If you always wanted to own a medieval sword to hang on the wall, show to your friends, or bring with you to a Renaissance Festival this guide will help you to make a good first purchase.

Sword buying can be a very confusing process. There are thousands of sellers, hundreds of manufacturers, and a dozen different types of metals that swords are made out of. If this is your first sword then you should make it a pleasurable experience by getting the sword that looks and feels right for you. If you stick with a reputable seller then the sword should be of a good quality that will give you many years of worry free enjoyment and maybe even start you on a sword collecting hobby.

How to buy a sword online

If you cannot visit a place that sells swords and you absolutely have to buy one online here are a couple of things you should do. Make very careful note of the weight of the sword then get yourself something that weighs the same and hold it in your hands. You will be surprised how this feels and there is a very big difference between a sword that weighs two pounds and one that weighs four pounds. You should also note the length of the sword then use a measuring tape to get a feel for the actual size of it.

Deciding why you want a sword

The first decision you have to make is why you want the sword. This will greatly help you in choosing your first sword. There are two main reasons I will describe here. If you want a sword to hang on the wall as a display piece that you occasionally take down to show to friends then you should look for a sword that is made from stainless steel as it will require little or no maintenance. If your looking for a functional battle ready sword, make sure you realize these swords take care and maintanence as they are forged from high carbon steel that can rust over time when not taken care of properly.

If you want a sword to wear as part of a costume or as an accompaniment to Renaissance Festival and Role Playing events then you should get a sword that comes with a belt and scabbard. Again, because swords come in a tremendous variety of sizes, finding a scabbard can be a very difficult task.

Narrow your decision down to one of the three basic sword types.

Because there are thousands of different swords you should figure out which of the three main types of swords you want to get.

* Replicas of original swords- You may want to get a sword that is a replica of an authentic historical sword such as a Scottish claymore, medieval sword, or Spanish rapier.

* Movie Replicas - You may want to get a sword that you have seen in a movie, such as the Lord of the Rings swords that are very popular.

* Fantasy Swords - These swords can have a very different look, often times they have intricate handles and unique blade shapes.

So now you have narrowed you selection down to the use of the sword and the type of sword and you are ready to start looking at actually purchasing a sword. Here are some guidelines to help you make a good purchase. It is recommended that you only purchase a new sword from a reputable retailer. This way you have an ironclad guarantee that if there are any problems with the sword. You can just send it back and try another sword. When looking at online sword sites or weapons specialty sites there are a few things you should look for. Does the site have the hacker safe guaranteed logo? Does it have a clearly posted customer support telephone number you can call? And do the have a customer support section on there site or help section.

Swords have a two thousand year history and there are many manufacturers, sellers, collectors, and experts of swords. But when it comes down to your first sword you should decide on the sword that is going to make you happy and not worry about all the details that can easily cloud your decision. Get a sword that looks and feels right for you and get it from an established and well-know retailer and you will have a sword that will bring you years of enjoyment and maybe even start you off on a new hobby.