Chinese Strider Swords

[kaelln]

Does anyone know anything about these chinese made Strider swords such as this one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Lord-Rings-Strider- ... 5195161892

There are always some of these for sale on ebay for around $130 shipped. I assume they are all made by the same manufacturer since they all have the same pictures. Since I know practically nothing about swords, I'd like to hear the opinions of more knowledgable folks.

[Greg]

"Stainless Steel". Problem number one. I wouldn't bother.

The bevel they show on there looks so wide that the edge probably wouldn't hold up to much abuse. The byknife looks alright, though. I still have yet to see a replica one of those that doesn't work well.

[Steve b]

The fact that they want 69.99 for the sword and 57.00 for shipping makes me think this is a shady company. I don't think I'd take the risk, just on that basis.

Hawk

[Peter Remling]

Stainless steel can be hardened to a desirable hardness but it takes a specialist and a good deal more temperature control than the average factory. More than what they say is what they don't say. They show no pics of the tang. A poorly made, rattail or just plain thin tang will cause castatrophic failure, which relates to 3' of sharpened steel flying thru the air in just about any direction.

If your looking for a display or costume piece, it looks fine for the price although the shippping is a little pricey. If lyour looking for a serviceable sword there are a number of places to look.

Sunday I should have some time and be able to give a short summary of what to look for and or who to buy from based on price point. I should also be able to knock off a small list of informative websites that cater to swordbuyers. Sword Forum International, Swordbuyer's Guide and My Armoury all have some very serious reference sections to quickly bring a newbie up to the level that they know what questions to ask before dropping money on the wrong sword.

[kaelln]

The shipping by itself is not necessarily an indication. Shipping charges are not subject to ebay fees, and ebay has set its pricing such that the only way many smaller sellers can make a profit is if they set a portion of their price as shipping. It may not be technically kosher, but it keeps some of the smaller sellers afloat. There was a near rebellion on ebay a couple of years ago, and they lost a lot of their smaller sellers. That's why it's much harder to find cool things on ebay now than it was a few years ago. They chased off the smaller sellers in order to cater to mega-sellers. I'm not using ebay nearly as much as I used to, because it's just not nearly as much fun. The best stuff came from folks attics and basements and personal collections, and for the most part, that stuff is gone, to be replaced by retail and higher than retail mega-mall type stuff.

Pete, I think that would be great! Thanks!

[Eric C]

I would suggest craigslist, but they can be picky over what is offered there. I am thinking of trading a knife for a better anvil, but I'll have to be careful how I word it.

[Peter Remling]

The best websites for learning about swords are Myarmoury.com , Sword forum international(SFI) and Sword Buyers Guide(SBG). All have their own niches. Myarmoury caters to the historic aspects and has some great discussions on history. Swordforum goes into a broader spectrum of the sword market and Sword Buyer's Guide is specifically designed to cover serviceable swords at the $300 mark or lower.

All Three have some reviews although Myarmoury and Sword Buyer's Guide sport the most and are the easiest assessable.

The first discussion should be sword terminology each of the sites has a thread related to terminology so I picked one to illustrate the terminology

http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_glossary.html


The next area would be to determine need and desire. I'm ruling out decor vs serviceable as the reader can make their own decisions.

Next would be type of sword. There have been several discussions here of saex vs longsword vs hand and a half vs riding sword. Size of the sword is a big decider when comtemplating a sword to be taken into the woods on a trek. When deciding one must also consider, if I chose to learn a swordsmanship dicipline, what is the type I'd find most interesting and serviceable for the persona.

After I determine the type of sword I want, next would be to pick a production model. Now some people will tell you to go custom and I have to say this is definately NOT the way to go even if you have $2000 to blow. Most people who have collected for 5 years or less do not have the knowledge to design a custom blade and if you do decide to go custom after you have gleaned the knowledge needed, go through a reputable maker and listen to his/her imput, they are experts and their reputation is at stake everytime they ship a sword.

To pick a production sword the best place to look is the review section of one of the sites. I picked SBG's as it as it is very extensive and they have gone to great lengths to have a standardized format.

http://sbgswordforum.proboards.com/inde ... read=10166


By the time you get this far, you have a good idea of what you'd like to try as a first sword type and possibly you're first model. If you can, check out any of the local sword schools and see if you can handle any of the sword types you are interested in. If someone onyone of these sites is having a "Cutting Party" this is also a great place to handle swords.

Next would be to search for a vendor who stocks or customizes the model you are looking for and who has a good reputation and a good price. Please note the vendors reputation is more important than the best price.

I'll continue this thread next time with some personal reccomendations. This will be vendors I personally have dealt with and some suggestions on second hand blades. Obviously I havn't dealt with all the reputable dealers so if they're not on my list don't sweat it, just check them out.

[R.D.Metcalf]

I'm going to come across as a bit of a sword snob here....because I am. But before you start investing in inferior arms I would highly reccomend you save your money and commission a sword from a reputable sword smith. Its expensive and it will take time but in the long run you have a product you can be proud of a weapon that is *yours* not a clone...not to mention a safer weapon.

If you can set back $100.00 you can with time set back $1,000.00. Brendan Olzowy has made a strider sword, Vladimir Cervenka has made a strider sword, Micheal Pikula, John Lundemo, BKS, Ollin.... all could make strider swords.

I was thouroughly derided on SFI for saying this but part of the mystique, if you will, of owning a sword is knowing that you earned the weapon through discipline and hard work, much like the warriors of old. The weapon will mean more to you than a cheap piece of "costume jewelry" cheaply bought and just as easily cast aside. In the end you will get what you pay for.....food for thought....

[Steve b]

My problem with that is that you need to swing a lot of steel before you get something custom made. If you only want it as a carry piece, then whether it costs $100 or $2000, it's just a piece of jewelry. If you actually want a sword that you can use, then you need to learn a lot, first. What combat style, what type of sword, what balance, what for a grip surface. Do you want a sharp or a blunt? Who will you be sparring against and what kind of sword do they have?

I was 10 years of working various styles, from kendo to Fabris before I settled on the sword I wanted and felt most comfortable with. It was another five years before I felt comfortable enough to spend big bucks on a sword. I have a lot of swords in the closet, of various types, prices, and quality. I've borrowed a lot of swords from friends to check them out. As I get more into the Ranger/woodsman persona, I'm starting the process again, going from my basket hilt hanger to a more medieval crosshilt. But the joy is in checking out new steel and exploring the options out there.

Hawk

[Peter Remling]

Not deriding you, just I feel most people who have collected, studied and handled a sword for years, still don't have the experience in designing a sword.

While I would love to design and have built a Lundemo or Brenden O, The closet I have come is having a Atrim Fletcheried. I've had three knives I sketched and had built by custom makers, but these were in my single days and the thought of the expense of a custom sword (while tempting) would be too much money spent on me, when I have others who need to come first.

My favorite sword is a stock discontinued Atrim.

So it comes down to priorities. If you feel you can afford a custom go for it, but wait until you have the knowledge to appreciate what you get.

[R.D.Metcalf]

I know where your coming from, Pete. i will be married this spring so Ellenthriste was probably my last huzzah in the custom world, with the exception of a sword for my child when that time comes

However those of us who have been involved with the collecting and WMA community for the last decade have been extraordinarily blessed to see the level of research and subsequent products and standards introduced and quite frankly I think the golden age may be behind us at least for now but I hope it re-emerges just as starry eyed and fresh as it was when I once drooled over the all saints site

.

[Peter Remling]

This mini segment is on second hand swords. People sell swords for a variety of reasons: their interest wanes, they need money for other things and the most common, they just don't "bond" wtih their sword.

Second hand swords or other weapons and equipment can in many times be had at a fraction of their original cost for like new goods.

My AT 1557 was a review sword, it is customizedand cost me over a hundred dollors less then if new. At the time these swords had a wait list of almost a year for a new one.

My Malatesta was also a review sword. It has a black grip and scabbard, this was a custom order and I purchased it for about 1/2 the MSRP.

I could go on but, I'm going to give a few suggestions as to where to find second hand pieces.

All three of the above mentioned forums have had a Marketplace or Classified section. SBG doesn't currently have a Classified section. This is due to a policy that prohibits offering weapons for sale. It is their provider's policy and has recently come into play. Sbg is in the process of moving to a new provider where they can reestablish it. I will update everyone here when that happens.

Here goes:

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=41

http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewforum.php?f=14


In order to make contact with the sellers, you will have to join the forums. There is no fee for any of the three.

Another source for some good deals is Ebay. Ebay surfing has netted me a handful of Del Tins at about a 1/4 their current MSRP but surfing Ebay takes a lot of time and consisely worded searches. Even then the finds are few and far between.

[Peter Remling]

This is an example of a decent sword at a great price. It needs some light work but at this price for an Atrim you can't really go wrong.

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showth ... p?t=102441

[Willrett]

I would have jumped on that war sword if I was a member and active. That was a great deal.

[Cinead]

I too am a blade snob.

If you buy cheap, you get cheap. That being said, I DO NOT carry a sword. Not my style. If I cannot use it as a tool as well as a weapon, I just do not carry it. So, it's an axe for me (a useable axe of superior quality) a neck knife (same quality) and a 9" bladed belt knife. All useable for a weapon and a tool. Period. I can chop wood or orc heads, butcher a deer or flick the eye out of a goblin. I can also survive with my neck knife!