Pros and Cons of Customizing Your Sword

Sword customization is the act of changing the design, look, material or overall appearance of an existing sword.

Customizing your sword can be a great way to express yourself and make it uniquely yours. It is also a fun and creative way to add personality while still maintaining the functionality of what you need.

If done correctly, the customization can have many positive effects on both the sword and for the buyer as well. However, there are also some downsides that sword owners need to contend with.

The tips below will outline several of the pros and cons that sword owners will likely encounter and expect when customizing a sword.

Pros of Customizing Your Sword

Make What You Want

Ordering and making a custom sword is a way of creating a blade that is wholly yours. There are so many factors and elements when customizing swords.

For katanas or samurai swords, these include the type of steel to be used, the fittings, the handle, and the scabbard just to name a few. For medieval swords, there is also the blade, the pommel, the grip, and the guard.

If you are someone who is practicing the sword arts, this is a great opportunity to craft a blade that fits nicely in your hand. The balance of a blade, for instance, is at the core of the experience. If the balance is off, it can be detrimental to how the blade is used.

If you are customizing the sword for display on the other hand, it is much like getting an accurate design for your home.

Save on Costs Where Possible

Customizing your ordered swords are one way of saving money. In certain situations, and depending on how you customize the swords, they will often yield lesser costs when compared to pre-made swords at the shop.

Improve Upon Classic Designs

Customization also allows you to make the sword exactly how you want it with no compromises. In some cases, you can even improve upon classic sword designs.

You really can’t go wrong with the masterful designs and makes of classic swords. This is a reason why so many sword designs have endured over the years. However, it does not mean that there is no room for improvement.t

One example is the Japanese Tachi sword. It is a beautiful sword in its own right, but when modern fittings are added, it improves the aesthetic with the blade’s design.

For medieval swords, changing the handle or cross guard can improve the experience with the blade.

New Discoveries

Customized swords can also be used as a way to test new ideas for future custom blade smithing. You can mix and match certain elements and features to hopefully discover new blades and smithing techniques.

Cons of Customizing Your Sword

Potentially Increased Costs

Customizing your sword is not without drawbacks however. Customization can increase costs, depending on what elements you are using.

It is easy to be carried away when in the face of customization. It is akin to a child in a candy store. With so many options in front of you, it is easy to be tempted to go crazy and place all sorts of different customizations.

With this though comes the risks of increased costs. While it is possible to lessen the costs with customization, it can also increase it. Exercise restraint when customizing your sword and only get what is really important (unless you can totally afford it).

Finding Materials

It can also be difficult at times to find materials that you need. There are times when you have a specific image of the customized blade in your mind. However, it may end up that the store you are ordering it from does not have the right materials that can fit the mold of your preferred customized sword.

Considering Compatibilities

Customizing the sword may also cause compatibility issues with certain sword fittings and handle materials. You may think you have a brilliant idea for a combination of elements and features, only to have it come out as an incompatible mess that doesn’t improve upon anything.

Furthermore, customization may also involve certain workarounds to get the blade finished in a satisfactory manner. This can lead to headaches down the road if you do not think about your options ahead of time.

Consider These Tips Before Customizing Your Sword

With a custom sword, you can express your personality and individual style. However, the customization process has many pros and cons that need to be considered before doing so.

The decision to customize or not depends on what you want out of the piece. If you are looking for something that will last generations while being passed down in your family, then investing in customization might be worthwhile as this type of craftsmanship cannot be duplicated by machines fast enough to keep up with demand.

On the other hand if all you need is an attractive blade that doesn’t have any sentimental value, then buying off-the-shelf swords could save money without sacrificing quality since they are already assembled from standardized parts on an assembly line using machinery.

Despite it all, we hope that the pros and cons we have presented you will allow you to make an informed decision when customizing your sword.

When it is all said and done though, we hope you get the sword you most desire.

You might also wanna check SWORD MAINTENANCE 101: BASIC SWORD CARE TIPS OWNERS SHOULD KNOW.