[StonerStudent]

I'm looking to add a sword to my growing edged weapon inventory.Im think about a Rapier or broad sword, Anyway does anyone know of a good company to get one from?

[Vasilia Zhietzev]

these guys are'nt bad if you want a chinese broadsword for practice.

www.superiormartialarts.com

i've seen a few nice vintage cutlasses for sale at local gunshows. for $200 or less, you'd get a nicely weighted & balanced blade. try one. you might like it.

my personal tastes run to japanese katana. look here:

www.swordstore.com

[Combat-wombat]

Hi, and welcome to The High Road!
I don't know much about swords, but I know that Cold Steel makes what look to be some pretty nice swords.

http://www.coldsteel.com

[El Tejon]

Stoner, when you say you want a "sword" that's like telling people (i.e., weapon geeks like El Tejon) you want a "gun.":D

What, what, what? Japanese, Chinese, Western, Arabic, Italian, etc., et al.

Off the rack? Custom? What? I've having a pair of baat jam do made in Suid Afrika that should be the bee's knees (or the Chun's Wings). Have some really nice wooden practice jians, daos, and bjds from Canada. And the real thing from HK.

Can you narrow your focus any???:confused:

[Alan Fud]

Here are some of my swords ...
http://fud-files.netfirms.com/image/private/guns/sword.gif
... If you tell me which type interests you, I can tell you where I got it from.

[StonerStudent]

Sorry for being too general folks :D ..Ok I am looking for a hand and a half Bastard sword or a 16th century rapier [euro]. And I want a real cutter not a show blade. I want to get a Katana down the road but am starting in europe first...also looking for a war hammer and battle axe.

[Drjones]

http://forums.swordforum.com

They'll have your answer.

That said, www.albionarmorers.com makes great stuff.

[Soap]

Get an Atrim. You will be VERY pleased with the balance. Check them out in the store section of swordforum.com

[Tamara]

Avoid like the plague swords made of stainless steel by United Cutlery et al. These are more properly termed "Sword-Like Objects" or "SLO's".

[epeefencer]

Try Museum Replicas http://www.museumreplicas.com/home.html the have a great selection of weapons that are made the way they should be. The have a nice selection of Battle (War) Hammers and Bastard swords.

[Alan Fud]

Good recommendation ... Museum Replicas (http://www.museumreplicas.com/home.htm) is where I purchased a majority of my stuff plus they offer a lot of nice accessories.

[JShirley]

Welcome to THR, epeefencer.

[Sunray]

Most of the swords you see on the sword sites are decorative only. And they ask long dollars for them. There are some places that sell what they call 'battle ready' blades,but be prepared to spend big bucks. Generally, if the hilt is all brass or other metal, the sword is likely soft too. Nearly anything made in Spain and India/Pakistan is junk. Soft and decorative only.

[MrAcheson]

If you want a sharp medieval european swords then here are some places:

Museum Replicas Limited (MRL): Inexpensive (and sometimes cheap) carbon steel pieces. Quality has had issues but seems to be improving of late. The blades are often made using peened hilt construction so they can loosen with use. They tend to be re-inactor friendly which means the blades tend dull and heavy. The MRL store is more costly than others, but has a superior warranty that may come in handy with their spotty quality control.

Deltin: Nicer quality than MRL in general, but similar. A little heavy, normally unsharpened, and peened.

Cold Steel: Usually good quality (but there have been exceptions) and sharp with a good edge. Still heavy and peened, but good cutters. The cold steel store is overpriced, but other retailers can be more reasonable.

Angus Trim (Atrim) Swords: These are carried by the swordforum museum store, christian fletcher, and www.allsaintsblades.com. Sharp, good weight, quality, and balance. Stock swords are built to be working cutters not pretty wall-hangers, but they have excellent lines none-the-less. Hilts are not peened but threaded so that they are easily dismountable.

Albion: Like Atrim swords they are good quality, sharp, good weight and feel great. Dismountable threaded hilts.

Arms&Armor: www.armor.com sharp, pretty, good weight, excellent quality. The best place out there without going custom, but also the most expensive.

[Red Dragon]

"Nearly anything made in Spain and India/Pakistan is junk"

the stuff made in india and pakistan is usually junk, this is true. but some of the highest quality swords come out of Toledo, Spain. it is true that spain also makes the "display swords" but they are one of the highest producers of battle-ready blades ase well.

[Red Dragon]

also, I purchased a brass swept hilt rapier from Museum replicas limited quite a long time ago and it is still one of the best swords in my collection. the blade has much better flex than many cheap knockoffs as well as a full tang instead of the common welding of the threaded screw to the half-tang of most cheap swords.