Battle ready swords for reenactment

We often receive messages from ebayers asking if our swords are suitable for reenactment.Every year there are hundreds, if not thousands of serious accidents involving so called battle ready, reenactment swords. It's easy enough to find battle ready swords on the web, but are they really suitable for combat, or will you be risking your life, or other peoples lives?Unfortunately sellers know that if they offer their sword for reenactment it will sell better and for at least double the normal price. Steel used for reenactment is mostly EN45 Sprung steel, this doesn't mean that it automatically makes the sword battle worthy, or safe. Most of our swords are EN45 Sprung steel, but not battle worthy, why?When buying a sword for reenactment there are certain things to look out for.1. The blade is well balanced, and EN45 Sprung steel.(For battle the blade has to have an adequate carbon level, just because it's listed as Carbon Steel or Sprung Steel doesn't make the blade battle worthy, it also has to be tempered properly, if the seller doesn't mention how the blade has been tempered then it probably hasn't been tempered at all)2. The sword has a full tang construction not rat tail.(this means the blade goes all the way to the pommel without too much tapering, a rat tail construction means the blade at the grip end has been tapered to about 5-6mm and a single bolt holds the blade in place, of course this means the chance that the blade will rattle or break away from the grip, is pretty strong)3. The tip is rounded4. The edge is blunt and the width of the edge is at least 3-4mm, after all, you will be hitting people with the edge!This is not a full guide or review to battle ready weapons, just a short common sense guide to hlep those new to reenactment.We seriously advise you to join a club for reenactment and ask members advise about how to, and where to buy battle ready swords. There are far too many sellers out there who will sell you something battle ready, which isn't just to make a sale.If you do decide to buy a battle ready sword from the web you should aim for a sword costing at least 250 pounds upwards. Make sure the seller offers at LEAST a 5 year guarantee that the sword will not break, rattle etc... Also that the seller accepts all liability for injuries caused through defective material.If the seller doesnt trust their product enough to offer such a written guarantee, then you shouldnt trust it either, it's your life and you or your friend that will be at 'the sharp end' when it breaks, and they do!