Fantasy Weapons and Swords - a Buying Guide

By: Janet Ashby

Fantasy weapons, and in particular fantasy swords, are available to buy in a wide range of styles including Lord of the Rings. Highlander, Dragon and Samurai swords. If you are looking for a fantasy sword you need to know what use you will make of the sword and what to look for. There is a big difference in fantasy weapons made for purely decorative purposes and those made to be functional or 'battle ready'. High quality swords can be expensive although there are some available below about $400.

Cheap Fantasy Weapons and Swords

Many of the swords and weapons available are made in Pakistan or China and, while they look perfectly acceptable in a photograph they are very cheaply made which is very obvious when you have them in your hands. They are poorly made, often with brittle blades and loose hilts and very little detail. They are very cheap so you get what you pay for! If you just want a decorative sword to place on the wall they may be suitable but if you only pay $30 you cannot expect anything of higher quality.

Decorative High Quality Weapons and Swords

There are many higher quality, decorative swords on the market and one designer to look out for is Kit Rae who has been designing fantasy swords, axes and knives since 1984. Although not 'battle ready' these stainless steel decorative fantasy weapons are excellent value for money. There are however many counterfeit Kit Rae weapons as they are copied the most by counterfeiters. Sellers even go so far as showing images of genuine Kit Rae swords then selling you a fake one. Genuine Kit Rae swords can be purchased from about $100. These are decorative rather than functional and are made from stainless steel. They are excellent works of art and are the best value decorative swords to be found.

Functional Fantasy Weapons and Swords

Fantasy designs are just that, fantasy! So to translate a fantasy sword to use as a functional sword is not always easy or even possible. Some manufacturers have managed to combine the fantasy element with function to make an acceptable functional fantasy sword. One example is the Dark Sentinel Sword made by Hanwei Forge which is a combination of a Japanese katana and a European dueling sword. Windlass Steelcrafts also make functional fantasy swords from tempered carbon steel some based on the book the Wheel of Time or the game Dungeons and Dragons.

Lord of the Rings fantasy swords are made by Generation 2 who also make a large fantasy sword called the Sword of Chaos although the bulk of their products are historically accurate medieval sword replicas. Another manufacturer that we can recommend is Darksword Armoury which make tough functional fantasy swords. Some of their models are based on classic fantasies including Lord of the Rings and some are original fantasy designs. They are the only manufacturer of the Anduril Sword of Aragorn.

Conclusion

Do your homework before buying a fantasy weapon. Make sure you know the difference between decorative and functional swords and buy one that suits your needs. Do not expect a cheap replica to be useful for anything more than decorating your wall. For a high quality fantasy weapon choose one from a good manufacturer and avoid the cheap reproductions imported from China or Pakistan.

Article Source: https://www.collectibles-articles.com

For more information visit Fantasy Weapons or see our range of Fantasy Swords.

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