http://articles.conanswordsandbooks.com/rss.xml A blog about conanswordsandbooks.com daily 365 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 http://articles.conanswordsandbooks.com/?a=36681 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Properly forged swords last a lifetime, or at least they should. Unfortunately, properly forged swords are few and far between these days. Sure, a knight could have found one during medieval times or a Samurai could have found one in his local village, but Joe Schmo in the USA of the twenty-first century will have to really search for a well forged sword if he wants one that will last. Thankfully our livelihood does not depend on these weapons of war any more. <br /><br />While stainless steel might work for forks, spoons, and butter knives, it does not work well for swords. Any sword made of stainless steel does not qualify as genuine because it just will not last. The forging and metallurgical processes that make this sword cause the metal to literally become brittle. <br /><br />This does not mean that a sword love should completely shy away from this type of metal. On the contrary, many of these swords make for some great decoration in the home. Think about how a pair of Cavalry swords might look in a crossed pattern on that large blank wall in your den. If you love shiny aesthetics, this might work better for you than a painting. <br /><br />Swords made of 5160 have proven themselves much tougher than those made of stainless steel. We find this type of steel in truck springs, so the steels durability only makes sense. After all, it has the ability to support tons of weight without breaking, so surely it would withstand a few hundred pounds of pressure that accompany a sword swing. <br /><br />Other types of tough steel exist as well. The form L6 has recently become popular for its durability. Japanese swords often use this with a clay tempering method. Many times the beautiful swords are not the durable ones. Because we no longer need these little weapons, great smiths are a dying breed. While some will opt for metals like 01, D2, or A2, these fall into the steel realm and thus only work well functionally. You wouldn't want to hang them on the wall as show pieces. <br /><br />The quality of steel will vary as much as the variety of steel. Where a steel sword is manufactured matters just as much as how it is manufactured. For example, many third world countries like India and Pakistan will use recycled steel from the same tough truck springs we talked about earlier. The result often times is not pretty: swords will literally crack under pressure. This does not occur all the time, but far more often than desired. Recycled steel does not always result in a bad sword. Some of the best swords out there come from forged welded cables and Russian anchor iron. <br /><br />In the end, a buyer is always taking a risk when he purchases a sword. But if he examines all of the factors, he can at least minimize the risk and know what he is buying.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach Florida. Find more about this as Samurai swords and Japanese swords at <a href="http://www.conanswordsandbooks.com/">http://www.conanswordsandbooks.com</a></p> 2006-11-30T20:33-05:00 http://articles.conanswordsandbooks.com/?a=36680 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Thanks to Hollywood heroes like Antonio Bandarras playing Zorro and Tom Cruise playing the Last Samurai, we have seen a resurgence in the sword market. Individuals are at least asking about swords if not actively seeking to buy them. And why not, they make some pretty neat show pieces if you prefer the martial arts style of decorating. <br /><br />Several different types of swords exist. Interested buyers can find just about any desired sword, from the medieval broad swords to the fencing swords to Cavalry sabers to swords with Asian influence in them if they just know where to look. Dozens of websites and stores carry different styles. <br /><br />Think about this: a person can style his room specifically to a given era by just picking out the right sword. If he likes King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, he has the option of trying to find a medieval styled sword to hang on the wall or place in a cover in the corner. If he prefers the valor of the samurai he can find the sweeping blades to adorn his walls. And if he wants to pay homage to the U.S. Cavalry men like Teddy Roosevelt he could probably find an authentic Cavalry sword online. <br /><br />We are even seeing sword stores pop up in unlikely locations, like malls. Check out your own local mall. You might be surprised to see a blade store feature a variety of styles in the corner part of your local mall. And just about anyone can find what they need for a weapon or adornment there. <br /><br />Swords also vary in their medium. Two different types of sword qualities exist. Stainless Steel, the most popular and thus easiest to find, often finds itself used for display or show. It does not have the durability of the Carbon steel, the type of swords often used at Renaissance festivals for fighting shows. Additionally, an owner can keep his sword in great shape with just a little sewing machine oil rub down. <br /><br />We have even seen swords used in everyday sports that have become so popular even the Olympics features them. Meet fencing. Obviously the players have little possibility of hurting themselves thanks to smart body armor, but they still are wielding a weapon with a blade ferociously, gaining a good cardiovascular workout in the process. They also learn about how to engage in a fight with honor and valor, like many of the swords symbolize. <br /><br />From Luke Skywalker's light saber to the swords that knight dukes today, the long bladed handle will always remind its owner of something important in his life. Every sword captures sparks an image in the eye of its owner, whether its that of a man fighting valiantly from the top of a horse, or a white clad athlete fighting for his country in the recent Olympics. Swords are here to stay.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach Florida. Find more about this as Conan swords at <a href="http://www.conanswordsandbooks.com/">http://www.conanswordsandbooks.com</a></p> 2006-11-30T20:30-05:00 http://articles.conanswordsandbooks.com/?a=35855 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Many people are fascinated with swords, but know nothing about them. The fascination with swords probably comes from the fact that we don't know much about them. We see swords on TV shows or movies and are fascinated with their mystery and their beauty. Many people think it would be neat to have a sword just to hang on the wall because they are fascinated with them. <br /><br />Some people are so interested in swords that they would actually like to make their own. To learn how to make a sword is quite difficult and time consuming. If you truly want to learn how to make a sword you will have to make a good time and money investment. If you are not willing to do this you might as well just give up on the idea. <br /><br />Sword smiths are the people who have spent years perfecting their trade. These people have worked very hard to master sword making, and have put in the time to learn everything they can about swords. These people are very knowledgeable about what they are doing and take pride in their work. Many swords are very detailed and intricate and take a lot of hard work and time. In modern times a sword smith does all the work on the sword himself, but this was not always the case. It used to take many specialists to make a sword. It took a different person to make each different part of the sword. <br /><br />If you are not a true collector you will probably not pay as much attention to detail as a true collector. If you are one of those people who would like a sword to hang on your wall because you are fascinated with them you will probably not do the research to find a true sword. There are swords out there that are not made all that well. The design of the sword is compromised to make it look nice. If all you want a sword for is to hang on the wall then you probably won't care much about function or true authenticity, but rather what it looks like. <br /><br />A true collector of swords will know what he is looking for when he is after a sword. Usually collectors are quite knowledgeable about the different aspects of a sword. These people will probably be able to look at a sword and tell you if it is truly authentic or if it is a fake remake. Collectors know what a sword should look and feel like. Function and authenticity are definitely more important to a collector than the beauty of the sword. Most swords that are truly authentic and worth getting are both functional and beautiful. The maker has taken the time to make a sword that is worth his time. A true collector will also be aware of how much a real sword will actually cost. A sword that is just made for hanging will be much cheaper than a true sword.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Conan Swords and Knives at <a href="http://www.conanswordsandbooks.com/">http://www.conanswordsandbooks.com</a></p> 2006-09-24T14:25-04:00 http://articles.conanswordsandbooks.com/?a=35854 <p>by Gregg Hall</p><p>Swords can be made out of many different materials depending on what they will be used for. Swords are a dangerous weapon that can be used to kill people. Hopefully the only reason you would want a real sword is if you are a collector, and not to actually harm someone. The materials used to make swords for movies, or wall decorations are different than what real swords are made out of. <br /><br />Wood is one of the materials that a sword can be made out of. Some sword smiths make a model of the sword they are going to make out of wood first so they know what type of design they will be using. The reason for this is that wood is cheaper, and still gives you a good idea of what the end product will be. <br /><br />Stainless steel is used to make swords for decoration. Stainless steel is not a strong enough metal to be used on a functional sword. A true sword will never be made out of stainless steel. <br /><br />Aluminum is another metal that is used in sword making. These swords are also used mostly for decoration. Aluminum is used because it is easy to cut and finish and is relatively inexpensive. They are also strong and lightweight, and you can make them have a mirror finish so they look great on the wall. In addition to looking good they are rust resistant, and are easy to keep looking good. An aluminum sword is what is commonly used in movies or demonstrations. When swords are used for movies or demonstrations the edges are dulled to prevent injuries. <br /><br />Carbon or flexible steel is what a real sword will be made out of. This material is very strong. Flexible or spring steel is what is preferred due to its flexibility. If a sword is struck with high impact it will flex a little bit instead of bending right away. If the sword is bent in combat it can usually be fixed by a professional sword smith. <br /><br />There are many different grades of steel that can be used to make swords. You may want to check and see which grade of steel the sword you are buying is made out of. Not all swords are made the same. Some flexible or spring steel is not made as well as others. Spring steel is made out of recycled truck springs. This is a great metal for sword making if the steel is recycled properly. If the steel is not properly recycled, it can revert to its original grain. Cracking due to stress and shock is also something you need to be careful of. <br /><br />When purchasing or making a sword make sure you look at what the function of the sword will be, and the quality of the material you will be using.</p><h3 class="popup">About the Author </h3><p>Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Conans Sword Shop at <a href="http://www.conanswordsandbooks.com/">http://www.conanswordsandbooks.com</a></p> 2006-09-24T14:22-04:00