February 23rd, 2009
You know that the French just love their swords when they have given names for some of the more popular blades in their historical and cultural accounts. One of the best possible examples of this would be Durendal, the longsword of the legendary hero Roland. Said to be indestructible, Durendal has also been valued for its beauty and balance. During the 1st World War, some French soldiers were still supplied with their own swords as part of their standard weaponry. Some of these swords were called estocs (or literally, “tuck” or “tucked swords.”) Patterned after the common longsword, the estoc varies by only one degree. These estoc blades had one single sharp point: and that was the tip of the sword.
Acting more like rapiers or epees or fencing foils, the estoc was a stabbing weapon. Although it was not much use for cutting or slicing through bodies, these blades were prominently carried by French soldiers everywhere they went. The estoc blade was usually made of lightweight but strong materials, so it was no great burden for the soldiers to carry them anywhere. As the fighting continued, World War I France Swords slowly begun to get shorter, and the estoc swords were enhanced to have either one sided blades or two side blades to make them more functional, rather than ceremonial. The hilts too begun to change, paving the way for two-handed estoc swords to come out to better handling.
Eventually, smaller blades begin to get more play as trench warfare reached its height during World War I. Still bearing their estoc blades into combat, French soldiers also started carrying trench knives as added defense.
Tags: WW1 Swords
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February 8th, 2009
French brass hilt short swords were specifically made as fraternal or society swords used as practice swords of pupils in the French Ecole de Mars Revolutionary Military Academy back in 1794-1795. Other books said that the swords came from an Independent Order of Odd Fellows as listed in the 1800s catalog of Ames Sword Company.
Judging from its craftsmanship, it is obvious that the sword is not made for combat. The blade point is blunted which makes it useless for thrusting, cutting or slashing. Aside from that, the blades are double-edged but the edges are flat and unsharpened.
As the name implies, French brass hilt short swords have hilts, pommels and ferrules that are made of cast brass. It is comparable to the neoclassic design of the Roman Gladius short-swords. It has grips adorned by 12 rows of either feathers or fish scales. The cross-guard that ends in 90 degrees angle seemed to lack quillon finials. The blade is attached by slightly deforming the tang to perfectly fit into the hilt. It has a slight curved on the hilt which acts as a knuckle-guard.
Another noticeable feature of the French brass hilt short swords is the distinct adornment on the scabbard. It is usually brass-plated and steel-sheeted covered with velvet cloth. The color depends on the rank of its owner.
There were various replica of this type of French ceremonial sword which makes it difficult to identify its original version. Collectors of art swords such as this one are still conducting individual research to determine the value of this 1700s artifact.
Tags: Brass Hilt Swords
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January 25th, 2009
There are a great number of civil war swords in the world. Many of these have been used in military combats as well. In fact, a lot of the castoffs from military battles have found their ways into the hands of civilians; not out of desire, but mostly out of the necessity to arm themselves with any weapon whatsoever. It should be noted that there are lots of notable civil wars that have already happened in the history of the world, both in the ancient world and in modern times. And as such, these civil war swords can be distinctly classified according to the actual location and period where they were used.
For example: the rapier was one of the most popular swords in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. For a while, people favored this weapon because it was light and can stab quite easily. It served its purpose during singular duels. However, the rapier was soon abandoned because it became ungainly to wield in the battlefields. This was replaced by a whole range of backswords like cutlasses and sabers which was easier to brandish when confronted with a lot more adversaries.
Another example: the civil war that led to the downfall of the Eastern Han Dynasty in China. General Guan Yu had utilized the most unusual sword to defeat his adversaries. The guandao (also known as kwandao and the yan yue dao) was a large, flat and curved sword attached to the end of a pole. It was used by striking at heads and legs with a sweeping motion. Although these were useless in close quarters combat, it was utilized to create as much damage as feasible among singular enemy combatants.
Tags: Civil War Swords
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January 18th, 2009
Swords played a significant role in most fraternal and secret societies all through the years. The Freemasons are probably the oldest and most popular organization that uses historical fraternal swords in their rituals and regalia. These organizations were formed in Europe in mid 1700s. They came to America during European colonization in the late 1800s. Other similar organizations were formed in the United States ever since but most of them are mere social clubs that took from the activities of the existing fraternal societies in Europe.
Still, there are fraternal organizations that are formed for political, patriotic or religious ideals. Aside from that, most of these organizations are beneficial to the members, providing medical and life insurance.
Some of the organizations that prevailed aside from the Freemason are the Benevolent Protectorate Order of the Elks, Knights of Pythias, Knights of Columbus, The Loyal Order of the Moose, Ancient Order of Hibernians, etc., all of which use historical fraternal swords in their rituals especially during rituals of inauguration. The swords often times express the symbols of the society. By studying these symbolisms, one can learn a great bulk of historical information based on the context where the secret society was formed.
Historical fraternal swords were specifically created for ceremonial rites as chivalric blades. They are not made for actual combat at all although they embody the tradition of fighting for a noble cause. They are related to western chivalry as samurai swords are related to the Imperial Japan. The owner of the sword bears the tradition of living by a code of honor.
Tags: Fraternal Swords
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January 17th, 2009
The 1861 to 1865 American Civil War is one of the most prominent markers of the era. Although gunpowder had already been part of the common soldier’s arsenal, many still favored the use of swords. For one thing, swords could be easily drawn in close quarters combat – and for years prior to that, soldiers were given more training in sword fighting than in any other weaponry. Also, guns at that time had very difficult reloading stages, with the gunman pouring and igniting the gunpowder one shot at a time. The most common swords during that time were cutlasses and sabers.
Sabers were considered as backswords, or swords that have rather thick metal backings to support the edged side of the blade. Most sabers during that time were curved, but there were also straight types that made it easier to use, since the main purpose of these weapons was stabbing. These often utilized hand guards to protect the person’s thumb and forefingers during parrying and thrusts. More elaborate hand guards (i.e. carved gold) were usually symbols of a person’s high military ranking or political prestige. Cutlasses on the other hand were also one form of saber with a much broader slashing sword. These can sometimes be distinguished by a basket shaped hand guard or what is termed as solid cupped.
These two kinds of swords are pretty much prevalent these days, particularly in reenactments. Civil war reenactment swords are getting a lot of use among people who engage in reenactment scenarios. Some prefer to use authentic sabers and cutlasses (especially if these have seen their battle already) while others commission custom made pieces so as to fit their “roles.”
Tags: Antique Swords, Civil War Swords
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January 16th, 2009
China has been known for its martial arts. Some martial arts use swords or sabres. There are two kinds of antique Chinese swords, jian and Dao.
Jian sword is a straight sword that has been around for more than three thousand years. Newly created Jians are longer than their ancient counterparts, which are usually made of bronze. It was sonly a couple of millennia ago that the bronze material was replace by a sturdier and stronger combination of iron and steel. Jian became so popular from the Ming dynasty which flourished from 1368 to 1644 to the Qing dynasty which became powerful from 1644 to 1911. These are also the times when martial arts became popular. The antique jians which you will find in antique shops or online auctions are actually swords from the Qing dynasty.
The blade comes in different forms—from narrow to wide to flat and with ridges. Just like all swords, it has a hilt, a grip, and a pommel for balance. Scabbards used to keep Jians are made of wood with a cured skin of sting ray as its cover.
The next kind of antique Chinese swords is the dao. This one has only one sharpened edge and are popular within the times of 13th to 14th centuries. Dao is also known as a ‘sabre’. What is so unique about this sword is its curved blade. Some said that this feature is from Mongols who conquered China. The blade could have the same wideness from the top to the bottom or it can gradually become narrower as the blade approaches the tip.
Again, like jeans and other swords, Dao has pommel, hilt, and hand guard. The wooden grip sometimes has sting ray skin covers or braided leathers.
Tags: Antique Swords
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January 2nd, 2009
Collecting antique Japanese swords could be an expensive hobby. That is why extra care should be given when handling or storing these unique pieces. If you have your own collection of antique Japanese swords, here are the things that you should do.
• If the blade looks dull, do not try to sharpen it. If you will use any sharpening objects such as a sharpening stone or grinding wheel, this will lose some of its market value among the collectors. You can make the blade shinier and sharper but not in that very crude way. There are special procedures that you should know in handling antiques.
• Try not to scratch the blade’s parts especially the nakago or tang with rough objects such as emery paper, steel wool, or sand paper. This will lessen the value of your antique Japanese sword.
• The tang or nakago is one very important part of the sword because it serves as its identification. Even if you are itching to remove the rust from that part, control yourself. An altered nakago will diminish the price of the antique sword by half!
• Do not use your antique Japanese sword in cutting objects other than flesh, which, of course, you should not do as well. It will damage the blade if you will use it to cut branches of trees and even shrubs.
• The blades should not be touched using your bare hands. This could form rust on the blade because of the oil and acid that your hand has. Use a clean cotton fabric to handle the blade. But as much as possible, try not to touch the blade because it is very sharp. One slip and you might lose your finger, or even your hand.
Tags: Care For Your Swords, Japanese Swords
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January 1st, 2009
Of the many types of varieties of swords that have been developed and used in the worlds, one of the most famous is the ones that are used by the Celts. These Celtic swords usually come in three varieties which include long – bladed ones that are used for slashing and cutting; and a short one for stabbing. Aside from these two, there is also the Celtic broadsword which is developed in later times and is famous for its very long and heavy blades. All of these swords possess hilts that imitate the human form with the arms and legs serving as the hand – guards and the head placed at the pommel. This hilt design is something that is found to be unique only to the Celts.
Another unique characteristic of a Celtic sword is the fact that they are said to be mystic and possess different powers and abilities. Because of this, the Celts are said to be the first race to name their swords 
and treat them as if they are alive. One famous example of this treatment is with the story of King Arthur and his powerful sword, Excalibur. This sword is said to be given to him by the Lady of the lake and it has helped him in all of his battles and adventures. Aside from him, there are also his knights like sir Lancelot with his “Arondight” and sir Gawain with his “Galatine.”
This extensive and colorful background has made collecting Celtic swords very popular among enthusiasts and collectors alike. Many would pay large amounts of money even for just a very accurate replica of any of these famous swords.
Tags: Celtic Swords
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December 24th, 2008
Swords have played a huge part in the lives of many people as well as the history of the world. Originally made as a weapon for cutting, slashing and thrusting, it has been a witness to the rise and fall of many nations and countries. It is a common habit for many leaders and conquerors of the past to wear swords as it symbolizes their power and authority. In fact, some sword displays today show weapons that are said to be actually carried by these famous people. If not for the development of gunpowder, many people would still be caught carrying one today.
Because of this significance, it has not been a wonder why many people like having swords as decor in their house. Many, especially the rich ones possess different kinds of sword displays that are designed to awe and amaze any visitor or audience. Some of these displays possess real swords that have ties to certain historical points and figures while some are imitations of famous and well – known swords. Other varieties show off the different kinds of swords from all over the world while some off show off pieces from famous sword makers and blacksmiths.
Actually, this displaying of swords is not new, since it has been used since ancient times. It is common in many countries like those in Asia and Europe to hang swords in areas where it can be readily seen by other people. Many have become a sort of family heirloom that is handed down from generation to generation from fathers to sons. Other sword displays are so old that they are often donated to museums and historical centers so that they will be properly taken care of and acknowledged.
Tags: Sword Displays
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December 24th, 2008
Have you ever been fascinated by swords and used to play a plastic sword that changes light when you press a button? Do you want to be one of those sword collectors with so many antique collections from different periods? Then you should do the following tips for sword collecting. Read on.
• There are so many antique swords that are available in the market. Decide which you like the best and prioritize that. You can just choose swords that come from one era, one country, or that serve similar functions.
• Do your homework and research over the internet and in the library, read some magazines with sword collecting, and ask avid collectors of swords.
• You should have a good storage area for your collection. You do not want them looking like a mess piling up in your room because you don’t have any area reserved for your collection.
• Know the price of the swords in the market and take into consideration your budget and how much you can afford. If you spend so much money collecting swords that your child will not be able to continue to study in the university, then you should get your priorities straight.
• Think thoroughly before you spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on one sword. Think if it is really worth the amount that you have to pay.
• After buying your very first sword in your collection, take care of it by cleaning it thoroughly and placing it in a special case or in an area where it will not be damaged or destroyed.
Tags: Tips for Sword Collecting
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