Since today's pirate cutlasses are usually part of a costume rather than battle weapons, you'll want to consider the Pirates of Caribbean Cutlass Sword with Basket Guard. This cutlass is clearly an accessory rather than a fighting cutlass, but it does offers some good features at a reasonable price.

The Cutlass ...

This heavy fighting knife -- drop forged from one piece of high carbon 440C stainless steel -- has good balance, although the green canvas micarta handle doesn't do much for its looks. A full tang build including a heavy forged bolster and hand guard give the Schanz Integral Dagger ...

The Open Mouthed Dragon Claw Katana from Sword Demon is another interesting sword for the collector who finds inspiration in fantasy weaponry and is unconcerned with practical issues. The stainless steel blade comes unsharpened and was never intended for actual combat or even real-world cutting practice.

The cast metal fittings ...

Smith & Wesson's updated version of the Ontario Knife Company M9 Bayonet, the SW3G Special Ops M-9 includes the essential features that survival knives in a technological age should have. Similar to the knives issued to military helicopter pilots in Vietnam, the M9's sawtoothed spine can cut through ...

This pair of twenty-inch-long swords with single leather scabbard gives today's kung fu adepts the modern combat version of an ancient Chinese weapon. Cold Steel's versions of these wide blades weigh more than a pound each with fifteen inches of cutting edge and blade stock 1/5-inch thick. The 1055 ...

Tiger Claw's sharpened daito, or Japanese longsword, is certainly good enough for display or forms practice. The 440C stainless steel blade jumps up a grade from the usual 420C of display quality swords, a good move considering the extra length of this 41-inch weapon. Even in kata, the blade will undergo ...

The Ancient Mariner's Cutlass, imported by Frost Cutlery, could be termed a poetic piece -- inspired by that old sea ballad rather than by any martial tradition. An ornate display weapon, the cast metal fittings symbolize the adventure and romance of the sea. With a sheath and blade of polished stainless steel ...

The classic black look of this Bushido 3-Piece Katana set is more in keeping with the character of that Japanese military tradition than are many of the colorful and garish sword sets created today for collection and display. Sleek black lacquered scabbards bound with black nylon cord complement ...

The United Cutlery version of Blade's Sword of the Daywalker doesn't include the classy back sheath that goes so well with Blade's black leather trench coat and black sunglasses. The Daywalker sword actually has the look and feel of a real weapon, but the flimsy leather sheath that only sometimes ...

The eight piece Ninja Warrior Sword from United Cutlery makes an interesting display piece even though the nondescript black cord wrapped handle and black scabbard aren't designed to attract attention. Though this compact weapons set isn't combat quality steel, it's good enough to be both functional and entertaining.

The 23-inch sword blade ...

A replica sword of special interest to collectors and Civil War buffs, this cavalry saber recreates the sword carried by Confederate Colonel Jo Shelby on Shelby's Raid through the union state of Missouri after the Confederate victory at Wilson's Creek. This same model of cavalry saber saw action after the Civil ...

In the progression from wooden training sword to the real combat weapon, this sword ranks low -- just above wood in quality. For beginners, it's still a reasonable choice, built for learning movements rather than strikes. The heavy handguard and pommel as well as the blade itself are chrome-plated steel. The weight ...

Anyone about to begin training with the Chinese broadsword should get ready to collect some swords. The swords used in training differ considerably from the combat versions, progressing from light wooden replicas through a series of heavier steel builds. Each does find a useful place in a training regimen, although the less ...

These Twin Tai Chi Swords from Tiger Claw feature hardwood handles with a matching wooden scabbard. Blades are chrome plated steel, with identical materials forming hilt, pommel, and scabbard fittings. Built light for less strain on wrist and arm in practice, the blades were not intended for combat or striking. These ...

The design and appearance of this Twin Wushu Broadsword set from Tiger Claw is a good match for the heavier combat broadsword set which inspired it. Much lighter than the combat swords, these chromed steel broadswords are equal in length but not in weight or quality of steel.

Designed for forms ...

One of the most interesting of the old Chinese weapons, butterfly knives originally were carried concealed beneath the robes of monks. Old accounts say that only the tips were sharpened, allowing monks to use the double short swords in self defense without killing their opponents. Original movements designed for the ...

If you're interested in learning Tai Chi, then you need a training weapon like the Premium Wushu Tai Chi Sword by Hanwei. This sword is a wushu style blade, made light for easy handling. Unless you intend to wreck your wrists by starting out those slow movements with a combat ...

Although the Dragon Katana Hand Forged Sword from Ryumon does catch your eye easily enough with a well-decorated scabbard and ornate fittings, be cautious if you expect this sword to be a good cutter. The steel used in the blade -- 1065 carbon steel -- could be excellent, depending on the quality ...

Inspired by the personal weapon of Miyamoto Musashi -- one of feudal Japan's greatest swordsmen and author of the famous book of strategy The Book of Five Rings -- this daito or long sword would have been used in conjunction with a shorter wakisashi. Musashi's dual weapon style saw him through ...

Practicing the movements of Iaido, the art of drawing the sword, traditionally involves a progression of weapons which gradually lead the swordsman to competence with a real blade. Iaito, like the Tsuru Iaito from CAS Hanwei, are the step below the real thing. Built to handle with the same feel and ...

Old tempering processes became so complex and time consuming that few manufacturers today even attempt their reproduction. Higher quality modern alloy steel and new ways of producing high quality blades only occasionally compete with the old standards. Almost never does anyone manage to blend the two approaches.

Through the Kami Katana by CAS ...

Cold Steel is better known for functionality than for building self-defense weapons which look good. The Cold Steel philosophy of matching pure function with modern materials sometimes creates weapons which look at best like tools and at worst like souvenirs. Using some of the sensible features of that approach, the ...

Bear in mind as you heft the Black Prince Sword -- named in honor of Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales until his death in 1376 -- that this impressive 43-inch diamond cross-section sword is only the hand-and-a-half model. Two-handed broadswords were even heavier. With a sword like the Black ...

The Falchion took centuries to evolve from what was probably a butcher knife or kitchen cleaver pressed into emergency service into what became a cross between an ax and sword. The Medieval Falchion from Valiant Armoury is both an accurate reproduction of this old weapon and an example of how it ...

For collectors of anime swords and for fanatical fans of the game Ninja Gaiden, this 42" katana will be a familiar friend. The mainstay weapon of hero Ryu Hayabusa, the Dragon Ninja Katana was essential to both victory and revenge. The original Dragon Sword was said to be ...

This 31 1/2" replica sword with a highly polished 25 1/2" high carbon steel blade recreates the familiar sidearm of U.S. Marines, Naval officers, and Cavalry, last seeing extensive use in the American Civil War. A brass full hand guard, wire wrapped handle, and polished brass fittings on hilt ...

Honoring the first Tokugawa shogun of Japan--Tokugawa Ieyasu, an intriguing master of kenjutsu and military strategy who survived 90 battles during his long and tumultuous life, loved hawking, and habitually bit his nails--this sword is actually typical of many that personify the famed general. In small ways they may be historically ...

Make way for the valiant Knights Templar with this medieval replica sword by Denix honoring the soldiers of the Crusades. They fought for freedom, safety, and social justice during two centuries in the Middle Ages, and witnessed many battles ranging across Europe and the Middle East.

One very distinguishable symbol of the Knights ...

As far as Viking swords go, this model by Windlass Steelcrafts is slightly more ornamented for decoration than others we've seen. The Vikings weren't really known for their ornate weaponry, rather their functional and durably crafted blades. But as Europeans transitioned from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, ancient sword smiths started adapting ...

This model of a replica sword from the hit anime show Bleach can be found in two different styles. We've seen one version with a leather-wrapped handle, but it's not as common. You'll find this one more often. It has a beautiful burgundy cord wrap around the handle as well as a couple ...

Machetes look like great fun in jungle movies, with everybody up front chopping away at six foot grass and sapling thickets and hardly slowing down the march--but try one in the American woodlands and you'll quickly realize that the full length machete was meant for tender green growth, not the briar ...

This beautiful dark spirited sword from Cas Iberia, now produced by Hanwei Forge, brings quality close to that of battle ready weapons to a display blade. The hand-and-a-half design of this close quarters weapon is true to form, patterned after swords in use in fifteenth century Europe. With ...

Our previous Last Samurai sword set was a three-piece work of art. However, if three-piece display sets aren't what you're looking for, and you'd rather save some cash to go with a single-sword factory-sharpened set, try this Sword Of Battle replica.

It's made from good quality 440 stainless steel and ...

Some fairly nice design features enhance the quality of this 32 1/2" German Eagle sword, but at the low end of the price range for replica weapons you have to be forgiving of faults.

The 25" stainless steel blade lacks a high polish or even a decorative grind, but details in the ...

The hit Japanese anime show Bleach provides us with yet another sword to bring to your attention: a katana inspired by one of the show's main Soul Reapers, Lieutenant Renji Abarai.

The katana probably best represents Renji's character due to its crimson overtones. In the series, Renji's red ponytail sets him apart ...

This is an official replica sword from the Ninja Gaiden video game series, wielded by the hero Ryu Hayabusa. In the game he is known as a "modern day Super Ninja." Ryu is a direct descendant of the Dragon Lineage, referring to the ancient ninja warriors who forged this same ...

Many different collectible weapons have surfaced from the popular Japanese anime show Naruto. This is the Kusanagi, wielded by the Sannin Orochimaru. The Kusanagi is more commonly known as a grass cutter sword, so you may see it listed as such.

This sword is popularized mainly by Naruto's "emo kid" Sasuke. His ...

An ornately decorated sword such as this could only serve as a replica for one of the most recognizable names in women's history, even history itself for that matter. This is a dagger honoring the memory of Cleopatra VII, Pharaoh of Egypt and Queen of the Nile during 69-30 B.C. Many historians and ...

If one of the Templar Knights of old, the fanatical religious warriors from the founding days of the Masonic Order, saw this sword, he'd laugh.

Replica swords have to look good to be worthwhile, even if all you want to do with them is hang them on a wall. Stainless steel ...

This Godfred Viking sword is another fairly accurate historical replica from Nordic times. The way that this sword is fashioned dates it back to the 9th century, during the early Middle Ages when swords were meant for battle and not for decoration.

The blade is double-edged with a small taper running ...

Traditionally, a Samurai sword set comes with three different combat lengths: the ever-popular katana, the longer wakisashi, and the shorter tanto blade. If you want a tanto-length sword without the rest of the set, however, a sword like this one would definitely be one to consider.

The blade is made from 420 ...

This is a model of an earlier Viking sword, dating back to the Middle Ages between the ninth and tenth centuries. It is a true replica of historic Viking form and function. Traditionally, the earlier Viking swords weren't that decorated. It wasn't until the Renaissance that decorative and elaborate embellishments became ...

You may or may not be surprised to find out that there are quite a few different kinds of Roman gladius swords. Between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D. four types were discovered: the Gladius Hispaniensis, Mainz, Fulham, and Pompeii. Throughout the years, the gladius sword became straighter, shorter, and more geometric ...

The blade of the true Excalibur was embedded in a boulder in ancient England, and only the real king was able to withdraw it from the stone. If this replica sword is true to the original form, the secret of the monarchy was a tube of epoxy glue which ...

Is it possible to make a good katana using traditional methods of hand forging and clay tempering and market it for a reasonable price? Handmade Swords claims to have done it with this practical version of the sword favored by O-Ren in the hit movie Kill Bill. The ...

Here's a "Gladiator" replica sword to consider, and this time we're highlighting the weapon Maximus used during the beginning of the film. As long as you like durable craftsmanship, fine attention to detail, and period authenticity, you'll find a lot to like about this Maximus Gladius sword, too.

The blade is forged ...

One of the more popular and professionally portrayed killers in Kill Bill (the movie) was Oren Ishii, the vengeful orphan girl who rose to boss level in the Yakusa with the help of her Snowflake Shirasaya katana. Lucy Liu did a wonderful job in that role and still reminds me ...

Regardless of whether or not it's a historically-accurate replica, the cutlass is the first blade think you think of whenever the words "pirate sword" come to mind, right? In any case, this particular Classic Cutlass is a movie replica from Pirates Of the Caribbean so that automatically gives it ...

As a sword enthusiast, if you ever wanted to have something in common with Tom Cruise, this is the way to do it. This is the official movie replica set for The Last Samurai, and as far as three-piece sets go, it's among our favorites so far! We can ...

This Rurouni Kenshin reverse blade katana from General Edge is one heck of a deal. It's built from decent-quality materials and will look great as a basic display sword. It's not intended to be a high-end sword, so the materials are not top-of-the-line, but that helps keep the cost down.

The blade ...