Collecting Swords

Today, swords are a very popular area of collecting. They may be displayed along with a knife collection, or by themselves on sword display stands. Many are elaborately decorated, making them beautiful show pieces, while others are more utilitarian. Some are designed purely for decoration, while others are “battle ready,” meaning that they can actually be used.

There are several different types of metals usually used for swords. Stainless steel swords are popular and easy to find in knives designed for display. It is not as durable as Carbon steel, which is often found in swords designed to be used, such as those used in fighting shows at Renaissance festivals, or for fencing.

Sword collectors may specialize in a certain type of sword, from a medieval broad sword to a samurai sword to a Cavalry sword used in the Civil War. Nearly every era of history has a typical sword style, although swords for weaponry or personal defense began to die out in the nineteenth century as reliable guns became available.

An Eastern sword, also known as a pirate sword, European sword, or medieval sword, is characterized by its long, double-edged blade, as well as a straight hand guard. Samurai swords have a round hand guard and single edged blade, often with a slight curve. Another type of Asian sword is the Japanese katana, developed during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. These usually have a wooden handle with some sort of wrapping, and often a scabbard to match. You can find authentic swords for the past several decades, or reproduction and fantasy versions of earlier sword types.

There are also many new or reproduction swords designed specifically for collectors, including fantasy and movie swords that are not designed after any sword used in history. Swords made for decorative use often come with a plaque, wall mounted display, or stand.

Other swords are decorative, yet are meant to be used in a costume or for reenactments. These swords often come with a scabbard instead of a display stand. These swords are less delicate than those designed solely for display, although they usually aren’t meant for heavy daily use like true historical swords. Other swords for costume use have an unsharpened, rounded blade. They cannot be used as actual swords, but are safe for plays and other productions, and still make beautiful display pieces.

Caring for your sword collection includes occasionally rubbing the blade with oil. Those made of stainless steel require less care than those made with carbon steel blades. If you actually use a sword, such as for fencing, you will need to sharpen it to keep the blade sharp. Display swords should not dull or require sharpening.

Swords are available in nearly any price range. If you collect swords for aesthetic reasons, any quality of sword is acceptable as long as you like the appearance. Swords for actual use, whether in plays or reenactments or “battle ready” swords, should be higher quality to withstand this use. When buying a sword that you plan to use, it’s important to feel it to make sure it is comfortable; swords vary greatly in their overall weight and how this weight is balanced, which can affect how well you can handle the knife.