Swords

[Highlander II]

decided to start a new thread for this --->

okay -- more sword info -- (i used to work in a store that sold knives and swords and such) ---

yes, you have to be 18 to buy a sword --

quality -- DO NOT buy anything made by/for United Cutlery unless you are looking strictly for a piece of crap show piece -- their stuff is all 440 stainless steel and the katanas come w/ a metal sheath/scabbard (big freaking no-no w/ swords! it's terrible for the blades)

MARTO is the company that makes all the Highlander Replicas, so if you want good quality replicas that look really close to the swords used in the show, go through this company - they're in Spain and their swords are made from high carbon stainless steel -- very nice pieces, very sharp -- the swords are shipped 'live' (means they're sharpened) --

Cas Iberia also makes excellent replicas of high carbon stainless steel (i'll explain metals in a minute) -- but these aren't the ones from Highlander, tho you can sometimes find similar products -- they are well done and Cas has some things that Marto doesn't -



Steel --- 440 Stainless - this is the stuff Swiss Army Knife blades are made from -- not a bad metal, but it's hard to put an edge on it and it doesn't hold an edge as well as the carbon based steels do; it's also the same metal that most kitchen knives (the carving sets) are made from (meaning the cheaper ones, not the $200.00 ones)

High Carbon Stainless - this is a stainless steel, but carbon has been added to it - makes it easier to sharpen, and it holds an edge much better than the 440 stainless; most 'real' swords are made from this (if i'm not mistaken the japanese used carbon steel to make their katanas - i'd have to research this to be sure); the high quality pocket knives - folding and fixed blade - are made from this -- companies like Spyderco and Benchmade (both US based, one Colorado, the other Oregon) use this in their knives (they use a specific type called ATS-34) -


can ya tell i spent a lot of time learning product knowledge for that job??? had to - ppl were always asking questions --

anything else ya wanna know???????

 

[Highlander II]

one more thing --- do a LOT of research before you jump into buying a sword -- make sure you know exactly which one you want and talk to all kinds of salespeople and get as much info as you can so you don't buy something that's not worth what you paid for it ---

 

[markpud]

thanx for the info, HII. I doubt I'd ever actually buy a sword (money issues here ) but its good to know anyway.

We can dream can't we....

 

[Highlander II]

yeah -- that money thing is the reason i don't have any swords -

i could hardly afford my Benchmade Stryker (folding knife i carry w/ me everywhere) --- not to mention, transporting swords can get kinda hairy -----