Piece-Sword-Stand-Free-...dpp_img_in

This is not great but it seems you can space it however you like?

http://www.amazon.com/Lucite-Double-Sword-She...mp;sr=8-46

This seems interesting:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-...p;v=glance

http://www.cutlerywholesaler.com/13-pc-sword-floor-stand.aspx

Another Axe/Spear display:

http://www.amazon.com/Axe-Spear-Display-Stand...mp;sr=1-73

Orange??

https://www.themartialartsstore.com/Catalog/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MAS001&Product_Code=TC-4594&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

A staff display, could be good for spears?

http://superiormartialarts.com/wleimages/W094.jpg

This sword display holds 20 swords:

http://www.bokleipo.com/product_info.php?products_id=2181

Anyone prefer vertical display??

http://www.kingofswords.com/Swords/Stands-Dis...Stand.html

This halberd stand looks a little beefier:

http://www.kingofswords.com/Swords/Stands-Dis...Black.html

Chris Artman · Posted: Thu 22 Oct, 2009 8:24 am Post subject:

Any higher quality stands? (I guess ultimately you could do your own woodworking or hire a woodworker).

This looks interesting:

http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/Half_Cir...713.3.html

Chris Artman · Posted: Thu 22 Oct, 2009 10:27 am Post subject:

Wow this place has the best prices:

http://www.cutlerywholesaler.com/Wholesale_Stands_Displays.aspx

Timo Nieminen · Posted: Thu 22 Oct, 2009 1:47 pm Post subject:

My rental-living rack was a concrete block/brick with wooden uprights, with screw in hooks (dowel pegs would be better). Stability through a monstrously heavy base!

A lot of commercial racks are very short (you could fit them on a table), so if you're happy to want it on a floor, you could fit a lot more on it if you make it taller. Or spread the racked items out; some of these short racks are a bit cramped - I use one as a nice compact bokken/waster rack, but it would be pretty ugly as far as serious display goes. So, I guess I'm suggesting DIY rather than buying. It isn't so hard, you just need some cheap pine, and hooks or dowel. Saw, bit and brace or drill. Paint, varnish, or wax.

I'd avoid those "fan" racks for spears - I will be traditional and rack horizontally or vertically (and the first rack might get made this coming weekend, but I doubt it - I need to line a wall and build a 1/2 wall/bench/cupboard first).

Glen A Cleeton · Posted: Thu 22 Oct, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject:

While shown on a table here, these two generic racks are inexpensive and usable ether at table height or on the floor. The cane stand for smaller straight stuff holds eight, as does the other wider stand (that I use as a clothes tree at home). The Rubbermaid long pole holder can take a couple of dozen mixed blades and polearms. Although quite useful in the field, I use it covered as a small book reading desk/shelf at home. Painted black, it blends better than the beige and green these come in. There is a corner model of the Rubbermaid as well that is triangular in floor foot print. Sectioned poles let them be either highboys or half height. The big one has holes of all shapes and long slots which would fit any blade. If longer than the item, a cover on the base will protect a foor or carpet from bare points and pole arm shoes.

A caution on the cheap composite wood displays. Screws strip out the material easily, as does the anchors in the case of that cane stand. Like so many other things, quality can be a factor of cost. There are much more expensive ready made display stands and many plans are available for the home hobbyist. I opted for ease and cheap.

The Rubbermaid stands really do rock for this but are not terribly attractive. Excellent for break down and transport though and virtually flyweight while being quite sturdy when loaded with swords. I have had all the slots full in testing and as sword weight is low racked such, quite stable.

Cheers

GC

Chris Artman · Posted: Thu 22 Oct, 2009 2:48 pm Post subject:

Nice to see the photos of how they look in real life, thank-you.

I did some searching, and it seems Chad has a nice fan display inside a glass display, that is very nice setup.

The interesting part about this fan display below is that it is adjustable. I also think it looks nice as well as extremely functional:

http://www.by-the-sword.com/acatalog/Half_Cir...713.3.html

(Frustrating I cannot find anyone else selling the above fan display!!, That price is way overpriced!! Unfortunately Google searching showed nobody else selling it...)

The only thing I like about horizontal and vertical displays is that I can store the scabbard in the slot adjacent to the sword. With the Fan Display, you really can't do anything with the scabbards.

While I like the fan display a lot, I'm just stumped on what to do with the scabbards. Maybe you could get a fan display for the swords, and then next to that place a vertical or horizontal display for the scabbards? However, if you just got a horizontal or vertical display, you could put the scabbards right next to the sword... hmmm, what to do, what to do...

I suppose I could go DIY... I am in the process of having a CNC machine cut the design for my new subwoofers. A display would be magnitudes easier. However, I would need to have a design in mind first...

The appeal of this horizontal design is to be able to put the scabbard right next to the sword:

http://www.kingofswords.com/Swords/Stands-Dis...Stand.html

However, the disadvantage is that it takes up a lot of wall space and I would likely need 3 of those...

Here is a horizontal rack for pole weapons:
https://www.themartialartsstore.com/Catalog/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=TC-4595&Category_Code=WEDI&Product_Count=7

A bit overpriced...

This one remains appealing simply because it is the tallest rack, and holds 20 swords. You could put the scabbard in the back and the sword in the front... But I think you would be hiding the scabbard too much.

http://www.bokleipo.com/product_info.php?products_id=2181

Hmmm, I suppose one could use the fan display on the ground, and then use a wall rack that holds 8 swords, but put the scabbards in the wall rack instead... So have the fan display below, and a wall rack with scabbards above it? At least there won't be a lot of holes... I think I could deal with one or two wall mounted sword racks if that is the best solution...

Timo Nieminen · Posted: Fri 23 Oct, 2009 2:10 am Post subject:

How about 2 extendable poles, such as:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70060284

with brackets or hooks or such attached? No drilling, won't fall over if bumped. (Some of the taller floor stands are not so stable.) Tall enough so that you can keep things at eye level, rather than at shin level.

The "horizontal rack for pole weapons" (I'd call this a vertical rack, since the weapons are vertical) is nice, but it doesn't hold very many. I'll do one of these DIY for my shorter polearms, possibly wall mounted.

Eric Hejdström · Posted: Fri 23 Oct, 2009 3:56 am Post subject:

I made some weaponstands for a friend of mine some years ago in oak and they have lasted very well. Olied with linseedoil they have resisted some foul weather and endured several long markets where he sells his stuff. Th small holes at the bottom of the stand for polearms is to drive a steel peg through when mounted outside. Not really necessary but helps when you have an enormous flag waving in the wind... The swordrack is very simple, just narrow slits in the horizontal peice and holes to lace the backpeice to wooden poles (ie. tentpoles). Well. Most of the solution can be seen on the pictures. For more pictures Go HERE! And no, no patent on the stuff so feel free to use the designs if you want to! Mind that the swords on the rack are the clubs trainingweapons, hence the lame Hanweis together with some other stuff...

Chris Artman · Posted: Fri 23 Oct, 2009 6:32 pm Post subject:

Those DIY racks look great. I contacted my woodworking guy with the CNC machine and I think I'll go that route.

HOWEVER, nobody has discussed how to deal with displaying the scabbards? Do you make a place for them to sit on another row slightly offset posteriorly, between the swords, with slightly greater spacing between swords? How do people display the scabbards as well???

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 23 Oct, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject:

I outgrew this one and took it apart, but it's very simple to make.

Chris Artman · Posted: Fri 23 Oct, 2009 7:53 pm Post subject:

Chris Artman · Posted: Fri 23 Oct, 2009 7:58 pm Post subject:

Thank-you for reposting your picture Sean. It did come up in my searching, and I am glad it is now in this thread. It is a lot like a supercharged cane holder!

I think I'm going to do two seprate pieces, one for pole weapons and another for swords. I am thinking the sword rackshould be a double decker vertical display with scabbard adjacent to the sword....

How am I going to work in the Maces, flails, and axes.... UGH!!!

Harry J. Fletcher · Posted: Fri 23 Oct, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject: My Sword Display Stands

I don't have any pictures but I have a short video if you care to watch it for ideas on making your own. From the pictures submitted from other members to your question I must say that they have some good ideas too! I get so tired of the same old stuff sold on the net. So here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nII4Ync59s0

Hope this may give you some ideas and maybe stimulate you into trying your hand at making your own. After all, you are the one who knows what you really want. Try making a design and making it.

Regards,
Harry

Chris Artman · Posted: Fri 23 Oct, 2009 9:12 pm Post subject:

Thanks Harry,

I agree, seems like DIY time!

Boyd C-F · Posted: Fri 23 Oct, 2009 9:55 pm Post subject:

We have a large number of wooden frame lancet arch leadlight windows turn up at building recyclers etc from our older colonial buildings. They were the inspiration for these plans. This may not be what you're looking though!

Cheers

Boyd

Terry Crain · Posted: Fri 23 Oct, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

http://cgi.ebay.com/10-Tier-Samurai-Sword-Dis...23032e042b

ebay seller legendarysword seems to have decent choices and some variety at good prices. I like the 10 sword rack that folds flat for storage. Looks like it would be quite stabe when loaded.

Eric Hejdström · Posted: Sat 24 Oct, 2009 7:37 am Post subject:

Sean, very nice rack.. Err.. Well you know what I mean, ha ha
Very smart solution to use a corner like that, mind if I "borrow" the idea for my home too?

Terry, I would not use that one. Better than the standard stand that Hanwei delivers but still very unstable. It might also not be healthy to have the points of swods sticking out in your livingroom! Happy

Hmm... This got me thinking of a stand to put on the floor but close to a wall so you can put them up like if on the wall but still being able to move it. It would also be nice it I didn't have to make lots of holes in the wall... Have to give this some more thought.

Chris Artman · Posted: Sat 24 Oct, 2009 11:16 am Post subject:

Is it ok to let the tip of the sword rest against the wood bottom?

http://www.kingofswords.com/Swords/Stands-Dis...Stand.html

I was thinking of making a stand like the above, but 2-tiered (another row above) with wider spacing between the swords, and also allowing for the scabbard to be placed along side. My concern is that the tip actually sits on the wood, since the swords just lean in the rack. Is that ok?

I think having another row above would make better use of wall space.

I'll probably make a separate rack for pole weapons, like that nice DIY shown above.... I'll just have to come up with some sort of way to display the axes, flails, maces, etc...

Sean Flynt · Posted: Sat 24 Oct, 2009 11:52 am Post subject: