Post Your Sword Collecting Tips for the Beginner

[avabarnes]

Sword collecting is a fun activity. This blog offers some suggestions on how to start building a collection: https://www.museumreplicas.com/sword-collecting-tips-for-the-beginner

[Darth Tepes]

3 things you should answer before you start:

1.) What do you want it for.  Display or Use.  Use in terms of if your practice a Martial Art Discipline, HEMA or otherwise.
 
From there you can decide on:

2.) Budget.  Needless to say if you want a functional blade you're going to pay a bit more.

then from there all you have to figure our is.

3.) type(s) Katana? Longsword? Claymore? Fantasy?

Then the rest is a learning process.  I myself used to buy every sword I could get...none of them survived.  As I got older and learned more I realized all the money I spent on crappy "Sword Like Objects" (wall hangers that should NOT be swung)  I could have bought a well made blade.  My collection is smaller now..but the quality is much higher.   Kultofathena.com Is very widely known in Sword collecting circles as on of the best places to peruse swords.  They carry from a wide range of styles and companies as well you can view them by price and "battle readiness". 

[Infinit01]

I treat it like how I treat my knife collection. 

1. What are you collecting? Is it a varied collection or aimed at specific smiths, styles, era?

2. What are you going to use it for? Builds, collections, sparring?

3. What's your budget?

I would research quite a bit and join sword forums and learn as much as you can before doing anything. 

[SerenityActual]

I tend to buy swords/knives that catch my eye. Usually they are "sword like objects that should never be swung". My collection is mostly made up of different katanas, just because I like the looks of the scabbards. One of these days I will own a decent Bat'leth, just for hanging purposes.

[Jev Moldara]

My dream is to own a beautifully crafted yatagan.

For those unaware, a yatagan is the sword used by Oded Fehr in The Mummy.