Places to Look for Swords
Estate and garage sales are a decent place to start. They are
listed in your local classifieds, and I recommend calling ones
that sound promising. Most that have swords
will list them in the ad. Prices can range from obscenely high to
eye-popping low, and you are fairly likely to be able to bargain
with them. Unfortunately, most don't have swords.
Auctions can be tricky. The better advertised an auction is, the
higher the prices tend to go. I've also seen people get swept up
in the competition and spend a lot more than they were willing
to spend initially. They are usually well researched, and they can
be a good place for a beginner to go to see the weapons first hand.
Beware, they are addictive.
Pawn shops tend to run at market value or a little higher. These
places make a living at buying cheap and selling dear, but they
will often bargain with you. They also tend to accumulate replicas
and a lot of odd stuff, so caveat emptor.
Antique dealers often have a reputation to uphold and will
do their best to make sure that your purchase is accurately
represented. A trusted, knowledgeable dealer is one of the best
resources a collector can have. Prices and participation may vary.
Friends, family, and acquaintances all have eyes and ears, and
some may have a sword or two. Just don't drive off their friendship by
getting it away from them cheap.
Other collectors often know where to look or have pieces to
sell or trade off. They are also notoriously hard to find (so get listed
on my page).
The internet also has many sites. Make sure to do your research
before you buy, and don't be afraid to spend a dollar on a long distance
phone call before buying. Always ask to see pictures first to reduce
the chance of being disappointed with it.
Gun and Antique Shows are always interesting places to visit. I
have seen many swords grotesquely overpriced at shows, but sometimes
you can find a fair deal. Don't forget to try to bargain with them!
Tips on Buying
Some things to look for in a sword:
Has the blade been bent? Point the sword at a light source and look
down the blade to see any s-curves. Does it have a matching scabbard?
That could be half the value right there. Dents in the scabbard aren't really important if
they aren't too bad. Is the handle loose?
It doesn't affect the value a lot, but I'm more satisfied with one that
I can hold solidly. Has the blade been cleaned? This may actually
damage the blade or lower its value. A good patina is often seen as a
sign of authenticity.
Always try to bargain with the seller--the least I've saved that way is
$10, the most is $90.
Don't allow yourself to be pressured into buying a sword you don't want.
Buy the best condition sword you can buy for the sword model you want. That
protects your investment if you decide to trade up or sell later.
If a sword doesn't feel right in your hand, it may not be. A sword
was meant to be swung for long periods, and must be well balanced and comfortable.
Unfortunately, you may find the sword to be too comfortable in your
hand and you can't put it back down. I've bought a few because of that.
When looking at swords, beware of ceilings. A sword is 3ft long, the
average person is about 5'8", and most ceilings are about 7.5 ft high.
Do the math.
Shop around to find what the price range should be. Most antique books
list prices that are unrealistically low (I'd like to be where they
saw swords going that cheap!), so pay more attention to the prices you
actually see. The internet is a good place to look to compare.
