With any hobby, there is a certain lingo to be learned, sword collecting is no different; it is important to have a grasp on the basic information to get you started.
When researching sword terminology, you will often come across a large alphabetised glossary of terms you will have never heard of and which will be largely unhelpful due to the sheer economy of information. It is unnecessary to be bombarded with so much detail as a newcomer. There are however, certain basic terms that must be known before delving into the world of swords.
To begin with, the basic structure of a sword:
- The Blade – The blade is split into two sections: the Forte, which is the closest point to the handle and the strongest part of the blade, and the Foible, the section closest to the tip which is the weakest part of the blade.
- The Point – this is clearly the tip of the sword’s blade
- The Hilt – This is the whole sword except for the blade proper. The cross guard, grip, and pommel.
- The Guard – This is the section of the sword hilt whose purpose is to protect the wielder’s hand. The guard takes many different forms depending on the style of the sword.
- Grip – This is the section of the sword held by the user.
- The Pommel – This is a counter-weight at the end of a sword’s hilt, used to balance the sword.
- The Fuller – Some, though not all, blades may have a fuller. This refers to the groove down the centre of the blade which aides in both lightening the sword and with the conservation of sword steel.
That is the basic anatomy of a sword, of which all sword collectors should be aware.
You may not realise, but it is important that a sword has good balance. Here we refer to what is commonly referred to as the C.O.B, or the Centre of balance. This is the point along the blade where the sword has equal mass on either side. To test the Centre of balance you can use a ruler, or even your finger. The centre of balance will often be on a point of the forte closest to the hilt.
When purchasing swords you will invariably come across different types of steel. These types of steel range from stainless and simple alloy steel, to Damascus and pattern-wielded steel. Unless you plan on purchasing a sword for purely ornamental purposes, avoid stainless steel as it is cheap and will break. The preferred steel used by Del Tin of Italy, one of the more reputable sword companies, is Chrome – Vanadium steel. This steel is used due to its strength and durability, which can be witnessed in such films as Braveheart and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Sword terminology is long winded, but it is all part of the fun of sword collecting. There are a number of magazines and websites where you can gradually learn the information necessary t have a fulfilling experience collecting swords.
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