Medieval Weapons - The Passion of Swords

In medieval times, dozens and dozens of medieval weapons were introduced.  And because there were different armors and different fighting techniques used, medieval weapons were often altered and redesigned to suit the owner and to maximize function and maneuverability.  A trained soldier who could learn to maneuver a very strong and well-built sword could be a deadly enemy on the battlefield.

Throughout the centuries, the primary weapon of knights was definitely swords.  Though there were a lot of medieval weapons to choose from, the sword held the most honor and prestige to wield and master.  From long swords like the Cold Steel Hand-and-a-Half Sword, opted for their long range to great swords like the Beowulf Sword, opted for their strength and endurance. 

Like any of the medieval weapons, the first sword over 2000 years ago has changed dramatically to further its function; from the short and predominantly for stabbing to longer and stronger swords of the 13th century.  After that, the sword has taken into a lot of considerations and function adaptation for its knight – to stab, to slice, to slash, to thrust and especially to block. 

Today, as we are modernized and civilized enough to discuss our predicaments and conflicts over meetings and civilized discussions – the appeal of taking justice into your own hands and fighting for honor remain – thus the popularity of medieval weapons replica.    Though there are dozens of different weapons, from swords to warhammers to mace to flail to axe; the medieval sword remains to be the most popular of all.

But mostly, enthusiasts love to collect movie and epic swords: The original Rambo knife from Rambo Movie, Dagger of the WitchKing from Lord of the Rings and Sword of Hiro Nakamura from Heroes the TV Series are among the best sellers.

In the past, a medieval knight had to choose a sword to master and his mastery over the sword would be a matter of life or death.  Though we are blessed that we no longer have this dilemma; we choose our medieval weapons according to design, taste and craftsmanship.  The medieval weapons have evolved and changed over the centuries – a true document of the development in metalworking and blacksmithing technology.

There are many kinds of replica swords, ranging from movie swords to historical models. These replicas have a variety of purposes and even though the main one is to have something to put on display, they can also be added to sword or weapon collections or in some cases be used as a real weapon if the sword is battle ready. Regardless of what kinds of replica swords you are interested in, it is easy enough to find the right ones because there are so many available on the market. It is especially useful to go look through websites that sell swords since many have good replicas and you can get an idea of what is available.

Replica swords from movies make up a large number of the models that are for sale. Many movies with a large fan base had swords in them, among them Lord of the Rings swords, the Samurai 3000 collection and 300 spartan weapons.  All replicas from movies should come with an official license so that you can be sure of getting the “one and only” genuine piece, but furthermore replica swords should also come with a certificate of authenticity. Those that collect replicas should also keep an eye out for limited or special editions, since they are the rarest and most valuable swords.

Another main group of replica swords are those that are based on real swords from famous warriors or which were used during certain eras or wars. Examples of such swords include those like the replica of William Wallace’s, aka Braveheart, sword or the Samurai Shogun swords, as well as Civil War officer’s swords or Scottish swords. All can be used for specific collections, but even on their own make great displays.

Since almost all replica swords are not functional, they are not as dangerous to keep around a home as battle ready swords would be. However, that does not mean that they are completely safe and therefore they should still be kept on wall plaques or mounted in racks where they are easily seen but not touched by those that should not be playing with swords, such as children. Non-functioning swords should also only be shown and not used since they are not capable of withstanding impact or cutting through tough objects without breaking.