This 38-inch sword includes 31 inches of curved steel cutting edge, shaped but not sharpened to allow safer use in dance. The forward-weighted blade shows a short blood groove and a dagger style upswept point. This light sword was swung from horseback in a slashing attack. The hardwood grip surrounds a strong rattail tang and sits solidly between a cast brass cross-guard and a traditionally styled cast brass hawksbill pommel. With high quality materials and historically correct details, the CAS Hanwei scimitar also makes an excellent sword for the collector of ancient weapons.

The kilij was just one of many different types of scimitars used in the Middle East. A false edge or yelman on the upper edge of the flared point increased its cutting ability, and the moderate curve of the blade made thrusts possible but more awkward than with a straighter blade. Other types of Arabian scimitars were formed with even more curve than the kilij. Late in the 18th century, the kilij evolved into a stiffer form with even less curve and a reinforced spine. Turkish styles of scimitars called mameluks became popular in Europe as well as the Middle East. One mameluke -- awarded to Marine First Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon in recognition of his heroism during the Battle of Tripoli Harbor -- inspired the sword which is still part of the Marine dress uniform.

For a combat quality scimitar, see the Cold Steel Shamshir Ottoman Sword.

Find this Hanwei Scimitar:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this scimitar on eBay:

SCIMITAR SWORD by HANWEI SH2354 NEW US $109.95   Auction Ends: 26d 3h 50m

CAS HANWEI SCIMITAR SH2354 US $106.57   Auction Ends: 23d 16h 9m

The antiqued finish of the high carbon steel axe head looks a little rough, but any good tool looks better when it's seen some use. The axe head already has the slightly pitted look of an axe that caught some waves from time to time. The dark hardwood of the handle adds to the multi-mission look of this old weapon and even recreates the slight curve of the original. Made for throwing as well as for ordinary chopping, the handle curve alters the angle of the flared blade just enough to increase the chances of a good stick.

The very portable Francisca Axe measures only 18-1/4 inches at the handle with a cutting edge 3-1/2 inches wide. Total weight is 1-1/2 pounds, not much more than a large Bowie knife. That small size didn't prevent the Francisca from finding a place in close combat in the Viking era. Either thrown or swung, the axe easily penetrated chain mail armor. CAS Hanwei includes a leather guard for the edge, so the Francisca Axe could be safely tucked in a pack or lashed to gear. Many replica swords aren't durable, but this fully functional axe is the real thing. Don't be afraid to take it on the camping or hunting trip.

See the United Cutlery Black Ronin Tomahawk for a multi-edged modern tomahawk built for target throwing.

Find this Francisca Axe:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this axe on eBay:

Damascus Steel Francisca Chopping Cutting And Throwing Axe Hand Made US $300.00   Auction Ends: 20d 4h 53m

ANCIENT MEDIEVAL IRON FRANCISCA AXE RARE RT 72 US $599.00   Auction Ends: 19d 2h 38m

The Hanwei version uses folded steel to form the blade through a process unknown in Godfred's day. In this modern version of Damascus steel, the hot billet folds over itself repeatedly until enough forged layers form that the steel reaches maximum strength. Thirty-four-and-3/4 inches long overall, the sword's 28-3/4-inch, double-edged blade holds a deep central fuller which lightens the weapon without weakening the steel. Total weight of the Godfred Sword is 2 lbs. 7 oz.

The woven leather grip overlays a hardwood core surrounding the strong steel tang. Damascus pommel and bladeguard also match the original Viking design. A scabbard of hardwood covered with leather accompanies this weapon. Bronzed fittings complete the scabbard, which fits to the belt with simple leather straps and hooks.

Built for one-handed use, the sword meets or exceeds the quality of the actual weapons of King Godfred's time. Forged at one of two Hanwei foundries in China, this Godfred sword was created by advanced modern processes and skilled hand labor. Improvements in technology and better materials allow CAS Hanwei to produce weapons of genuine combat grade with the look of the ancient swords and the higher quality of modern high carbon steel.

See the Hanwei Practical Viking Sword for a combat quality Godfred sword at a more economical price.

Find this King Godfred Sword:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this sword on eBay:

Godfred Damascus Viking Sword by Hanwei SH1010 NEW US $379.95   Auction Ends: 22d 22h 30m

Godfred Viking Sword Sheath Battle Ready Reenactment US $105.00   0 Bid Auction Ends: 4d 2h 56m

With an overall length of 47-3/8 inches, the CAS Hanwei Dark Sentinel sword presents 31-1/2 inches of blade and 10-1/2 inches of handle. The extra-long handle allows either a balanced single-handed swing or a powerful two-handed grip. At 2 lbs. 3 oz., the Sentinel wields easily and still has enough weight for efficient slashing. The nearly 1/4-inch-thick blade of forged high carbon steel should hold up well in actual use.

The look of the sword recalls video games more than historic weapons, but the leather grip with metal studs and the stainless steel pommel and tsuba-style bladeguard all come from true combat designs. CAS Hanwei combined them in a slightly new pattern to create the Dark Sentinel, a fanciful but still formidable sword.

The Dark Sentinel comes with a leather-bound scabbard sturdily reinforced with simple steel fittings. All CAS Hanwei swords are forged either in Dalian in northeast China or in Fuxin near the border with Mongolia. Hanwei expects their fully functional products to be as good as genuine martial arts weapons from earlier times, and their swords often prove to be even better due to improved manufacturing processes and better modern steel.

For another fantasy sword meant for display only, see the Shamshir Persian Sword from Bud K.

Find this Hanwei Dark Sentinel Sword:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this sword on eBay:

PAUL CHEN DARK SENTINEL KATANA SWORD SH2066 NEW US $97.50   Auction Ends: 28d 3h 25m

CAS Hanwei Dark Sentinel Sword US $118.38   Auction Ends: 18d 23h 10m

All parts are high quality. Investment casting -- a tricky advanced technique used for fine artwork -- created the bird dog styling of the cast grip. Instead of the usual fragile cast metal, the Bird Dog Cane uses heavier and indestructible stainless steel. The rosewood grip of the sword cane ends in a stainless steel ferrule which protects the grip from damage and matches the mouth of the scabbard exactly.

Hidden in the polished rosewood shaft of the cane you'll find a 25-1/2-inch-long high carbon steel sword blade firmly set in the stainless steel grip. The blade is also several cuts above the usual collector's cane and isn't a simple spike. The Bird Dog's blade is a true sword -- double-edged and forged with a fullered blood groove. Tempered for real action, the blade's stock is thick enough to take considerable stress and measures 0.21 inches at the base.

Overall, the cane is 37-1/2 inches long and most users will find it comfortable, although neither rosewood nor steel are the lightest possible materials and the cane does weigh 1 lb. 13 oz. That's a little heavy if you need a cane, but about right if you're looking for a secret sword.

See the Cold Steel Pistol Grip Sword Cane for a fully functional modern self defense cane with a carbon fiber scabbard.

Find this Hanwei Sword Cane:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this Sword Cane on eBay:

NEW Lego NINJAGO SENSEI WU NINJA MASTER MINIFIG w KOPESH SWORD GOLD CANE US $10.88   Auction Ends: 23d 8h 41m

Top only of metal sword cane 23 inches long US $15.50   2 Bids Auction Ends: 1d 17h 15m

Made from tempered steel, these blackened throwing darts weigh two ounces apiece and have enough sticking power to be deadly in skilled hands, and dangerous in others. Practice with caution because ricochets can hurt. These six-inch-long darts feature tapered double-edged blades too thick to be good knives but tough enough to stand up to hard hits and bad throws. The set comes in a sturdy nylon fabric pouch which straps either to the ankle or the forearm and keeps the array at the ready. Wire-wrapped shanks provide a good grip and accurately balance the heavy blades.

This traditional style recreates one of the genuine Ninja weapons. Shuriken took many forms, but most were simple and easy to conceal. Plain spikes or slender knives took considerable skill to use as thrown weapons, and the more advanced shuriken overcame problems by feathering shafts or creating multiple points as in the throwing star design. To use this set well, you'll need many hours of practice and probably some professional instruction. If you want accurate design and the feel of reality, you'll enjoy this set of six shuriken darts from CAS Hanwei.

See the Naruto Ultimate Ninja Throwing Knife Set for a less expensive but still usable shuriken set in anime style.

Find this Hanwei Shuriken Set:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this set on eBay:

CAS Hanwei Shuriken Set US $89.00   Auction Ends: 18d 17h 22m

Shuriken Dart Set with Forearm Band by CAS Hanwei OH1085 NEW US $57.95   Auction Ends: 28d 22h 34m

No quality was lost in the full tang blade of this 34-1/2-inch high carbon steel sword, which is hand forged and clay tempered to produce the differential hardness of a high performance sword. The hamon or tempering mark along the edge marks the real thing in this katana -- the mark shows that a layer of clay protected the edge during quenching, keeping the edge hard as the temper of the spine dropped to a tougher and more impact-resistant level.

Inexpensive black iron fittings with an antiqued black finish cut the cost without taking away from the appearance of the weapon. Details on the cast iron tsuba or bladeguard show some of the kuji-kiri hand postures from the mystical side of the ninja tradition. Using intricate finger positions and secret mental techniques, the ancient ninja channeled mystical energies in order to produce such impossible feats as disappearing in plain sight.

The traditional appearance of the tsuka or grip hides synthetic white rayskin instead of the more expensive version, and the tsuka-ito or woven wrapping is actually synthetic black leather. Bindings of the black lacquered hardwood scabbard are authentic black cotton.

See the Musashi Koga Ninja Katana if you'd like a ninja sword with hidden tricks.

Find this Practical Shinobi Katana:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this sword on eBay:

Practical Shinobi Ninja To White Same by CAS Hanwei SH1071 NEW US $176.95   Auction Ends: 28d 22h 25m

Practical Shinobi Ninja To Black by CAS Hanwei SH2268 NEW US $176.95   Auction Ends: 28d 20h 35m

What's most important hasn't changed: blade quality. The hamon or tempering mark along the edge of this 12-inch tanto is the real thing. The 7-inch cutting edge of this high carbon steel blade is differentially hardened and will provide traditional cutting action. Edge strength is a hard HRC 60, while the Rockwell rating of the blade's spine drops to a tough and resilient HRC 40.

Wherever else CAS Hanwei could save money and still provide practical quality, substitutions for traditional materials and alternate construction methods have been made. The differences are most obvious in the grip. Decorated with a cast metal dogwood blossom, the grip's white covering is rugged synthetic, and there's no woven ito. Nothing but friction and grip strength prevents the hand from slipping forward off the four-inch-long handle. The tanto is light and fast, weighing only 6 ounces and with excellent balance. A black lacquered scabbard is included that matches the old carrying system. The look isn't traditional, but the tanto won't seem out of place next to more conventional items. CAS Hanwei chose design elements which make sense in the old terms.

CAS Hanwei did a good job on the re-design, keeping the important features that make the tanto work properly. Even though it's not a traditional tanto, there's equivalent quality in this modern rebuild.

Find this Hanwei Practical Tanto:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this sword on eBay:

Practical Tanto by CAS Hanwei SH2254 NEW US $73.95   Auction Ends: 29d 19h 12m

PAUL CHEN PRACTICAL TANTO by HANWEI SH2254 NEW US $74.95   Auction Ends: 26d 3h 22m

Good cutters like this one feature blades of high carbon steel that's differentially tempered -- in this case to HRC60 at the cutting edge and HRC40 at the spine. Traditionally, the edge of the sword received a clay coating before the heating and quenching process that controls temper and strength of the blade. The clay protected the edge, retaining a harder temper in comparison to the spine. The lower temper in the blade's spine increased the shock resistance and flexibility of the blade.

Since that important process adds considerably to the cost of a weapon today, Hanwei Forge substituted less expensive materials in other parts of the sword. While construction isn't truly authentic, the wakizashi by Hanwei is truly functional and well suited to tamashigiri or target cutting.

Twenty-seven-and-one-half inches long overall, the practical wakizashi wields 20 inches of cutting edge with a professionally sharpened and polished finish. Weighing 1-1/2 pounds, the sword fits neatly in a black hardwood sheath. Originally, the wakizashi sword or side sword was the backup or finishing weapon for the samurai and not the main battle sword. Wakizashi often delivered the fatal blow to an enemy on the ground to save the edge of the larger katana.

See the Cold Steel Warrior Wakizashi for a more rugged but literally less polished combat-quality sword.

Find this Hanwei Wakizashi:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this sword on eBay:

CAS Hanwei Tactical Wakizashi Forged Sword SH2432 US $136.92   Auction Ends: 4d 4h 50m

Hanwei Tactical Wakizashi Sidearm of the Samurai SH2432 NEW US $123.95   Auction Ends: 21d 17h 6m

Side swords combine the cutting action of a longsword with the piercing design of the rapier. The hybrid form sometimes failed to present the best features of either type well. This German design combines a light and fast cutting blade, a slender piercing tip, and a complex handguard. The combination offers more fighting potential than the average swordsman of today could master.

The 37-3/4-inch sword includes a perfectly forged double-edged blade that's only slightly heavier and slower than a rapier's foil. The entire sword weighs two pounds and eight ounces, with much of that weight focused in the unusual handguard and grip. In keeping with the rapier concept, there's an option here for placing a fingertip past the main guard. With fingertip control at the unsharpened ricasso, the blade's accuracy improves. Protecting that exposed finger required a second smaller cross-guard and a specialized second basket guard for the leading finger. A wirebound grip and heavy steel pommel add balancing weight and bludgeoning potential to the rear of the sword.

This fully functional side sword with authentically designed scabbard has all the features of the weapons that actually inspired the term "swashbuckler." Remember, it's made for mayhem -- the side sword from CAS Hanwei is the real thing.

Find this Hanwei Side Sword:

• Click here to find this product at Amazon.com

Find this sword on eBay:

German Side Sword by CAS Hanwei SH2203 NEW US $139.95   Auction Ends: 4d 13h 38m

Practical Side Sword by CAS Hanwei SH2279 NEW US $149.95   Auction Ends: 29d 5h 2m