Swords
 

I have recently really started to enjoy swords. What I'm looking for is to buy a sword that is not too expensive, but that is not just something to hang up on the wall. I want to get something for me and my friends to fight with, not for real, but like set up stuff so that it looks cool. Does anyone know where to buy strong swords that can be used for fighting that aren't going to kill my wallet?

well i ordered a sword at www.swordsonline.com theyll match any online price (not a sale tho) i mostly bought from them cuz i could get no shipping, they have a store back home...

but make sure anything you get does not say "display only" and if your not sure email the company and find out...

Sounds like you and your friends need to find a fencing club in your city and then start fencing! You'll enjoy it!

Kendo. Ebay.

fighting with blunted, real swords is called livesteel fighting on the Ren faire circuit, but while the swords are blunt, they will still cause severe injury or death if used without upmost care- so to start with you need some good instruction, and kendo swords or fencing swords to practice with, along with at least a minimum of safety gear- belive me when I say that you must know what you are doing to play with what are in essence metal clubs-

once you have training under your belt, Paul Chen makes the very best live steel blades I have seen- about $115.00 retail for the practical medieval sword- $135.00 for the practical hand and a half- as for japenese weapons, everyone I know uses boken or shinai to stage combat- same cautions apply to the Boken as to live steel blades, it is still an excelent bludgeoning weapon and requires skill and care.

I have 4 swords. I have a medieval long sword and 3 japanese swords. Anyone can shoot a gun, doesnt take much brains. But to use a sword effectevaly, the person must posses skill and intelligence. Swords are imo the hallmark of honor and discipline.

Anyone can swing a sword... a weapon by itself has no inherant honor or discipline.

nanofever you are correct in saying that anyone can swing a sword. It takes zero intelligence to use a weapon. But I'm talking about using a sword with skill and intelligence. For the past thousand or so years the sword has been put hand in hand with honor, loyalty and bravery. That is why I said that the sword is in my opinion a symbol of honor and loyalty.

Wow, nothing personal, but thats one of the most ignorant, uninformed comments I've heard in a very long time.

I shoot, have been shooting most of my life, and am on an NCAA Rifle Team. Our "bullseye" as most would refer to it is 1/2mm in diameter, with a .22 caliber bullet, from 50ft, in 3 different positions. You not only have to be fully aware of everything from your breathing patterns, to your heartbeat, the movement of every muscle in your body, your sight alignment, and be able to process and anticipate the shot within thousandths of a second, while fading out every minute distraction around you. Then you have to replicate every EXACT detail of this process another 159 times that same day. The fun gets even better when you are in a championship match with a 10 man shot by shot shootoff, where everyone is watching you, your scores are announced after every shot, and the winner is determined based on 1/10ths of a point.

On top of this, there are an infinite number of variations on the various positions, so a shooter must be able to assess his own abilities, hold, comfort level, etc, while in the process of every shot. You can watch and learn what proper form is when swordfighting, but you can not watch and learn what it is to feel and interpret everything with the utmost perfection when shooting. And this is only collegiate competition. Imagine what its like to be a sniper, having to replicate this same precision when both your life and anothers is at stake.

But hey, all of the Olympians, world champions, collegiate athletes, and police and marine snipers I know, myself included, who are able to perform day after day, even when faced with tremendous adversity (political and otherwise) must not have any intelligence, honor, or discipline to be able to do what we do. Hell, its so easy, I encourage everyone to do it :rolleyes:


Again, nothing personal, as you're not the only person I've heard make comments like this in regards to shooters. Sure, it takes all of those attributes to be a good swordsman, but it takes all of those attributes if not more to be a good shooter.

I belive myself to be a swordsman, having studdied for the last 15 years in a variety of sword styles, and largely agreed with D.C. untill I tried out my new gun on the range last fall- and I can say with experience that any weapon requires skill to use with any effectiveness- Guns are not the point and click interface that hollywood makes them out to be, hence the reason that qualified professional marksmen are in demand always in militaries, and police units. I am a horrible shot, something that I am now working to correct- and I suspect that it will take me no less effort than learning to use my swords efficiently- as to the honor issue, I sell swords for a living, and love them with a passion that may well be unhealthy, but no inanimate object carries with it any more or less honor than the user.

For some really good information on swords of all types and appropriate uses check out www.swordforum.com. A good site with tons of info. They also have a classified section where people sell their swords. You might get a deal.

Here are a couple of link:

http://www.nosyuiaido.com/

http://www.bugei.com/

I study Iaido and I have several swords myself. I have a hand folded sword from Japan, and several practice swords.

:icare:

Well said. Our boys don't have any honor, bravery or loyalty? Dumbest shit I've ever heard in my entire life.

Going on about the Sword thing i am looking to attempt the construction of a katana and i was wondering if anyone knows where i can find info about the process

There is a complexity to everything. It also takes skill and intelligence to shoot a gun accurately and properly.

Banesends-
Jim hrouslias Wrote the complete bladesmith- Thats a great place to start- its a long hard road, but it can be done if you work hard