Replica swords are just about as tricky of a purchase as a car or a piece of jewelry. Before you make a purchase, you need to know what you are talking about when it comes to replicas, you need to be well informed about the specific product, and you need to be aware of the consequences of a bad purchase. Replica swords are sought by people with a wide variety of needs and resources, so prices and quality vary wildly. To make a wise purchase, you need to evaluate a replica sword before you buy.
One of the best reasons to evaluate a sword before purchase is to make sure you are only spending as much money as is necessary to fulfill your replica sword needs. Replica swords come in every variety you can imagine, from cheap knock-offs of video game weaponry to incredibly detailed weapons forged with by historically accurate processes. The price difference between swords can vary by thousands of dollars. So what are your replica sword needs?
Are you a reenactment performer? If so, you will need a weapon that can withstand a few blows, a sword that looks legitimate, and a sword that will be cost effective for when you need to replace it. Are you just trying to get a nice sword to display over your mantle? Then you should only be concerned with looks and price. Quality steel, durability, and safety don’t really matter for display. If you are a history buff, maybe you are looking for a weapon that accurately recreates a weapon from your favorite era of history. The weapon that you need will probably have to be made by a historically oriented blacksmith. This website provides good resources on what to look for. This one is good too, for beginners.
One of the most important elements of evaluating a sword is the amount of information you have available to you about the piece itself. Buying a replica sword from Craigslist or somewhere where the item is listed by amateur sellers is not the best way to go about things from an information standpoint. First, there is little guarantee that the seller will have any idea what the item they are selling is worth. They may not know the manufacturer, the process by which the replica was made, or even the composition of the metal. Needless to say, it would be incredibly foolish for a person who needs a safe, durable weapon to purchase this way.
Ideally, you want to be able to hold and test the replica before purchase. A sword salesman who is confident in their product and its ability to fulfill your sword needs are not going to object to you inspecting the replica thoroughly. If you are purchasing an item that is supposedly historically accurate, it may be possible for you to see the forging process for the product you are about to buy. Many blacksmiths give tours of their forge and will demonstrate for you how a product is built. Obviously, you will not get this level of service out of a catalog or mall store. However, many retailers may be willing to guarantee their products and provide certificates of authenticity, which do carry some weight.
We talked with the experts at SwordsAxe.com who added, “It is important to evaluate your swords before purchase out of respect for the hobby. People don’t just run around purchasing swords because they need to trim the hedges. People who purchase swords usually have a passion for replica weapons, historical reenactment, and sword play. Those of us who do have that passion view our collection with pride, and we want to buy replicas that we can be proud to own.” Having the knowledge of what to look for and taking the time to inspect a replica sword adds value to it, because it adds the value of the purchaser’s discerning eye and good taste. A replica sword collector doesn’t want to waste money on a weapon that doesn’t pass his standard. It’s as simple as that!
