Decent weapons(swords) makers

READ BEFORE BROWSING WITH INTENT OF BUYING:

1. Only buy a sword if you have the kit for it. i.e. for norman or later, you need chainmail, shield etc, and for a viking sword you need seriously bling and rich kit (silver things galore and multitudes of tablet weave and embroidary), cause only kings, chiefs, warband leaders would have swords.

2. Research the cross guard and hilt styles beforehand for the period you want to portray, sword traders on websites rarely tell you any information behind the swords design, and even then they could lie for a sale.

3. Expensive swords are the most likely to be stylistically accurate, as well as being of much better quality. It's well worth saving that bit longer for a much much much nicer sword. Cheaper swords, like paul chen swords, are of average quality but swords like that have modified designs so that they're easier to make and are vaguely stylistic of a period, but you can find them almost anywhere for reasonable prices for a quick buy.

4. You can choose to disregard all of the above, but it will be at the peril of Andrew's implemented standards of kit.

P.S. Avoid Ebay.


http://www.lancasters-armourie.co.uk
Roger and Clive Lankford, very nice blokes, you'll know this if you went to Boot Camp. Good quality swords (Scots Andy has coveted one for years). Very quick in replying waiting list varies depending on the time of the year, during summer its very long, but ordering one in winter will garuntee you one for the next season. Have put good amounts of research into stylistic accuaracy, put you have to figure out the combination of hilt and quillion for yourself. They do plenty of different weapons. They also have a good reputation for plate armour.

http://www.paul-binns-swords.co.uk
Paul Binns is a very big name in re-enactment and the sword world. He has a huge waiting list, you will be the envy of many people, but the quality has allegidly gone down some what in recent years due to the high volume of orders, I don't know if it's true.

http://heronarmoury.co.uk
Tim noyes has a very big selection of swords, they also come custom made. The do falchions and spearheards too. You will have to know your stuff beforehand as it does not provide information on period swords. Is reputtedly good quality (people have given away binns swords for a Tim Noyes) but I haven't encountered any of them myself. Also has quite the waiting list.

http://www.albion-europe.com Very nice, historically accurate swords. Most fo them are based on actual finds and are therefore very, very, expensive. But the price is reflected in the quality. Most of them are sharp, but apparently easy to blunt. Read carefully before buying.





(I will add more sites soon, I've gotta go get ready for the mystery tour)

Okay so if I'm just getting a standard sword from Heron Armouries, aimed for Norman era (say, late if I need to be specific), would I want to get a straight quillion, round pommel and a 30" blade? Is that okay?

Pretty much, here's a pic of a lancasters one.



early would have a walnut pommel:



heron don't do walnut pommels

I would put at the very top off that list Bob Davies he is up in sligo and can be contacted at http://vikingswords.net/
He is one of the best sword makers i have come across over the years
all the best

Barry