Here you can find information about the sharpness levels we divided all of our edged weapons in the store. The sharpness depends on the item in question. The degree of sharpness for a particular item can be found in the info text of that item.
Blunt
The blunt thick-edged practice weapons have an edge thickness around 2 – 2,5 mm, and they are not designed to be sharpened.
Built to withstand heavy use by martial artists, re-enactors and stage performers. The edges and points are thick and rounded for better nick resistance and safety. For safer thrusts some swords have a rolled tip or a button tip. The weight/punch of the thrust is thus spread evenly to a greater surface area to avoid the point penetrating the safety equipment, keeping the fencer safe.
Although little safety features like this are welcomed add-ons, it’s always important to use proper protections and maintain the condition of all items when training with weapons made of steel. Exercise proper safety precautions and control at all times to avoid injuries.
Unsharpened
The edges of our unsharpened swords are approx. 0,3-0,8 mm thick, depending on the item and can vary slightly between individual pieces. The edges are not thick and dull as on our training items but rather thin, only missing the final sharpening of the edge. Telling the difference between an unsharpened edge and a sharpened one is difficult with naked eye and you really need to look closely to see the difference. Unsharpened blade is safer as you can’t for example accidentally cut a wound into your hand. Please note that on some swords the tips of the weapons can still be very sharp, even if the weapon itself is marked as unsharpened.
Our unsharpened swords are designed to be sharpened and will remain in balance even if you sharpen them, as only a small amount of metal needs to be removed. If desired, the unsharpened edges can be fairly easily sharpened at home, or you could use a local smith. In many places also locksmiths and/or cobblers also offer sharpening services. Sharpening service for knives is usually easy to find but longer sword blades may be a problem for some locksmiths and/or cobblers. For your safety we do not recommend you to sharpen any of your weapons if you are not planning on using these for cutting practices or as tools.
The originals of these weapons were designed to withstand the stress of swordplay and our replicas withstand swordplay just as well. However please note that every weapon and tool requires a certain amount of knowledge and skill, without which damage to the weapon and injuries to yourself or people around is likely. We recommend that you fence only under the supervision of an instructor and let the teacher approve all equipment, so that is fit for the purpose and style of the exercise. We cannot overemphasize enough that when practicing with steel swords you must wear appropriate protective gear. Even an unsharpened weapon can cause serious injuries, including bone fractures.
Sharp/very sharp
Weapons marked as sharp have been sharpened to a cutting edge. With a sharpened weapon the risk of injury is heightened, and if handled carelessly you can easily cut a wound into your hand for example. A sharp edge is something you could find on a actual original fighting weapon. The edge cuts but it’s not as sharp as a good kitchen knife for example. The finer the edge is the better it cuts but it also damages more easily. Combat weapons didn’t need a fine tuned, easily breakable edge but an edge that can withstand some punishment and still be able to cut and perform.
Sharp weapon can be easily sharpened further to a very sharp or a razor edge if needed, if you want to make a special blade just for test cutting or show off your sharpening skills to your friends.
The sharpest of our weapons are categorized as “very sharp”. These very sharp edges are designed for test cutting practices where very sharp edges are needed. Even these are not razor sharp with edges you can shave the hair off your hand. Too sharp edge dulls very fast and needs constant resharpening as a very fine edge rolls and bends easily so a compromise between durability and sharpness is always needed. You can naturally sharpen your “very sharp” blade further to a a razor edge if you want to show off your sharpening skills to your friends.
With a sharpened weapon even a slight mistake can cause serious damage. Always treat a sharpened weapon as you would a loaded gun. Keep it happy but keep it safe.