Antique Swords

[CoreyGray]

I just read the essay on the weight of real swords and how modern replicas, even if they are an ounce or two within the weight of the sword there were modelled after and look the same, just can not compare with a real swords balance.

Which begs the question... As my step-mother collects antiques and likely knows some dealers, should I entertain the notion of purchasing an antique sword, cleaning it up, and sharpening it? I likely wouldn't use this sword for even cutting practice until I knew what I was doing so that I wouldn't lose the edge, but after that it would be great practice for how a real sword works.

I just noticed how the essay was talking about how a real antique sword begs to be wielded and a replica can feel much heavier.

[Ryan Ricks]

i have been to a couple antique arms shows.

the swords i saw were all cavalry sabers, mostly from the war of 1812 and the civil war. these swords ran anywhere from $500-$3k for the really nice ones.

i have no idea how much a medieval sword would go for, though. i'm sure it would prolly be much more than $3k.

so if you've got the cash, by all means. otherwise you can get some really nice replicas for < $500.

ryan

[Lance Chan]

If I were you, I wouldn't do that. The patina and the nicks on the blade of the antique sword contains too much precious information of what kind of life it has gone through. They're the marks that're irreplacable. I wouldn't clean it off and sharpen it, even just for display.

In my opinion, it ought to carry those marks on for the rest of its life so that one can learn about its life and study the effects of various engagements, such as the nicks of blade contact, the original edge geometry, etc.

[Casper Bradak]

Not to mention that it would destroy a great deal of its value.

[CoreyGray]

Well I was thinking of the sword in its original function instead of a display item. The more essays I read about replica swords vs antiques, it always seems as though nothing compares to the antiques. They are sharper, lighter, and better balanced than even the replicas based off them.

If there are modern swords that can perform like an antique sword, I would definetely look at that but I'm looking for a quality tool here. The essays say that the farther away your replica is from an antique sword, the more distorted your style becomes.

[Ryan Ricks]

although this is certainly true, how much money would you spend? i've heard of antique swords costing like over $10k. certainly one in decent shape will be very expensive.

John C. has mentioned in a couple essays being able to test cut with antique swords. i'm sure it's definately much different than working with replicas.

even though antiques are undoubtedly superior, is the increase in quality worth the increase in price?

this is the question i ask myself when i consider some of the more expensive replicas out there. most of mine were about $200. based on talking to people here, and seeing some pictures of unmounted replica blades on the internet i decided that the very marginal increase in quality for a $500 replica wasn't worth the substantial increase in cost. at least not on my budget.

translated into the realm of antiques: what if you accidentally damaged or destroyed an antique sword in cutting practice? not only would you be out a whole lot of money, you would have just destroyed a piece of history. if i did that, i can't imagine how bad i'd feel.

[David Kite]

Since no one else has suggested it yet, and I assumed it would be somewhat obvious (though I don't know for sure); but it is possible to get a modern sword "as good as" an antique. You just have to go the custom route. I would imagine (though again I have no idea myself) that a well-made custom sword made by an experienced smith, could make a very high quality sword, which, though still expensive, would still be much cheaper than an antique. Plus if you end up destroying it, you haven't destroyed a piece of history. You're just out a lot of money.

2 cents

David Kite

"remember: rape and pillage before you burn"

[Allen Johnson]

I agree. Look up makers like Vince Evans, EB Erickson (if you want baskethilts), Arms &amp; Armor, Erik Stevenson (of Phoenix Metal Creations) to get an idea of the incredibly high caliber of sword you can get if you can drop 1K +. They (and others I'm sure I missed but are just as deserving) are highly reputable and can turn out some of the best modern blades available. but thats just me <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Allen Johnson]

Add: One of my favorite antiques I wish I could have had...I think it was auctioned for $10,000-$15,000. not something Id like to abuse any <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" /> [image]http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?s=&amp;threadid=26137&amp;highlight=bonhams[/image]

[Ryan Ricks]

so i was at an antique shop the other day. they had two swords in a display case. they looked like some sort of cavalry saber. it had a blade maybe 1" at the hilt, straight, and tapering to a pretty good point. they didn't really look too old, but some idiot had drilled two holes in each blade. most likely to put them on a wall

ryan

[CoreyGray]

It almost feels wrong to just hang a sword on a wall...

My step-mother has a suit of antique full plate we call Henry that we can touch and even try wearing (doesn't work). Antiques want to be loved! Though her father, a short Italian, insisted that Henry was too tall, being an Englishman, and took a hacksaw to the wooden support beam. Now Henry's a bit compacted and shorter than he once was but unharmed.

He needs to be cleaned though... Anyone know how to clean a suit of antique full plate?

[Ryan Ricks]

gently!

i'd say get some WD - 40 and a sock

[Casper Bradak]

If it's antique as in made when the stuff was used, seek professional advice.
If it doesn't work because it's decorative, and it's really an antique, it's probably victorian, and you should treat it nice but it's no cultural treasure.