Bondo makes a roll-on bed-liner kit with texturing material. Very easy, if messy and smelly. Costs less that $50 for the kit and can be done in an afternoon. Doesn't quite look like the armoured bed-liners as it has a bit more of a rubbery look to it. The difference is visual though, as it is reported to protect quite well. Frankly, if it self-destructs after a year's use, you can re-do it and still be $300 dollars ahead.
Another problem with swords is quality. How can you tell quality from a catalogue? I used to know a fellow that was a history buff and had spent a lot of time in Europe. In the course of his travels, he'd become fast friends with the Royal Armourer for Spain. Said armourer made him a sword (early Renaissance style midpoint between a rapier and a battle-sword) as a gift when this fellow moved back to America. It is one of his most prized possessions, obviously. When anyone asks about it, he has a demonstration of sword quality. He sticks it point first into a block of wood and shoves down. The sword bends into an "s" shape. He pulls up and it immediately goes back to true. That is a quality sword.
Insofar as my experience with swords on the normal market, I've been pretty unimpressed. So far, I've liked a few weapons imported by Museum Replicas, but it is still hit and miss fit-wise. They are also more of a use-weapon than a wallhanger, so don't expect flawless finish, expect performance. As most of us don't need performance from a sword, it can be an odd purchase.
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