Collectible Knives

The Practical Wakizashi from CAS Hanwei of China represents the smallest and least expensive true cutting katana of their extensive product line. Although you get a high quality blade made with a traditional tempering process, other parts of the construction are not what you'd expect in an authentic wakizashi.

If you buy ...

Some parts of this movie replica Viking Gladiator Sword are so unusual they deserve a closer look. Although by no means practical, this fantasy weapon does have a style all its own.

Forty-four inches long with a 33-inch-long, double-edged blade, the sword is impressively heavy. Even though the handle is wrapped ...

The Sword of Galbatorix recreates the battle sword of the evil Dragon Rider King from the story Eragon. Beginning as the first literary effort of a fifteen-year-old author, the epic story of Eragon progressed from daydream to self-published book and eventually to a well-known mainstream fantasy novel and movie.

This reproduction ...

Patterned after a sword used by Arnold Schwarzenegger in his first starring role as Conan the Barbarian, the Conan Barbarian Sword has been reproduced in many levels of quality over the years. This is one of the least expensive which still shows accurate detail.

You won't find combat quality steel in this ...

As part of the company's 125th Anniversary celebration, Victorinox reissued this classic version of its first Soldier knife. Manufactured for the Swiss Army beginning in 1891, the Soldier knife was the first multi-purpose pocket knife developed in Switzerland. Its assortment of practical blades outfitted the modern infantryman of the day with ...

Kit Rae describes the Black Legion War Axe as one of the two fearsome axes wielded by the Barumen, the monstrous soldiers of the Black One. In the fantasy history which inspired the Swords of the Ancients series by United Cutlery, the Barumen evolved from a strange genetic mixture ...

This reproduction of the katana wielded by the immortal Scottish clansman Duncan Macleod in the Highlander saga could be one of the best swords ever produced by United Cutlery. Not the usual cheap reproduction, the Duncan MacLeod Katana is a hand-forged tempered katana of high carbon Damascus steel.

In fact, the blade ...

The Paul Defender from Lone Wolf Knives won Blade Magazine's 2009 award for Overall Knife of the Year. Termed the Gentleman's Tactical Folder by the manufacturer, the Defender is a collaboration between Lone Wolf's designers and Paul Poehlmann, inventor of the Paul Axiel lock.

What you'll notice first is ...

One of the many legendary and often magical weapons from the Lord of the Rings saga, the Sword of Isildur would make an excellent display piece for the fantasy weapon collector. Less ornate than many LOTR blades, the Sword of Isildur looks like it was built for combat.

United ...

United Cutlery's licensed replica of Duncan MacLeod's katana from the Highlander saga exceeds what you'd expect in a display weapon. Made of hand forged high carbon steel, this comes very close to the quality of entry-level cutting katanas.

Although not as rugged as a sword truly designed for tamashigiri, this replica ...

SOG's Tomcat -- the company's first folding knife -- won Knife of the Year in 1988, with innovations that set the bar for large lockbacks. This updated model called the Tomcat 3.0 Carbon Fiber is a limited edition of 450 knives with the same improved features included in the ...

Slightly over six feet long, this fantasy weapon doesn't exactly match traditional patterns -- but if your traditions include comic books and anime, you'll find the Black Dragon Spear familiar.

The black steel spearhead catches the eye immediately and includes some extra cutting edges that hint at old halberd ...

Definitely a nice display piece for those interested in fantasy weaponry, the Savage Celtic Spear from Bud K. appears too advanced to be truly savage. The worksmanship is artistic, not crude nor functional.

Pole arms must be one of the most difficult of the old weapons to duplicate well ...

Designed by William Fairbairn and Eric Sykes just prior to WWII, the Fairbairn-Sykes combat dagger was first produced for the British Army in 1940. Built to the specifications of these two veterans of the Shanghai Municipal Police, the dagger design first produced by Wilkinson Sword became the most popular Allied ...

The Musashi Koga Ninja Katana Sword comes with plenty of interesting extra features. Some lend the weapon a little of the technical mystique that gave the ninjas their unusual reputation. The full tang sword is strongly built but lacks some of the refinements of combat quality weapons.

The simpler blade construction ...

The strange sword you see here is the magical counterpart or zanpakuto of the merely physical sword called Wabisuke. In the popular manga Bleach, this unusual weapon is wielded by Izuru Kira, one of the more popular characters in the series.

Growing up in the world just beyond this one, ...

The virtual assassins among us will appreciate this straightforward battle sword. Visually, this display-quality weapon is a good match for the best weapon in Assassin's Creed II.

Carried by the assassin hero Altair as the game begins, Altair soon loses the rights to this high-level weapon as a result of breaking ...

The Masahiro Empire Wheel Samurai katana goes well past display quality, giving collectors and recreational users a beautiful weapon capable of tamashigiri, or functional cutting practice. The details of this starter level sword from Fully Handmade will impress blade lovers.

Fully Handmade does produce traditional hand-forged blades using the old and ...

The Samurai Warrior 3000 Katana from United Cutlery embodies a design from the distant future when plasmium swords represent the best weapons of the samurai path. Although United Cutlery released only a little information about this interesting weapon, a truly functional combat version would apparently require knowledge of advanced ...

In 2009, United Cutlery produced a limited run of only 1500 Gil Hibben Dragon's Lair Gold Editions Swords, and only a few haven't yet found their way into the hands of proud owners. Your last chance to acquire the pristine version of this gold-plated sword is coming soon.

Termed an ...

Another of the unique swords in the Japanese manga series Bleach, this interesting blade is the personal weapon of Kenpachi Zaraki, a powerful supernatural warrior and captain of the 11th Division of the Soul Reapers. Set far in Japan's future and well into a fantastic afterlife, Bleach follows a war ...

An engraved hand-forged katana priced this low forces me to look for faults. Although I find some, the ITO Katana Samurai Sword 402 still seems like a bargain if you're looking for a katana good enough for light cutting practice.

At two pounds and ten ounces (without the scabbard), this ...

This replica sword -- a copy of the weapon wielded by Jet Li in his portrayal of the hero Nameless -- transforms a fanciful design into what appears to be the real thing. The Snowflake Sword of Wu Min is unusual even among fantasy weapons, beginning with ...

A faithful reproduction of one of the main weapons wielded by Gimli son of Gloin in the movie version of The Lord of the Rings, the Battle Axe of Gimli looks like it should actually work. With twin 11-1/2-inch-wide blades of 3/8-inch-thick tool steel, even though this ...

This cutlass-style sword from Bud K. shows the flair of a blade from Prince of Persia -- but buy it for its good looks, not historical accuracy.

The brass pommel, hardwood grip, and brass handguard place this 46-1/2-inch-long sword a level or two above the usual fantasy sword. Lack of plastic ...

If you're a wizard looking for a good sword that's bargain priced, or even if you're a sword collector with a penchant for interesting weapons of good quality, check out the Wizard's Medieval Sword of Fury and Might. While its origins are speculative (I've not been able to ...

A "must-have" item for fans of the Harry Potter stories, this movie replica sword recreates the goblin-made longsword of Godric Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The original sword was said to be decorated with rubies the size of eggs, but less expensive ...

This real-world version of the Urahara Shikai Katana -- from the Japanese anime series Bleach -- serves as a physical reminder of a powerful magical weapon. Bleach tells a complex tale of supernatural war between enigmatic soul reapers like Urahara and evil "hollows" avoiding the fate of souls after death. ...

The nine men's sizes of this high-quality Wushu Straight Sword should offer a perfect fit for any student of the art. Forged at the famous Dragon Well of Lungchuan Village, China, the handmade straight sword meets the competition standards set by the International Wushu Federation and comes with ...

This fine competition-quality straight sword from Dragon Well Forge of Lungchuan, China, shows the same refinements as the men's version but in a size range tailored to a woman's smaller frame. Nine sizes provide the right fit for most kung fu students, while the appearance of the sword makes it ...

The fine craftsmanship of this competition broadsword from Dragon Well Forge of Lungchuan, China, makes this wushu weapon an excellent collector's piece. One of the best broadsword choices for training, this sword comes in nine different men's sizes. Check with your teacher for guidelines on fit, since proper length varies with ...

With quality similar to that of the designer's custom blades, this double-edged Tanto Yoroidoshi Dagger is actually a production version based on the work of Wally Hayes, a swordsmith from Ontario, Canada.

Manufactured for Ryumon Swords at the famous Longquan Village in mainland China, the Hayes Yoroidoshi Dagger was hand-forged by a ...

Browning, the famous American rifle manufacturer, produced only 2,000 of these collector's knives as part of its Hunting Traditions series. Beginning in 2008, Browning produced these limited edition knives in two themes -- Whitetail and Mallard.

Produced as a collector's knife and presentation piece, the Browning Whitetail Model 321290 fits a hollowed ...

The Handmade Kill Bill Bride Samurai katana accurately recreates the Bride's sword from the popular series of movies directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Uma Thurman and the late David Carradine. Given to The Bride (played by Thurman) by swordsmith Hattori Hanzo, the Bride's sword was the key ...

Kilgorin, the Sword of Darkness in the eternal contest between the good and evil sides of a universe imagined by H.P. Lovecraft, comes to life yet again in this tenth anniversary version created by Kit Rae. Produced by United Cutlery, the commemorative Sword of Darkness comes with a low ...

Masahiro Swords are a great way to gamble on getting a good sword for a bargain price. The parent company contracts the work of making these swords to several different Chinese foundries with very different levels of workmanship. Whether you're getting the good swords or the disappointing ones is just ...

The Black Dragon Stick Ninja Super Set is one of many mass-produced souvenir sword sets which please the eye but don't hold up to close inspection. Relax and enjoy this interesting desk set, but don't expect combat quality for this price.

When you do have reasonable expectations, a sword set ...

This 44-inch hand-forged katana from Masahiro has great potential as a functional cutter, but you won't know until you test it whether it lives up to reasonable expectations. Manufactured in China by one of several difficult-to-trace companies, the Masahiro brand intended to fill the needs of martial artists looking ...

Without the usual angular armor-piercing beveled point, the Hanwei Practical Plus Tanto Sword does look more like a short sword than a dagger. An overall length of 16-1/2 inches and an 11-inch-long single-edged blade show the true fighting potential of this ancient knife pattern.

Engineered by Hanwei Forge to be ...

This very thorough book -- "Knives Cooks Love" by Sarah Jay -- goes far beyond the world of recipes and fine cuisine with an equally in-depth look at knife history, knife manufacturers, and even knife steel. If cooking is your true interest, skip ahead to the second part of ...

Surprisingly well made, the Dragon Black Tanto #340 actually is the entry level tanto at Handmade Swords. Hand forged from 1045 high carbon steel and constructed with traditional materials, this tanto's hamon is polished on rather than clay-tempered. Aside from that, this beautiful knife is a combat-quality work of ...

Said to be one of the most difficult martial arts weapons to master, the chain whip combines high velocity with powerful centrifugal force, putting a cutting edge and heavy weight at the end of the whip strike. This imaginative version of the chain whip, from Bud K., ...

You may have to go back a few centuries to find a dirk as practical as this knife from Cold Steel -- the Scottish Dirk with Rosewood Handle and Leather Scabbard. In other times, the dirk was built for mayhem and was a common sidearm on naval ships. ...

Many of Cold Steel's better swords, like this Hand-and-a-Half Sword in black leather and steel, have the look and feel of good tools. Remaking old designs with new processes and materials, Cold Steel creates traditional weapons which aren't traditional. They just work.

A little of the art may have been ...

Although you might think this light cavalry saber was stripped down by Cold Steel to simplify an older design, the streamlining of the 1796 Light Cavalry Sword took place during the Napoleonic Wars. Cold Steel created a modern version using 1055 high carbon spring steel but stayed with the ...

Designed in the same style as combat broadswords of China's Qing Dynasty, the Ox Tail Kung Fu Broadsword from Hanzo Steel offers lighter weight than a true sword but still much of the same feel. This broadsword is good enough for practicing movements but not built solid enough for striking.

With ...

This functional stainless steel Medieval Fencing Sword isn't so much a replica as it is a modern counterpart to the medieval rapier. More angular in design, the handguard resembles the old fencing swords in concept but not in detail.

With strong construction and a secure grip, this modern fencing foil can't ...

One of the best things I can say about this Dragon Katana is that a katana never look bad. A reproduction of a European battle sword in this same price range might be laughable, but the katana is so simple and efficient that even in its most basic form it ...

This replica of Captain Leo's broad sword from the hit kung fu movie House of Flying Daggers looks better than most true combat broadswords of today. Antiqued cast steel fittings give the sword an authentic appearance with quality materials and workmanship throughout.

The 38-inch-long sword's 2-1/4-inch high carbon ...

This replica of Saya Otanashi's sword from the Anime series Blood+ misses one of the unique features of the personal weapon of the good queen of the vampiric chiroptera. Aside from that, the off-center katana does hold to the basic pattern of that purely fantasy weapon.

It's easy to understand why ...