Three good starter swords are:
- The White Knight (a basic "beater broadsword")
- The Celtic Leaf Blade (a basic "short sword" / "celtic sword")
- The Crusader Sword (a basic "large" sword).
-
Other swords:
- Joan of Arc Sword $229.00. As used in the movie. No longer available.
- Migration Era Viking Sword $300.00 (I want one some day). Hrolf Kraki, Harold Hardrede and Kari Ellertson all probably used a sword like this.
- Albion Migration Era Viking Sword $306. A Del Tin!
- U.S. Model 1840 Calvary Saber $277.00, scabbard extra. No longer available.
- Baskethilt Scottish Sword $656.00.
- The actual sword used in the movie Braveheart Del Tin's "Braveheart" Sword -- Albion sells many other excellent swords.
- Del Tin Rapier Various models, around $440.00.
- Kris Katana $225.00, I own one.
What makes a sword a good starter? It is tough and can take
a beating. It has some good values and it has acceptable appearance
for the price. You can do stupid things with it (such as hack at branches
or plastic trash cans or rolled up paper or let it rust) and not feel like
you ruined a work of art. Outside of Del Tins and the katanas I can
recommend, the three swords linked to from the top of this page are all good
starter swords of their own type for around two hundred dollars.
And yes, if you can afford to start with a Del Tin -- start there. But if you aren't sure, don't have the money and want to pick up what is known in the industry as a "beater," then this is the place to start.
For rapiers, visit the Rapier link and start browsing. For a beater katana, visit Kris Cultery -- and be aware that if there is a problem with your order, they cheerfully refund or replace swords (at least so far -- the true constant is that things always change).