Sword, Knife & Armor Guides

Everything we've learned about blades, in one place. Over the years we've written hundreds of thousands of words about blade types, how they differ, and how to care for them, organized here by subject, with links to the matching collections.

Swords

The largest part of what we make and the largest part of what we've written about. Start here if you're trying to work out which type of sword you actually want, or if you've bought one and want to understand what you're holding.

Sword Comparisons

Side by side guides to the sword types people mix up most often, with size, history and hilts compared.

Knives

Kukris, bowies, trackers, karambits and hunting knives. Most of these guides exist because someone asked us the same question twice.

Shop: All Knives · Cool Knives

Kukris

Kukri Knife: A Collector's Guide to Nepal's Famous Blade

Shop: Gurkha Kukris

Bowie Knives

Shop: Bowie Knives

Tracker, Survival Knives & Machetes

Shop: Tracker Knives · Survival Knives · Machetes

Karambits & Haladies

Shop: Haladie Knives

Hunting & Skinning Knives

Shop: Hunting Knives · Skinning Knives

Knife Craft & Everyday Knives

Shop: Kitchen Knives

Armor, Shields & Costume

What the pieces are called, what they protected, and what to look for if you're buying for display, re-enactment, LARP or cosplay.

Shop: Medieval Decor · Shields · Shields of the Ancients · Body Armor & Vests · Gauntlets · Greaves · Steampunk

Axes & Tomahawks

Where the tomahawk came from, how a Viking axe differs from one, and how to pick between them.

Shop: Axes · Tomahawks · Viking Axes

Spears, Polearms, Maces & Ancient Weapons

Javelins, spears, halberds, maces and war hammers, and the older end of the arsenal, including what to look for if you're buying a spear for training rather than display.

Shop: Spears · Polearms · Medieval Weapons · Archery Armor

Collecting, Care & Craft

Damascus steel, sharpening and polishing, custom work, and the odds and ends of collecting.

Damascus Steel

Care, Sharpening, Display & Customization

Shop: Engrave Your Blade · Cleaning Kits & Sharpeners · Belts

Collecting & Curiosities

Shop: Mugs & Drinking Horns · Viking Decor · Sale Items · Overstock

Gift Guides

Occasion and interest guides built around hand-forged blades, marble chess sets and engraved pieces, with prices checked against the catalog and a plain note in each on when to buy something else. The full set lives on the Gift Guides blog.