Sword Collecting 101: Where to Start

Posted by Carlos on 2/12/2014 to Military Swords

If you're thinking about collecting swords, you may be wondering where the heck you're supposed to start. Just like any other hobby, collecting swords is going to be no different -- it's going to take time, an investment and dedication to grow your collection.

Since swords today aren't used as a weapon, there are some things you should know about before jumping into this historic hobby --

What Era?

Swords are going to come from all over the world and from different points in our life. While you don't have to focus on one particular era, most collectors tend to stick to a particular theme. For example, some swords were used for dueling, while others may have been used with the infantry during the Civil War. If you're unsure of where to start, consider brushing up on a history lesson and exploring a region and era that may interest you.

Placement

If you know what kind of swords you're interested in buying, that's great. However, before you purchase one, you're going to want to make sure that you have enough room in your home, especially if you have children or pets. Since swords can be extremely dangerous, especially in open-ended cases, it's so important that you have an area of your home where these swords can be on display and out of reach at the same time.

Prepare a Budget

Depending on the era you're interested in, the pricing of these swords are going to be all over the place. One sword may cost as little as a few hundred dollars, while another one could cost tens of thousands. With any hobby, it's important that you budget ahead of time so that you can create the collection that you've envisioned in the first place.

Know How to Buy

Lastly, you're going to want to make sure you know which dealers are legitimate out there. When it comes to buying things on the Internet, there is a lot of fraud, no matter what hobby you're looking to get into. Swords can be purchased online, through dealers or even via dealers at a local gun show. Before you even consider a purchase, just make sure that you research the seller's past and know what to look for when buying a legitimate sword because sadly, there are a lot of knockoffs out there.

Collecting swords of any era is a great hobby that can make your room look unique and be the talk of the neighborhood. If you're thinking about getting into this hobby, keep these thoughts in mind to make your sword collecting as enjoyable as possible.