[David Hohl]

Hi all; this is the first sword I ever bought; it's several years old, and was originally bought as a wallhanger, unsharpened. Over the years I've done a couple sharpening jobs on it, got it up to a decent edge, and cut a few bottles with it. The other day I decided to take it apart, with a view to replacing the handle. I'm wondering if you guys think it's safe for use against light targets, or whether it should be put back on the wall permanently.
[note: these photos are right after it was disassembled, so I haven't cleaned off the cement and crud from the tang, or the remains of the plasticy leather stuff covering the handle]

[img]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iuzNyQh1h3s/Tw5upTxa-ZI/AAAAAAAAA3c/f5TmCtnD3X4/w500-h375-k/IMG_0088.JPG[/img]
The tang seems fairly substantial to me; it tapers in thickness from the round end to the blade, with the round stock being thicker; if there's a weld I can't see it

[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z7mRV5udgbY/Tw5urtbO4HI/AAAAAAAAA3k/n5Kh9ZnBgwk/w260-h195-k/IMG_0090.JPG[/img]
This shows the radius of the shoulder; it seems to have been ground a little unevenly with a ~1/4" round file; the two sides are not symmetrical.

[img]https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QUIUvdeGPnc/Tw5usLfyZbI/AAAAAAAAA3s/mqYylmqDDHo/w260-h195-k/IMG_0092.JPG[/img]
This shows the length of the tang from the side, showing a fairly even taper.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this - for the moment it's my only "sharp", such as it is, so I'm trying to make do with it until something better comes along.

[David Hohl]

Pictures appear to not to have imbedded; they're attached to this post.

[William Swiger]

David,

I have this same sword and it is fine to use on light targets. Mine has not had the fittings come loose and has stayed tight for the entire time I have owned it.

Bill