Fantasy Swords - a Buyer’s Guide
Fantasy weapons, and particularly fantasy swords, are offered in an extensive variety of styles including Highlander, Lord of the Rings, Samurai, Dragon and Final Fantasy swords. If you are seeking a fantasy sword you will want to know what you will use the sword for and what you should be looking for. There is a considerable difference in fantasy weapons that are intended for purely decorative use and those manufactured to be functional. The best quality swords can be high-priced although there are a number available below around 0.
Cheap Fantasy Weapons and Swords
A lot of the swords and weapons available are produced in Pakistan or China and, although they look perfectly acceptable in a photo they are cheaply made, which is apparent when you have them in your hands. They are badly produced, frequently with hilts that are loose and with brittle blades and sparse details. They are of course, very cheap so you get the quality that you pay for! If you just want a decorative sword to put on the wall they may be appropriate although if you only give $40 you can’t expect anything of better quality.
Ornamental High Quality Swords and Weapons
There are several better quality, decorative swords available and one designer to be aware of is Kit Rae who has been making fantasy swords, axes and knives since 1984. While not ‘battle ready’ these stainless steel attractive fantasy swords are superb value for money. There are however many fake Kit Rae swords as they are copied the most by counterfeiters. Many sellers will even show you pictures of genuine Kit Rae swords then will sell you a bogus one. Authentic Kit Rae swords are obtainable from about $100. These are attractive rather than functional and are manufactured from stainless steel. They are excellent art works and are the best value decorative swords you will find.
Functional Fantasy Swords and Weapons
Fantasy designs are of course, fantasy! Therefore to translate a decorative fantasy sword to a functional sword isn’t usually easy or even possible. Some sword makers have been able to combine the element of fantasy with function to manufacture an acceptable functional fantasy sword. An example is the Dark Sentinel Sword made by Hanwei Forge which is a combination of a Japanese katana and a European duelling sword. Functional swords made from tempered steel are manufactured by Windlass Steelcrafts some of which are 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 sizable fantasy sword the Sword of Chaos, although the majority of their products are medieval sword replicas that are historically accurate. A further manufacturer that we can mention is Darksword Armoury which make tough functional fantasy swords. Several of their designs are based on traditional fantasies including Lord of the Rings and several are original fantasy designs. They are also the only manufacturers of the Anduril Sword of Aragorn.
Conclusion
Do your research before buying a fantasy sword. Ensure you know the distinction between decorative and functional swords and purchase one that suits your requirements. Do not expect a cheap imitation to be worthwhile for anything more than putting on the wall. For a highest quality fantasy weapon purchase one from a reputable manufacturer and steer clear of the low-priced replicas brought in from Pakistan or China.