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What is a Battle Ready Sword?
You'd think that the term "battle ready sword" would be pretty
much self explanatory wouldn't you?
Unfortunately, many of the swords being described as "battle
ready" are anything but. And to quote Adrian Ko from Sword Forum
International, "a lot of these swords I wouldn't want to take
into battle even if they were strapped to a M-16. And even then
I'd be worried!"
Don't let that put you off though. You'll find that there are
actually some pretty good swords to be found in this broad
category, IF you know what to look for.
The first thing you need to look for in a truly "functional"
sword is the type of steel it is made from. To keep it simple,
99% of all real battle ready swords are made from properly heat
treated high carbon steel.
Stainless steel swords are a big no no. Why? Well basically,
stainless steel is great for making knives. But any stainless
steel blade over 12" in length tends to become brittle, which is
clearly not the kind of thing you want for a "battle ready
sword." So steer well away from sales pitches that describe
"fully functional stainless steel blade"!
There really is no such thing?
The second thing to look out for is the swords handle, or more
specifically the tang (the bit of metal which attaches the sword
to the handle).
Most cheap "wall hanger" swords have what is known as a rat
tail tang, in other words the tang is just a thin bit of metal
welded to the sword blade. Rat tail tangs are a major cause of a
sword breaking when swung through the air, and can be extremely
dangerous, creating what sword enthusiasts refer to as a
"helicopter". (very scary stuff when this happens, trust me!)
What you should be looking for is a sword that has a "full
tang", in other words a tang that has been forged as part of the
sword, not tacked on afterwards?
Finally, it's also important to consider a swords overall
weight and balance.
Contrary to popular belief, a heavy sword is NOT a good sword.
Historically, nearly all swords weighed under 3lbs, and this was
because to reach maximum speed and deliver the most powerful
blow, they needed to be relatively light and well balanced. So
swords over 3lbs should be viewed with a very cautious and
suspicious eye.
Of course, it's not always possible to see immediately in a
swords description if it has all these essential characteristics.
So if you see a sword being described as "battle ready" or
functional, but aren't sure if it really has all the above
characteristics - either ASK the seller what kind of steel the
sword is made from, how it has been heat treated, what kind of
tang it has or how much it weighs, or look for another listing
that does.
Otherwise, you'll probably end up with a sword that snaps in
half the first time you swing it really hard, or worse still,
shatters into shards of steel when you try and hack up a
cardboard box?
For more information on choosing a good battle ready sword, as
well as some easy ways to find them, including reviews and tests
of some of the most affordable yet high quality blades on the
market, check out my website http://sword-buyers-guide.com
 MORE RESOURCES updated Fri. September / 29 / 2023
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