Archive for the ‘Sword Collecting’ Category

Antique Chinese Swords

Friday, 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.

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A short guide to Celtic swords

Thursday, 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.

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Tips for Sword Collecting

Wednesday, 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.

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