Swords for Sale

Types of Swords

Swords developed differently in every era and region that forged them, and each type carries its own silhouette, its own history, and its own reason to be collected. Below is every type of sword we hand forge at Battling Blades, from the blades of the ancient world to the great two-handers of the Highlands. Every sword we make is forged by hand in high carbon 1095, Damascus, or stainless steel with full tang construction.

Gladius

The gladius is the short, double-edged sword of the Roman legions, typically 24 to 33 inches overall with a tapered point and a compact grip. Its size made it the standard sidearm of the ancient world's most disciplined army, and its clean, purposeful lines make it one of the most collected ancient designs today. Browse our Roman gladius swords.

Greek Sword

Greek swords include the leaf-bladed xiphos and the forward-curving kopis, the blades of the hoplite era. The leaf-shaped profile, wider toward the tip, gives Greek designs a silhouette unlike anything else in the ancient world. Browse our Greek and Spartan swords.

Iberian Sword

Iberian swords come from the peninsula that gave Rome some of its ideas: the falcata's dramatic forward curve and the straight-bladed Spanish designs both trace to pre-Roman Iberia. They are among the most distinctive shapes in the ancient catalog. Browse our Iberian swords.

Viking Sword

The Viking sword is a one-handed, double-edged blade of the Norse age, usually around 35 to 40 inches, with a short crossguard and a broad fuller down the blade. The most famous examples bear the Ulfberht inscription, the mark of the finest steel of their century. Browse our Ulfberht and Viking swords.

Longsword

The longsword is the classic knightly sword of medieval Europe: a straight, double-edged blade with a cruciform hilt long enough for one hand or two, typically 40 to 48 inches overall. It is the shape most people picture when they hear the word "sword," and the centerpiece of most medieval collections. Browse our medieval longswords.

Bastard Sword

The bastard sword, or hand-and-a-half sword, sits between the one-handed arming sword and the two-handed greatsword: its extended grip accommodates a second hand without requiring one. The versatility of the design made it a favorite of the late medieval period. Browse our bastard swords.

Claymore

The claymore is the great two-handed sword of the Scottish Highlands, around 55 inches overall, recognized instantly by its forward-angled crossguard with quatrefoil terminals. Few swords carry as much national identity in a single silhouette. Browse our Scottish claymore swords, or read our full guide to what a claymore sword is.

Rapier

The rapier is the slender thrusting sword of the Renaissance, defined by its long, narrow blade and elaborate hilt work: swept hilts, cup hilts, and rings that turn the guard into sculpture. It is the most ornate type in the European catalog and a favorite of display collectors. Browse our rapier swords.

Saber

The saber is a curved, single-edged sword carried by cavalry and officers from the 17th century into the modern era of dress uniforms. Its sweeping blade and knuckle-bow guard make it the definitive military sword of the gunpowder age. Browse our cavalry and officer sabers.

Cutlass

The cutlass is a short, broad saber with a protective basket or shell guard, the sword of the age of sail and the blade forever associated with pirates and naval crews. Its compact build made it practical aboard ship and makes it a striking display piece ashore. Browse our pirate and naval cutlass swords.

Scimitar

The scimitar is the curved sword of the Middle East and Central Asia, a family that includes the Persian shamshir and the Turkish kilij. The deep, elegant curve and ornate hilts make scimitars some of the most visually dramatic swords ever forged. Browse our scimitar swords.

Chinese Sword

Chinese swords divide into two great families: the jian, a straight, double-edged blade sometimes called the "gentleman of weapons," and the dao, the curved single-edged saber. Both carry thousands of years of continuous tradition. Browse our jian and dao swords.

Katana

The katana is the curved, single-edged sword of the samurai, distinguished by its differential hardening, visible temper line (hamon), and two-handed grip. It is among the most recognized sword forms in the world and a cornerstone of many collections. Browse our samurai katana swords.

Fantasy Sword

Fantasy swords are original designs unbound by any historical pattern: exaggerated proportions, dramatic hilts, and blades that exist because they look extraordinary. Ours are forged from the same real steel as our historical lines, so a fantasy piece displays with the same presence as any blade in the catalog. Browse our fantasy swords.

Every type above is available hand forged in high carbon 1095 steel, folded Damascus steel, or stainless steel, and most can be built to your specification through our custom sword builder.