Sword replica
Encyclopedia
Sword replicas may be produced as a singular reproduction of a specific historical sword
, e.g. commissioned by a museum, or they may be produced commercially in series, again either based on a specific sword, a certain historical type of sword, or an original design loosely based on historical precedents. Functional quality reproductions even when produced in series may be priced in the USD/EUR
1,000 to 2,000 range or above, while cheap factory produced swords may range around USD/EUR 50 to 200.
The purpose of the replica may be either exhibition (educational museum replicas, or simply decorative "wallhangers"), or practical use (historical fencing, combat reenactment
, kenjutsu
/battōjutsu
or test cutting).
In the case of decorative replicas, the product need not be able to withstand the physical stress of actual use, resulting in lower cost. Such decorative look-alikes are also pejoratively referred to as "sword-like objects" (or SLOs) in jargon, especially when falsely advertised
.
Swords intended for historical fencing on the other hand should ideally come as closely as possible to historical weapons (but remain unsharpened to avoid injury). Swords used for test cutting
are sharpened, and are often heavier than their historical counterparts, since added weight improves their cutting effect at the expense of agility (c.f. the historical executioner's sword
s). Swords used for combat reenactment often have rounded points to reduce the risk of injury, and are also often much heavier than their historical counterparts.
Decorative swords often have stainless steel
blades. This is because stainless steel will not rust when on display. However the chromium content that makes steel "stainless" also effects the material properties of the steel making it more brittle under similar heat treatment. A stainless steel blade with a small flaw or a poor heat treatment can be brittle and shatter on impact with a target, potentially resulting in injury to the attacker as well as the target.
Some replica swords are nickel or chrome plated to prevent corrosion. This plating is often far shinier than even highly polished carbon steel blades making the swords poor reproductions. The plating itself isn't very durable and can chip or flake if the swords are actually used for anything other than display.
Many sword replicas touted as "battle ready" are also overbuilt making them unhistorically robust and heavy. They will not break even under stress that would destroy a historical sword, but they also lack the proper weight and balance of a historical sword. This makes them unwieldy and unsuited for many types of swordplay.
or handle. The part of the blade which protrudes into the handle and attaches the two together is called the blade tang
. The blade tang transfers impact from the blade to the wielders hands. Many manufactures of replicas use inferior types of tangs, which is one of the most common causes of various forms of breakage or product failure.
Historical swords have a tang that was forged as part of the blade, which is hammered through the hilt, or peened; the sword-maker then files the protrusion. Threaded tangs are tangs that, despite having been forged as part of the sword, are inferior since they are screwed into the hilt rather than properly peened. Tab tangs are much shorter than full tangs and often fix the blade to the hilt with friction, glue, or single pin. Rat tail tangs are thin tangs welded to the blade. Partial tangs have a thick blade tang which transitions to a rat tail at some point within the hilt.
These less durable tang designs are liable to break or bend when struck against anything. Worse still, the blade can come loose from the handle when the sword is swung and potentially injure someone. The proper tang has to be designed and heat treated to prevent breaking, bending, or conducting hand numbing vibration from impacts to the user.
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
, e.g. commissioned by a museum, or they may be produced commercially in series, again either based on a specific sword, a certain historical type of sword, or an original design loosely based on historical precedents. Functional quality reproductions even when produced in series may be priced in the USD/EUR
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
1,000 to 2,000 range or above, while cheap factory produced swords may range around USD/EUR 50 to 200.
The purpose of the replica may be either exhibition (educational museum replicas, or simply decorative "wallhangers"), or practical use (historical fencing, combat reenactment
Combat reenactment
Combat reenactment is a side of historical reenactment which aims to depict historical forms of combat. This may refer to either single combat, melees involving small groups, or nearly full-scale battles with hundreds of participants....
, kenjutsu
Kenjutsu
, meaning "the method, or technique, of the sword." This is opposed to kendo, which means the way of the sword. Kenjutsu is the umbrella term for all traditional schools of Japanese swordsmanship, in particular those that predate the Meiji Restoration...
/battōjutsu
Battojutsu
is a Japanese term meaning techniques for engaging a sword. It is often used interchangeably with the terms iaijutsu, battōdō, or iaidō, although each term does have nuances in the Japanese language and different schools of Japanese martial arts may use them to differentiate between techniques...
or test cutting).
In the case of decorative replicas, the product need not be able to withstand the physical stress of actual use, resulting in lower cost. Such decorative look-alikes are also pejoratively referred to as "sword-like objects" (or SLOs) in jargon, especially when falsely advertised
False advertising
False advertising or deceptive advertising is the use of false or misleading statements in advertising. As advertising has the potential to persuade people into commercial transactions that they might otherwise avoid, many governments around the world use regulations to control false, deceptive or...
.
Swords intended for historical fencing on the other hand should ideally come as closely as possible to historical weapons (but remain unsharpened to avoid injury). Swords used for test cutting
Tameshigiri
Tameshigiri is the Japanese art of target test cutting. The kanji literally mean "test cut"...
are sharpened, and are often heavier than their historical counterparts, since added weight improves their cutting effect at the expense of agility (c.f. the historical executioner's sword
Executioner's sword
An executioner's sword is a sword designed specifically for decapitation of condemned criminals . These swords were intended for two-handed use, but were lacking a point, so that their overall length was typically that of a single-handed sword...
s). Swords used for combat reenactment often have rounded points to reduce the risk of injury, and are also often much heavier than their historical counterparts.
Anatomy of a sword replica
Many cheap modern sword replicas are built for decorative purposes. These are either too brittle or too fragile for any practical use.Materials
Historical sword blades are always made of carbon steel alloys, but many replicas are not. Often the choice of blade material has more to do with ease of manufacture or marketing than sword performance.Decorative swords often have stainless steel
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
blades. This is because stainless steel will not rust when on display. However the chromium content that makes steel "stainless" also effects the material properties of the steel making it more brittle under similar heat treatment. A stainless steel blade with a small flaw or a poor heat treatment can be brittle and shatter on impact with a target, potentially resulting in injury to the attacker as well as the target.
Some replica swords are nickel or chrome plated to prevent corrosion. This plating is often far shinier than even highly polished carbon steel blades making the swords poor reproductions. The plating itself isn't very durable and can chip or flake if the swords are actually used for anything other than display.
Weight and balance
Replica swords are generally consumer display items. Blades are often stamped or cut from steel blanks so that they don't taper properly. Shortcuts are often taken with the blade tang and hilt fittings so they rarely counterbalance the blade properly. This often makes for a sword that is both heavier than its historical counterpart and much more blade heavy in terms of balance.Many sword replicas touted as "battle ready" are also overbuilt making them unhistorically robust and heavy. They will not break even under stress that would destroy a historical sword, but they also lack the proper weight and balance of a historical sword. This makes them unwieldy and unsuited for many types of swordplay.
Hilt construction
The weakest point of most sword replicas is the hiltHilt
The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard,grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillons. A ricasso may also be present, but this is rarely the case...
or handle. The part of the blade which protrudes into the handle and attaches the two together is called the blade tang
Tang (weaponry)
A tang or shank is the back portion of a tool where it extends into stock material or is connected to a handle as on a knife, sword, spear, arrowhead, chisel, screwdriver, etc...
. The blade tang transfers impact from the blade to the wielders hands. Many manufactures of replicas use inferior types of tangs, which is one of the most common causes of various forms of breakage or product failure.
Historical swords have a tang that was forged as part of the blade, which is hammered through the hilt, or peened; the sword-maker then files the protrusion. Threaded tangs are tangs that, despite having been forged as part of the sword, are inferior since they are screwed into the hilt rather than properly peened. Tab tangs are much shorter than full tangs and often fix the blade to the hilt with friction, glue, or single pin. Rat tail tangs are thin tangs welded to the blade. Partial tangs have a thick blade tang which transitions to a rat tail at some point within the hilt.
These less durable tang designs are liable to break or bend when struck against anything. Worse still, the blade can come loose from the handle when the sword is swung and potentially injure someone. The proper tang has to be designed and heat treated to prevent breaking, bending, or conducting hand numbing vibration from impacts to the user.
Manufacturers
Companies manufacturing sword replicas:- Albion SwordsAlbion SwordsAlbion Swords is a company based in New Glarus, Wisconsin manufacturing European sword replicas. The company was started in Washington D.C. by Howard and Amy Waddell in 1998.-Products:...
(USA) - Hanwei (sword producer) (China)
- Windlass SteelcraftsWindlass SteelcraftsWindlass Steelcraft is a company based in Dehra Dun, India, producing replicas of swords, sabres and other historical arms and armour. The company goes back to a 1943 establishment selling Kukri knives....
(India) - Cold SteelCold SteelCold Steel is a Ventura, California-based maker of knives, swords and other edged weapons and tools. Cold Steel was founded in 1980 by company president, Lynn C. Thompson...