Sword - Collectable Fantasy and Samurai Swords

Sword - Collectable Fantasy and Samurai Swords

The sword has existed as a weapon in almost every place in the world. Even ancient South Americans, who had no metallurgy, had a wood and obsidian version of the sword called a Maquahuitl.

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Unlike other weapons, swords are almost universally admired as the greatest of all weapons, and often the honor of carrying a sword was afforded only to the noblest ranks.

Like the knife, swords developed along with the culture, reflecting their resources, craftsmanship, and ingenuity.

For example, in Europe where iron was plentiful, chain mail and metal armor were created as protection during battle. This is part of the reason why the relatively small Roman battle sword developed into the huge medieval sword, a broadsword that took much strength and training to wield.

In Japan, where iron sources were scarce, the Japanese sword became very thin and curved to allow it to cut though armor effectively. Partially because of the scarcity of iron, it was made illegal for the highest quality sword, the katana sword, also called the samurai sword, to be in the possession of anyone ranking lower than a samurai.

Since World War I, the sword has lost prominence as an effective weapon against enemies. Most swords made today are collectibles or made for sport or hobbies, like fencing or historical re-enactment societies.
For collectors, there are many different types of swords available, from authentic samurai swords to fantasy swords. Movie fans can also buy reproductions of swords from their favorite movies, including detailed reproductions of the Lord of the Ring sword, or the sword used by the Kurgan in The Highlander, or even the Last Samurai sword brandished by Nathan Algren in the Tom Cruise epic.
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