Swords are one of the best items around to collect. They display well, they’re extremely hardy, and they come in an almost endless variety of shapes and sizes. Choosing the right kind of swords for a new collection can be something of a challenge for a beginner. They might want to choose franchise-only swords, or they may be after ones that have historical value.
Whatever the reason may be, this is how to begin a new collection of swords from scratch.
Understanding The Anatomy Of a Sword
Starting a sword collection is one thing, but knowing which swords are good quality is a skill that needs to be learned over time. To start with, let’s look at the strucutre of the blade.
- The edge: the sharp part of the blade
- The back: the part of the blade that’s opposite to the edge, only in single-edged swords
- Flat: the sides along the blade
- The fuller: This is the groove that runs along a sword to decrease weight without causing loss of strength
- The Hilt: This is the upper part of the handle, which consists of a pommel, grip, and guard, often made from wood, leather, or sometimes wire.
Some Commonly Found Swords
- The longsword: Found mostly in Europe, these can measure up to 50 inches and were mainly produced in Switzerland and Germany in the 15th century onward.
Greatsword: A much larger version of the longsword, these were close combat fighting during the 15th and 16th These were often incredibly heavy and required lots of strength to wield.- Falchion: A single-edged sword that was used between the 13th and 15th century, usually by the knights of Medieval Europe.
- Rapier: This was a doubled edged, extremely light weapon that became very popular in the late 16th century, and was used for warfare and duelling. It’s also often a sword that was held by military officers.
- Cutlass: The cutlass is a weapon that was most often used by sailors and pirates.
Some Tips For Buying Swords
The Cost: As a general rule, it’s a better idea to aim for army swords over naval swords, as the former tend to be much cheaper. Some of the easiest swords to get a hold of are the military swords of the 18th and 19th century, and it may mean saving some extra money for other entertainment, such as the best online slots in AU.
The Condition: When buying a sword, take the time to give it a thorough inspection. One big aspect to keep in mind is how the hilt and the blade fit together. If either feels lose, it’s a good indication that they may need to be replaced at some point in the future.
If the sword doesn’t come with a matching scabbard, it usually means that it’s not worth quite as much and has lower resell value. If the blade has been very visibly clean, there is a chance that there may be some damage beneath that the seller is trying to cover up, so taking a few minutes to inspect the entirety of the blade is recommended.
