Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Quality decorative swords? Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Steven Pearson





Joined: 06 Jul 2009

Posts: 48

PostPosted: Tue 26 Feb, 2019 9:01 am    Post subject: Quality decorative swords?         Reply with quote

Hello all,

Anyone know where to find any quality decorative medieval European swords?

The decoratives are cheaper as they are simpler to make and many have stainless blades which are much easier to maintain. Problem is I don't find any that look nice (close to actual real medieval swords). Most are under 100$ and look like garbage.

I have a couple of real swords already and was just looking for a couple for display only. Am I better off just looking for a real 200-300$ cheapish seord from something like museum replicas? Looking in the 200-400$ range.

For example this one?
https://www.museumreplicas.com/sword-of-tancred
View user's profile Send private message
Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Likes: 6 pages
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 2,294

PostPosted: Tue 26 Feb, 2019 2:39 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Marto makes some nice looking decorative swords. Most are pretty flashy, so maybe a bit showy for your likes, not to mention they are pricey for display-only swords. In my opinion, you would be better within your price-range sticking with Windlass, Hanwei, Legacy Arms, etc. ...........McM
''Life is like a box of chocolates...'' --- F. Gump
View user's profile Send private message
Craig Peters




PostPosted: Tue 26 Feb, 2019 9:28 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Steven,

If you think you can manage it, I would go with something like the Albion Squire Line Knightly Sword. Yes, it's $73 over your maximum price of $400. However, a sword like this genuinely represents a quality reproduction piece. The Squire Line Knightly has a nice balance and handling, elegant hilt furniture, and does not cut corners the way the overwhelming majority of swords do in the $200-$400 price range. The nice thing about the Squire Line Knightly is that with a little extra effort to sharpen it, and redoing the leather grip with a cord incised wrap, you've got a sword that looks essentially like a Next Generation Albion but at almost half the price. In the long term, I doubt you will miss the extra $73.00, but you will definitely appreciate the noticeable difference in quality with the Squire Line Knightly.

As for the Tancred sword, the pommel on it is pretty bad. The attempt to mix the florette with a Type I pommel really looks off. Adding to the problem is the fact that no pommels like this would be found on a sword carried by Tancred during the First Crusade. Additionally, the riser that extends from the fuller to the point has no business being on a sword from this era. This is one of the biggest problems with cheaper swords that have fullers and as you may know from looking at antique swords, you simply do not find it.

Going a bit outside of your current price range will give you the opportunity for a much finer sword.
View user's profile Send private message
Steven Pearson





Joined: 06 Jul 2009

Posts: 48

PostPosted: Tue 26 Feb, 2019 10:01 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Mark Moore wrote:
Marto makes some nice looking decorative swords. Most are pretty flashy, so maybe a bit showy for your likes, not to mention they are pricey for display-only swords. In my opinion, you would be better within your price-range sticking with Windlass, Hanwei, Legacy Arms, etc. ...........McM


Thanks, looked at the Marto's; nothing I like much. Agree, think I will just forgot the cheaper decoratives as none look good at all to me.
View user's profile Send private message
David Wilson




Location: In a van down by the river
Joined: 23 Aug 2003

Posts: 802

PostPosted: Wed 27 Feb, 2019 2:46 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

You might even consider Del Tin. They may be outside your price range, but not by much. They are not stainless, but Del Tin coats his steel parts with a protective coating that seems pretty effective.
David K. Wilson, Jr.
Laird of Glencoe

Now available on Amazon: Franklin Posner's "Suburban Vampire: A Tale of the Human Condition -- With Vampires" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072N7Y591
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Steven Pearson





Joined: 06 Jul 2009

Posts: 48

PostPosted: Wed 27 Feb, 2019 4:37 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

David Wilson wrote:
You might even consider Del Tin. They may be outside your price range, but not by much. They are not stainless, but Del Tin coats his steel parts with a protective coating that seems pretty effective.


Thanks, will do. Hard to decide!
View user's profile Send private message
R. Robinson




Location: NE
Joined: 23 Apr 2018

Posts: 51

PostPosted: Wed 27 Feb, 2019 5:16 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Craig Peters wrote:
Steven,

If you think you can manage it, I would go with something like the Albion Squire Line Knightly Sword.


Probably not much of a better option. It's dull, which is fine for display, and although it uses a different steel than the Next Gen line (right?) that won't matter much for display.

Del Tin has some pretty ornate pieces for sub-$500. I know this is before the time period you're asking, but it's a good example of what can happen for under $500. http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=DT2070
View user's profile Send private message
Steven Pearson





Joined: 06 Jul 2009

Posts: 48

PostPosted: Wed 03 Apr, 2019 1:24 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

So I eventually ended up spending a bit more and getting a DarkSword armory Excalibur. I have always wanted a nice replica of this movie (the 1981 Michael Boorman film) sword so figured what the heck.

Lovely piece, by far the nicest sword I own. The only part that was slightly blemished was near the cross guard where it meets the blade there is some grease or discoloration. I polished it and got some of it off, so another polish or two hopefully will fully remove it.

The balance and weight feel really good in the hand, but with the silver wire grip you need a leather glove or it wears on your hand pretty quickly. I didn't get it sharpened since I have 3 small children who are curious. Figured I could sharpen it myself later so haven't done any cutting drills yet.

It came wrapped in plastic wrap which left some marks on the blade but they were removed with an easy polish. Also came with a nice certificate marking this blade #315 out of 500 they are going to make. The blades are hand made in Canada. I got the leather integrated scabbard as well but don't have any photos of it yet.

Here are some photos.

[url]IMG_20190320_194450920 by Steven Pearson, on Flickr[/url]

[url]IMG_20190320_194608489 by Steven Pearson, on Flickr[/url]

[url]IMG_20190320_194328145 by Steven Pearson, on Flickr[/url]

More photos here including the box and wrap it came in.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/164910528@N08/1NX9e6
View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Quality decorative swords?
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum