Awesome Movie Sword Replicas Blog & Guide

Zarroc Sword of Eragon Replica

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:42:00 +0000

Eragon is a 2006 fantasy-adventure film with lots of CGI effects but it didn't come anywhere close to The Lord of The Rings success trail. Instead, it was named the 10th worst reviewed film of 2006 on Rotten Tomatoes, and the 31st highest grossing film of 2006 in the States. That aside, I was only interested in Rachel Weisz who lent her voice for Saphira the dragon. She'd make one hell of a hot dragon among their kind. The film is loosely based on the novel with the same name by author Christopher Paolini. The film was directed by Stefen Fangmeier (his directing debut), who had previously worked as a visual effects director on Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

Eragon is a farm boy in his late-teens who lives in a small village named Carvahall in the fictional and magical country of Alagaesia, where dragons and other magical creatures wander. One day while hunting, Eragon finds a dragon egg from which hatches a blue dragon named Saphira. Eragon decides to keep Saphira a secret, but a pair of magical creatures called The Razac are sent by the King of Alagaesia, Galbatorix, to find Eragon and the dragon. Eragon flees home, and later returns to find his uncle Garrow murdered by the Razac. With vengeance in his heart, he sets out on a journey to avenge his uncle. Accompanied by a wise storyteller named Brom, Eragon and Saphira take up the legacy of legendary Dragon Riders. He learns magic, swordfighting, and dragon-riding to fulfill the legend of the dragon riders and his destiny, to help over throw the Empire and it's tyrant king, Galbatorix. Eragon is also given a mighty sword named Zar'roc by Brom. Frankly I slept through half the film cause the storyline is so predictable. The only merit of the fantasy flick is the beautiful Zar'roc sword.

Zar'roc was originally created by an elf named Rhunon, the smith of the Dragon Riders. The sword belonged to Morzan, but was taken by Brom after his death. Before Morzan's death, Zar'roc was feared by many as his ultimate weapon. It also symbolized agony and betrayal, as Morzan had killed many Riders with Zar'roc. Brom gave the sword to Eragon, although he refrained from telling him the blade's history. The history of Zar'roc was eventually revealed to Eragon by Murtagh while they were traveling to the Varden. Eragon used Zar'roc to defeat Durza, a Shade of immense power, in the Battle under Farthen Dur. After defeating Eragon at the Battle of the Burning Plains, Murtagh claimed Zar'roc as his own, declaring that Morzan's sword should have gone to him, the oldest son of Morzan, and not Eragon, the youngest. "Zar'roc" in the ancient language means "misery".

As expected, there are several inconsistencies between the movie adaptation and the book. Zar'roc has a ruby embedded into the hilt, however in the Eragon film it instead is a sapphire. Morzan's insignia appears on neither the sheath nor the blade in the movie. The sheath is also black rather than wine-red, like in the book. What's more is that the handle of the sword is leather-black, not silver-wrapped like in the book.

The Zar'roc Sword of Eragon by Top Swords is one of the most eye-catching swords ever created due to the colour combinations used in its design. Just check out the image below and you'll notice instantly the red blade with a central ridge and the striking blue crystal pommel. The guard is casted as two dragon heads with long horns, and its surface is engraved to replicate the dragon's scale. The Zar'roc Sword replica has an overall length of 51 inch. Its blade is made of stainless steel with a central ridge. A wooden display plaque is included with the sword, not forgetting the cerfiticate of authenticity since it is a licensed reproduction from the movie. That alone will give you a hint of its price tag, get ready to part with at least $150.

If 51 inch is just too long for you (hehe), there is always the shorter sword set with a stand. And you get not 1, not 2, not 3, but 5 Mini Sword reproductions from the movie. This Eragon Mini Sword Set comes with 5 extremely detailed miniature swords - Zar'roc, Sword of Galbatorix, Sword of Brom, Sword of Arya, and Sword of Durza. Each measures an overall length of 12.75 inch. A custom display stand holds all the mini swords in place and a certificate of authenticity is also included.

Star Wars R2D2 Interactive Droid Robot

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:54:00 +0000

Happy New Year everyone! This is my first post for 2009, and it's not about swords for once. I was surfing for cool gifts for the holidays like everyone else and stumbled upon several stunning items. But I would have to say one of the coolest is the Star Wars Interactive R2D2 Astromech Droid Robot. Check it out if you still have some budget left. Myself, I'm all dried out.

Bring Home Your Own Astromech Droid
Celebrate Star Wars 30th Anniversary by inviting this movie-accurate droid into your life. Once the loyal companion to Queen Amdala, this utility droid is programmed to be your devoted helper and friend. Help him get ready to serve you by snapping his steering legs into place and attaching the projector piece to his domed top. You'll need to use a Phillips screwdriver to insert four "AA" batteries and four "D" cell batteries in his side.

More than 15-inches tall, this sophisticated R2-D2 model boasts a secret cargo compartment, a unique swing-down utility arm that's also a beverage holder, a removable sensor scope, a working light beam, sound-processing microphones, and an adaptable droid mood-status indicator. Sonar navigational technology and infrared location sensors help make him one the most advanced droids around.

Take Advantage of Three Interactive Modes
Intergalactic missions will be more fun with a reliable droid at your side. In companion mode, R2-D2 responds to commands like "Go on patrol," "Light Beam," and "Play Message." Star Wars fans are sure to appreciate the accuracy of the messages, which are culled from famous missions he remembers.

You can even ask R2 about friends including Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, Darth Vader, and Jabba the Hutt. He has a different reaction to each name based on his "feelings" for the characters. And if you hit R2 on the head, he'll make irritated beeping sounds and try to move away from you. As you get to know your droid, you'll realize that the noises and motions he makes correspond to his "mood."

In game mode, R2 responds to more complicated commands. He'll act as a sentry to protect your important stuff, dance to cantina music, spin around, or play light tag. The third mode is the most complex. This command mode lets you give pointed directions that control R2's movements. Tell him to turn left and right or go forward whenever you want, or set a preprogrammed course for him to follow.

While R2 responded to simple commands with no problems, we had difficulty getting him to respond reliably to more complex requests. We trust that, like with any voice-operated electronic system, over time it will get easier to produce a wider range of commands that R2 consistently responds to. Until then, his movie-accurate look, the way he responds to simple commands, and the convenient beverage holder make him a fun comrade.

What's in the Box
Droid body, two steering legs, projector piece, telescope piece with sensory array, and an operation manual.

Luke Skywalker Lightsaber auctioned for $240,000

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:37:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Luke Skywalker's lightsaber has been on Star Wars fans' Christmas lists for more than 30 years.

On Thursday, one fan spent $240,000 to get the real thing: the prop that Mark Hamill used in the first two movies in the original "Star Wars" trilogy.

The lightsaber highlighted several Hollywood memorabilia sold at an auction in Los Angeles by Profiles in History. The auction house said it sold about $3.5 million in memorabilia.

The droid helmet worn by Anthony Daniels to play C-3PO sold for $120,000, and the costume Marlon Brando wore in the "Superman" movie went for $72,000.

The first British edition of "You Only Live Twice" inscribed by Ian Fleming sold for $84,000. Roald Dahl's handwritten screenplay for the film of the same title sold for $96,000.

Heaven's Fall Sword - Seven Swords

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:52:00 +0000

I observed a few visitors to my blog were searching for The Heaven's Fall sword from Hong Kong's 2005 'Seven Swords' movie directed by Tsui Hark. Yes, I do monitor my blog's traffic profile to see what visitors look for and try to fill in the 'missing link' whenever I can. I hope they come back again and find this post useful. Seven Swords was the opening film to the 2005 Venice Film Festival. Adapted from the Chinese novel 'Seven Swords of Mount Heaven' written by renowned Wuxia author Liang Yusheng, Seven Swords is also a tribute movie to Akira Kurosawa's infamous 1954 film 'Seven Samurai'. The film is the first of a planned trilogy and was originally four hours long before edited down to 153 minutes. There's even a Hong Kong TV series version, I only watched a few episodes cause Donnie Yen's not in it. Otherwise I would be glued to my TV set instead of my laptop.

The movie starts with Master Shadow-glow who leaves behind the mundane affairs of the world and goes hermit among the peaks of Mount Heaven. After spending few decades there, he became a great master of sword-casting and made seven prized swords. They were given the names The Unlearn, The Dragon, The Transcience, The Star-chasers, The Celestial Beam, The Deity and The Heaven's Fall. The seven swords represent the seven states of period and mind that Master Shadow-glow experienced on Mount Heaven. Each one of them bears a different meaning.

The Heaven's Fall sword had a unique origin. Master Shadow-glow practices austerity by casting swords and had over a thousand swords with different styles and functions. However, when these swords are compared with The Deity, they are inferior in both shape and spirit. One day, as usual, Master Shadow-glow was watching the clouds and mountains from afar. Out of the blue, a stream of clouds plunged down like a waterfall, drawing a frozen line across the sky. Master Shadow-glow suddenly was enlightened with the fact that The Deity is too primitive and is thus restrained in both shape and spirit. In a bid to break the confines of The Deity, Master Shadow-glow melted a hundred swords to cast The Heaven's Fall. The sword was later given to Wu Yuanyin.

The Heaven's Fall attack form is free-style and follows the mind of the swordsman who wield it. Wu Yuanying was initially unable to control the sword until she learnt how to free her mind. The sword is an elemental sword of water especially unique with a handle that resembles a flute. The holes in the handle respond to different functions, used to slide the blade from one side of the handle to the other. With its affinity to water, The Heaven’s Fall is extremely deadly when wet, as energy can be channelled into the sword and the water droplets on it be directed towards enemies as projectiles weapons. It is used most effectively together with The Unlearnt and The Star Chasers.

The Heaven Fall Sword replica by Topicool has three circle cut outs which allow the blade to be locked in place in the handle. The blade slides from one end of the handle to the other just like in the movies. The sword replica can even be used with the handle locked in the center of the blade, so you will get the blade coming out of each side of the handle (like a short bo with blades). The sword has an overall length of 40", blade length 27.5" and handle length 12.25". Blade thickness is about 0.125" and the whole sword weighs approximately 5 lbs.

Video - Learn Japanese Katana Terminology

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:31:00 +0000

This is my first video in YouTube. It's a simple visual guide to complement the previous post Japanese Katana Terminology for Movie Sword Replica Collectors.

Today I installed a new template for this blog, took me a while to get a hang of the hardcoded scripts but it's been fun and a great learning experience too. Let me know what you think and if there are any features that could improve your surfing experience here, please drop a comment.

Luke Skywalker Force FX Lightsaber

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:19:00 +0000

Lightsaber week continues with the Luke Skywalker Force FX Lightsaber replica, the godfather of all lightsabers. Back in 77 when Episode IV: A New Hope opened, audiences all over the world was awestruck the first time Luke Skywalker ignited a lightsaber handed to him by Obi-Wan Kenobi. The lightsaber and its iconic humming sound has since became the most coveted sci-fi weapon of all times.

Luke Skywalker was played by Mark Hamill in the original Star Wars trilogy Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Hamill also lent his voice for The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series. On 11th Jan 1977, a day before he was supposed to shoot one of the final scenes in Episode IV: A New Hope, Hamill was involved in a car accident and left with a fractured nose and left cheekbone. During his absence for surgery, a replacement double was used in the landspeeder pickup scenes. Later Hamill had a scar along his upper lip from the accident and this was clearly visible In Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. The film creatively attributed the scar to Luke's encounter with the wampa on the 5th planet in Hoth system.

The Luke Skywalker Force FX Lightsaberby Master Replicas is an enhanced glowing blue blade with realistic power-up and power-down light effects, thanks to a string of 64 super-bright LEDs that ignite sequentially inside the blade. Similar to the lightsaber replicas featured in previous posts, the Luke Skywalker FX lightsaber also incorporates motion-sensor controlled sound effects digitally recorded from the movie.

There are a total of 3 built-in motion-sensors to achieve better sensitivity, with 2 dedicated to detect movement while the remaining 1 sensor to detect impact on the blade. Both the sensor and digitally recorded sound effects work together to replicate an actual lightsaber feel during power-up, idling, swinging, clashing and power-down action. You'll need to source three AAA batteries because they are not included with the lightsaber.

Master Replicas Mace Windu Lightsaber FX

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 06:31:00 +0000

When I heard Mace Windu was going to be played by Samuel Leroy Jackson, the same SLJ who played Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction back in 94, my laughing nerve went crazy. It's just so awkwrd to imagine Samuel from "You're my b**** !!" going to 'I sense a disturbance in the Force'. And thank God he didn't have an apprentice in the Star Wars prequel. George Lucas must have known it was too big a risk to take.

Mace Windu is one of the earliest characters in the Star Wars universe. He started as a narrator for the original drafts of Episode IV: A New Hope. However his character was later removed from the original trilogy before introduced again in Lucas's Star Wars prequel. Mace Windu is a Jedi Master and senior member of the Jedi Council, second only to Master Yoda (I can imagine Yoda's lecture - "My b**** you are, in this Jedi Council. Do or do not, there is no try" and SLJ bends over "Yes my master").

Windu's origin is mentioned to be the force-sensitive Korun race from the planet Haruun Kal. Korunnai are subspecies of the humans, organized into tribes called Ghosh. Windu created Vaapad, the full 7th form of lightsaber combat. Vaapad creates a superconducting loop which reflects an enemy's attack, and grants great speed and power. The name is taken from a predatory animal on one of Sarapin's moons. The creature uses multiple tentacles coupled with highspeed attacks.

SLJ being a hardcore Star Wars fan, actually requested for a purple lightsaber so that his character would standout in the chaotic battle scene in Episode II: Attack of the Clones. And it's a pretty good choice of colour actually, one that will bear his name for a long time. That's star power. You too can get your own Master Replicas Mace Windu Lightsaber FX.

This FX Lightsaber is the official reproduction from Episode II: Attack of the Clones. The bright purple polycarbonate blade is permanently attached to the hilt and glows with realistic power-up and power-down effects. It also has authentic lightsaber sound effects digitally recorded from the movie itself. The various digital sounds are activated by motion-sensors installed in the lightsaber replica, each responds to power-up, power-down, idling and clashing movements. The durable yet light chrome-plated aluminum body looks and feels like a real lightsaber, with a display stand included. The only bad points are that the blade looks more bright white than deep purple when activated, and the lightsaber needs 6 "AA" batteries to operate compared to only 3 in the previous Master Replicas Yoda Force FX Lightsaber("AAA") and Darth Vader Episode V FX Lightsaber Replica("AA").

Darth Vader Episode V FX Lightsaber Replica

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:11:00 +0000

Darth Vader's image was first created by concept artist Ralph McQuarrie when he drew the opening scene of Vader and his stormtroopers boarding a Rebel ship. Initially, Vader was imagined to fly through space to enter the ship which calls for a space suit with breathing mask. This suit was later made permanent and used throughout the film. The popular sound of Vader breathing through the mask was created by sound designer Ben Burtt, who recorded himself breathing through a scuba regulator. Darth Vader's costume draws from George Lucas' interest in feudal Japan, especially the samurai warriors. Vader's mask helmet on the other hand was taken from World War I German helmet widely known as the "Stahlhelm".

Ever thought of joining the Dark Side? With the Darth Vader Episode V FX Lightsaber Replica,anyone will easily succumb to the Sith. This lightsaber replica features the same durable die-cast metal parts as the Master Replicas Yoda Force FX Lightsaber. It has a sturdy red polycarbonate blade which is permanently attached to the hilt and features realistic power-up and power-down glowing light effects (rather than the whole blade lighting up at once). When you toggle the activation switch, the blade's light light travels from the guard to the tip, thanks to the 60+ Strobe LED light tube.

Batteries are not included, so you'll have to source three 'AA' on your own. Have them ready beforehand cause the Darth Vader Episode V FX Lightsaber Replica comes with authentic digitally-recorded and motion-sensor-controlled sound effects that will give you goose-bumps. The same electrifying sound you heard from the silverscreen is built into the lightsaber to replicate power-up, power-down, idling, movement and saber clashing effects.

The Vader lightsaber replica also has an auto-off feature that saves battery life. Leave it for a few minutes and it automatically switches off. Overall the feedback from customers who bought the lightsaber have been overwhelming. It is durable, well-made and nicely detailed especially the chrome handle. I cannot imagine what future models will look like. Hopefully we'll all able to see the real thing in this lifetime.

Master Replicas Yoda Force FX Lightsaber

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:18:00 +0000

This week I will feature posts on lightsabers only, so it's officially Lightsaber Week. Whose lightsaber better to start off with than the Grand Master's himself, Yoda. Master Yoda is one unforgettable character from the Star Wars franchise (many English professors will concur to that). In Episode II : Attack of the Clones, it's puzzling how the Jedi younglings understand a single word coming from Yoda (I had to take an extra second just to rearrange the words in my head), and parents never worried about their gifted children grow-up talking funny.

Yoda first appeared in 'The Empire Strikes Back' as a Jedi Master in hiding. Before the Jedi was declared as enemies of the Republic, Yoda was a Grand Master of the Jedi Order. He is portrayed as a wise and powerful Jedi Master but in the end still fell short to the devious Sith Lord. George Lucas originally wanted Yoda to follow other characters in having a full name, Yoda Minch. But it was later decided to have Yoda's history remain a mystery. Yoda's alien race has never been mentioned in any media. He is merely stated as a "mysterious species" by the Star Wars Databank. The closest ever heard of was "tridactyl species" which simply means they have three fingers.

The films and Expanded Universe reveal that Yoda had trained quite a few distinguished Jedi, including Count Dooku who was his old Padawan Learner. Then there's Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi (before Qui-Gon Jinn took over), Ki-Adi-Mundi, Kit Fisto and the last Luke Skywalker. In the animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, which is set somewhere between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Yoda mentioned that he trained one of the leaders in the Jedi Council, Master Oppo Rancisis. In the Star Wars prequel he was shown instructing all the younglings in the Jedi Temple before they were assigned a master.

Check out the Star Wars Master Replicas Yoda Force FX Lightsaber.This first-class Master Yoda lightsaber replica from the Star Wars prequel features tough die-cast metal parts that look and feel like a real weapon. Batteries are not included, so you'll have to source three 'AAA' on your own. Have them ready beforehand cause the Master Replicas Yoda Force FX Lightsaber comes with authentic digitally-recorded and motion-sensor-controlled sound effects that will give you goose-bumps. The same electrifying sound you heard from the silverscreen is built into the lightsaber to replicate power-up, power-down, idling, movement and saber clashing effects.

For the blade, a sturdy green polycarbonate is permanently attached to the hilt and displays realistic power-up and power-down glowing light effects. If you're wondering how bright the blade can go, just look at the image above. Many customers who bought the Yoda FX lightsaber love its weight and ease of handling.

No need to worry where to place your precious lightsaber when not in use, cause a handsome display stand is also included with every purchase. Last checked, the Master Replicas Yoda Force FX Lightsaber was on a 33% discount offer, while stocks last.

Heroes Takezo Kensei Sword Replica

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:12:00 +0000

In NBC sci-fi series HEROES, Adam Monroe is the same Takezo Kensei from feudal Japan who has the ability to regenerate his body making him almost immortal. He's like the Highlander MacLeod hybrid minus the Scottish accent and kilt. In Japanese history, Takezo Kensei is actually a revered hero - the word "Kensei" is a title which literally means "Sword Saint". Takezo Kensei lived his life as a swordsman who fought dozens of battles to protect the people of Japan and their freedom. In the TV hit series, Hiro Nakamura came to idolize Takezo from bedtime stories read by his father when he was a child.

Legend has it at a time when Japan was facing the threat of an impending war, Takezo found a sword frozen in the snow with mystical powers that helped him focus his strength and courage. To learn more of the sword's secrets and save Japan, he went to meet the Dragon of Kiso Mountain and asked for his help. The Dragon agreed but only in exchange for the love of his life. Takezo was deeply in love with a princess but he knew Japan would fall if he did not make this sacrifice. He finally agreed and the Dragon taught him everything he needed to know. With the knowledge and skills learned, Takezo became Kensei - a sword saint and won a great battle which saved the people of Japan.

After the battle, the Dragon came to Kensei’s palace to claim his prize but Kensei refused to surrender the princess. Instead he cut out his own heart, handed it to the Dragon and said, “My love is in here. Take it.” And then he died. The Dragon was deeply moved to see that Kensei was willing to sacrifice himself for his people and his true love. Impressed with Kensei's true and righteous virtue, the Dragon revived Kensei’s heart and breathed fire-life back into his corpse. Given a second chance, the Takezo dynasty went on to rule Japan with valor and love for a hundred years. Pretty nice folklore if I may say so.

There is a licensed reproduction of the HEROES Takezo Kensei Sword replica by United Cutlery.The sword reproduction is meticulously detailed and crafted with tempered, hand-forged high-carbon blade just like the actual TV prop. This stunning sword has an overall length of 42" and blade length of 28.5". It features a genuine leather wrapped handle, genuine rayskin covered grip, and solid brass helix ornaments. The widely-known emblem is inscribed onto the handle in gold. The sword replica includes a wooden shoulder scabbard and display stand. This adult collectable sword is individually laser serialized to ensure authenticity. Last checked, the sword was on a 54% discount and avid collectors will know this is a bargain considering UC products are known to be pricey. Now you can save the world and your wallet at the same time.

If there are no stocks available or you prefer a cheaper alternative, check out the HEROES Takezo Kensei Sword replica from Heavenlyswords.Last checked, it was below USD100.

Halo Energy Sword Replica

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:25:00 +0000

The Halo Energy Sword replica from the infamous console game Halo is one futuristic looking sword. Personally I'd rather call it a dagger but democracy means follow the majority. I was at an electronic store when I saw the Halo 3 video preview, and it was awesome. Really trying hard not to get that console cause I was once a PC Game addict. Still fresh in my mind are the 4 hours sleep days everytime a great game was launched, though having a day job which sometimes stretched late into the night didn't do much to stop me.

Since I'm not a Halo addict (yet), I dug for more info on the sword. Learned some old science along the way and refueled my games addiction even more. The Halo Energy Sword which is also known as the Plasma Sword is a close-quarter Sangheili melee weapon. It is mainly used by Zealot Sangheili in Halo 2 although Special Operations Elites have also been known to employ it in close-quarter combat. The Energy Sword is also one of the main weapons favoured by the Arbiter, whose race helped create the weapon.

The Energy Sword's plasma is conveniently shaped into a blade-like form by a magnetic-field generator built into the weapon's handle. The blade has two points due to the magnetic properties of the weapon where two poles need two points (bet you don't learn these from a light-saber). The hot energy of the blade can cut through most armor, so it's no surprise to cut an opponent in half with one sweep.

In Halo : Combat Evolved, if the Elite drops the Energy Sword, a fail-safe mechanism triggers and deactivates the magnetic field without dispensing the plasma, consuming the handle and thus destroying the weapon. In Halo 2, a similar fail-safe feature is active when not wielding the weapon directly. The handle must be under constant pressure from the wielder in order to be activated so that the weapon can be stored safely.

The unique Halo Energy Sword replica from GreyEagleis a twin Stainless Steel Blade coated with titanium plating to give it a rainbow finish electric look. The rainbow color reflecting off the blade is claimed to vary with the angle of light. Pretty cool idea to mimic the Plasma look, I guess it's something like the holographic sticker on my sedan's oil filter (supposedly prove it's not some cheap filter from Taiwan). I did come across a less pricey replica which received bad feedback from a buyer who complained the rainbow colour staying the same even if the sword was upside-down. In my opinion even if the rainbow thing is there initially, I wouldn't count on the shine to last forever. The Energy Sword replica from GreyEagle has an overall length of 27.5" and handle width of 10". The handle is made using custom-molded gray plastic and can be hung on a hardwood plaque that comes with the sword replica. It's a nice looking piece but if they could make the blade near the handle wider and bigger, it would look more like a sword.

Rurouni Kenshin Reverse Blade Sword Replica (Sakabato)

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:21:00 +0000

Kenshin Himura is the popular character from the Rurouni Kenshin manga series created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. Watsuki designed Kenshin to be the physical opposite of Hiko Seijuro, a character that appeared in his first one-shot manga - 'Crescent Moon in the Warring States'. Seijuro was later introduced into Rurouni Kenshin as Kenshin's mentor and master.

The manga setting takes place during the early Meiji period in Japan. Kenshin Himura is a legendary assassin known as 'Hitokiri Battosai' or 'Battosai the Slayer'. At the end of the Bakumatsu, he became a wandering samurai, wielding a Sakabato. The term Sakabato literally means 'reverse blade sword' which is a unique type of Japanese sword. The normal Japanese Katana favoured by the samurai has the outwardly-curved side of the blade sharpened, the Sakabato is sharpened on the opposite inwardly-curved side. This is why it is known as a reverse blade sword. It is non-lethal until it's turned over. Although many Sakabato replicas have been reproduced, it is purely a brainchild of Nobuhiro Watsuki and no such sword has ever been recorded in history.

A fan of the Shinsengumi, Watsuki designed the characters based on real Shinsengumi members and other historical icons from the Bakumatsu period. In actual Japanese history, the Four Hitokiri of the Bakumatsu (Bakumatsu Shidai Hitokiri) was a term given to four samurai during the Bakumatsu era. The four samurai were Kawakami Gensai, Kirino Toshiaki (also known as Nakamura Hanjiro), Tanaka Shinbei, and Okada Izo. Kenshin Himura's character was loosely taken from Kawakami Gensai. The four samurai were warrior elites who opposed the Tokugawa shogunate and later supported the Meiji Emperor. Along with the title of Hitokiri, they were also called 'The Four Butchers' (Shidai Nikuya) or 'Heaven's Punishment against enemies of Imperial restoration' (Teikoku Fukki no Teki ni Taisuru Tenchu).

The first sword replica featured here is the functional version. The elegant Rurouni Kenshin Reverse Blade Sword replica (Sakabato) from SwordDemonis constructed from one fine piece of high-carbon steel and buffed to a low polish finish. The Sakabato sword replica has an overall closed length of 40.75", overall opened length 39.25", blade length 27.5" and blade thickness 0.3". If you've always wondered what a reverse blade look like, check out the image below. Isn't that a sight for sore eyes? Unlike a conventional Katana, the reverse blade has its sharp edge on the inside-curve of the blade, which in the image is the top edge with a visible Hamon (temper pattern). Due to the razor-sharp edge, this sword should not be used by children and caution is highly recommended.

The outward-curve of the full tang blade is blunt, shown in the image as the bottom edge. You can see the bottom edge has a wide Shinogi (blade ridge) decorated with an even deep Hi (groove). Notice the entirely different Kissaki (blade point) at the blade tip. The Tsuba (guard) has a simple and elegant round design, just like the anime. The Tsuka (handle) has been created with traditional Samurai components and uses authentic Same (rayskin cover for Tsuka) with a real Ito (braid) wrapped cloth handle. With the antiqued Fuchi (collar on hilt) and Kashira (pommel), the full tang Sakabato makes a stunning addition to your Katana collection. You don't see a reverse blade sword everyday right?

The sword has been reproduced under the specifications of the Rurouni Kenshin anime series' and mangas. Included with the Rurouni Kenshin Reverse Blade Sword replica (Sakabato) is a black cotton sword bag and wooden Saya (scabbard) coated with a high-gloss black finish. Last checked, the Sakabato sword replica was on 49% discount, a bargain for Kenshin fans.

If you are looking for a decorative sword, then the 40" Rurouni Kenshin Reverse Blade Sword Replica (Sakabato) from RoyalArmis a good choice. The sword replica has an overall length of 40", handle length 10.5" and blade length 27.5". The blade is made of 440 Stainless Steel with a slightly sharpened edge. The Saya (scabbard) is lacquered in glossy black paint and stamped with a golden Japanese Kanji. Both guard and pommel have an antique silver finish.

Zabuza Momochi Sword Replica - Naruto

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:31:00 +0000

Zabuza Momochi is one of the first strong adversaries appearing at the beginning chapters of Naruto. Zabuza was once a member of the Kirigakure's Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, a group of shinobi who wield exceptionally large swords. The swords are passed down from one generation to another. Zabuza's sword is called Kubikiri Hocho which translates to "Decapitating Knife".

After a failed coup to assassinate Kirigakure's leadership, Zabuza and his followers fled the village and began working as hired assassins. As a Kirigakure shinobi, he is well-skilled in water-jutsu and this was shown in the fight with Hatake Kakashi and company which marks one of the early pinnacle battles in Naruto. In the end Zabuza was defeated by Kakashi and this failure caused him his life when his employer decided to hire other assassins to take him out.

After his death, Zabuza's sword ended-up in the hands of Suigetsu Houzuki who is the brother of Mangetsu Houzuki (believed to be one of the Seven Swordsmen). Suigetsu later joined Uchiha Sasuke's Hawk group after Sasuke defeated Orochimaru.

Sometime before being introduced, Suigetsu trained to be one of Kirigakure's Seven Swordsmen of the Mist but failed. Suigetsu then begun his quest to collect all of the swords of the Seven Swordsmen for himself instead. To this end, he hopes to be able to take Hoshigaki Kisame's sword Samehada by working with Sasuke.

Zabuza fans will certainly want a life-size replica of Kubikiri Hocho which is a whopping huge sword to wield, not to mention the weight. Bad news is I couldn't find a steel replica of that size. Good news is the Stainless Steel Zabuza Momochi Sword replica from TopSwords which is a smaller 42" version of the sword. Overall I'd say it's a pretty marvelous looking piece especially the huge blade. The blade is made of 440 Stainless Steel with a width as wide as the guard. It features a hollow circle near the blade tip and partial hollow at the blade edge near the guard, similar to the design in the anime. The handle is made of metal and wrapped with leather. There are four exposed metal rings at the handle making the Zabuza Momochi Sword really eye-catching. A genuine leather sheath is also included with the sword replica.

The Last Samurai Sword Replica

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:26:00 +0000

I'm not a big fan of Tom Cruise but I sure seen a lot of his antiques in real life and had a few good laughs. I'm sure Oprah did too. The Last Samurai (2003) film starring Mr. Cruise, tells the story of an American soldier Nathan Algren who initially fought against the samurai led by Lord Katsumoto, but in the end joined forces and fought alongside them during the Meiji Restoration era in 1876 and 1877. The film is not a true story but it does contain historical elements from the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion led by Saigo Takamori and the story of Jules Brunet, a French army captain who fought alongside Enomoto Takeaki in a previous Boshin War.

Historically, the only recorded significant event of foreigners assuming active role in Japanese civil war is that of French military advisors under Jules Brunet and this was during the Boshin War, not the Satsuma Rebellion featured in the film. They joined forces favourable to the Shogun under Enomoto Takeaki. The Last Samurai also replaced the key French figures with American characters.

In the real Satsuma Rebellion, no Westerners were ever recorded to have fought on either side of the rebellion. The battle was also more one-sided than what was described in The Last Samurai. The event happened in 1877,10 years after the Boshin War, and 10 years after the Imperial Japanese Army was formed. The Imperial Army sent a massive force of 300,000 soldiers under Kawamura Sumiyoshi to the island of Kyushu to crush Saigo Takamori and his 40,000 strong troops. The Imperial soldiers were equipped with modern weaponries including howitzers and surveillance balloons. In reality all sides of the conflict in both Boshin War and Satsuma Rebellion, used modern equipment to some degree.

Although the character of Lord Katsumoto (played by Ken Watanabe) is based on Saigo Takamori, the last battle in the film is not taken from his final stand against the Imperial Army. The scene was actually based on a different battle where a group of disgruntled retainers attacked the new Imperial Army without any firearms or western weapons and that event took place somewhere around the same time.

In the ending chapters of The Last Samurai, Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) received a Japanese katana from the samurai. That katana has been reproduced by Musashi into an exact functional sword replica. The Musashi Handmade Full-Tang Last Samurai Sword replica from 247Swordshas an overall length of 41", blade Length 28" and handle length 11". The fully-functional blade is made of 1060 high-carbon steel, hammered out to ensure the carbon is evenly distributed throughout the blade for a consistent hardness. A groove is added to the blade top to reduce the weight of the blade.

Inscribed on the Last Samurai Sword's blade is the Kanji "I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new". The blade features a kissake (blade point), hamon (temper pattern) and comes with a sharpened edge. A full-tang construction is built into the sword. The habaki (blade collar) is a one piece brass construction with two copper seppa (washer/spacer). The actual tsuba (guard) is blackened iron with a pin-wheel design. Black cotton cord wraps the tsuka (handle) over a white ray skin and secures the kashira (pommel) made of oxidized copper. The tangs of the Last Samurai Sword are secured by two bamboo mekugi (sword peg) while the menuki (hilt ornaments) are copper dragons on each sides of the handle. The saya (scabbard) is made of hard wood with a high-gloss black finish. The koiguchi (scabbard mouth) is bull horn while the sageo (cord) is a black cotton cord wrapped over the kurikata (loop for cord). This Last Samurai Sword replica also comes with a free wooden display stand and a beautiful gift box decorated with yellow silk inlay.

If you prefer a decorative sword, the Stainless Steel Last Samurai Sword replica from TrueSwordsis a nice alternative although it's not an exact replica. The sword has an overall length of 41.25" and the blade is made of 440 Stainless Steel. It does not feature a full-tang construction and the tsuba (guard) has a different design - a golden dragon figure encircling the solid guard. The handle is made of wood and the sword comes with a display stand inscribed "Bushido" in Japanese.

No More Sword Pose?

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 10:39:00 +0000

Just read this weird news on BBC: A teenager from Ayrshire who was caught posing with a sword on the social networking site Bebo has been fined £200 at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court. Anthony Bowman, 19, pleaded guilty to displaying the image on Bebo between January 2006 and July 2008. His case came to light after police conducted a trawl of the internet in a bid to cut crime and disorder. Read more on Court fine over Bebo sword image.

Kisuke Urahara Benihime Sword Replica - Bleach

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:34:00 +0000

isuke Urahara's zanpakutou in sealed form is a shikomizue called Benihime which translates to "crimson princess". Shikomizue which literally means "prepared cane" is actually the name of the mounting where the sword blade is placed in, to conceal the fact that it is a sword and thus provide the element of surprise. In Urahara's case, it is a walking cane stick and I guess it reflects Urahara's mysterious and reserved personality.

This type of mounting was used commonly by shinobi (Ninja) in ancient days and made popular by the fictional blind swordmaster Zatoichi. The sheathe of Benihime also has the ability to dislodge a soul from the body.

To release Benihime's shikai form, Urahara uses the command "okiro" or "awaken". In shikai form, Benihime's blade is wider and the hilt end bends at an angle. Its slim guard runs parallel with the blade which is rare among all zanpakutou. There are two red silk tassels attached to the guard and pommel. A short chain is also hangs from the guard.

Benihime has two known special abilities activated by the command "nake" or "sing/cry". It creates a polygonal "blood-mist shield" which defends against most attacks and hurl a crimson energy blast similar to a cero. Urahara being a former captain of Gotei 13 has achieved bankai but it is yet to be revealed. Amazingly he achieved bankai in only three days. His previous comments suggest it's either insanely powerful or not an offensive type.

The Kisuke Urahara Benihime Sword replica from RoyalArmis a beautiful decorative sword with great attention to detail. The sword has an overall length of 47". The blade is made of 440 stainless steel and features a full-tang construction. Benihime Sword's guard and pommel have polished copper-like surface similar to the anime design. There were some replicas I came across on the net having gray-weathered black guard and pommel instead, and priced higher than RoyalArm's.

If there are no stocks available at RoyalArm which do happens occasionally due to sudden high demand, you can opt for the alternative Kisuke Urahara Benihime Sword replica from Collectible Cutlery.

Gandalf Glamdring Sword Replica - Lord of The Rings

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:51:00 +0000

Glamdring is originally the sword forged for the Elven King Turgon in the First Age. In The Hobbit, Glamdring went missing for six thousand years until Gandalf found it in the Troll-hoard of Bert, Tom, and William in the Trollshaws. The swords Sting and Orcrist were also found in the troll's cave. As with many First Age Elven blades, the swords glow blue in the presence of Orcs.

Glamdring along with Orcrist, its mate are described as having "beautiful scabbards and jewelled hilts" and are inscribed with runes which Gandalf himself couldn't read. He recognizes that "they are not made by any troll, nor by any smith among men in these parts and days." Later when the swords were presented to Elrond of Rivendell, he deciphers the runes and explains the swords' true origin and purpose. They were crafted by the Elves of Gondolin for the "Goblin-wars". Elrond calls Glamdring "Foe-hammer that the king of Gondolin once wore". The Goblins name it "Beater".

In the Misty Mountains when Thorin Oakenshield and his companions were attacked by Orcs, Gandalf came to their rescue with flash of fire and smoke. He used Glamdring to severe the head of the Great Goblin. The other Orcs fled when they recognized the legendary sword Beater. Gandalf continued to use Glamdring throughout the saga in The Lord of the Rings. In Moria, he wielded the sword against Orcs in the Chamber of Mazarbul. On the Bridge of Khazad-dum, Gandalf confronted Balrog with Glamdring. The blade gleamed with white light and shattered Balrog's red sword into molten fragments. After demolishing the bridge pass with his staff, Gandalf and the Balrog fell into the abyss but continued to fight until Balrog fled to the Endless Stair. In the Battle of the Peak, Gandalf finally defeated Balrog.

When Gandalf returned as the White, he still had Glamdring by his side. Then he left the sword in the care of Hama, the Doorward of Theoden at Meduseld. Gandalf later retrieved Glamdring and bore it throughout the War of the Ring. When the war was over, Gandalf returned to Bree with the Hobbits. It is not known whether Gandalf took Glamdring with him to the Undying Lands at the end of the Third Age.

The best price I could find at the time of this post was the United Cutlery Glamdring Sword replica sold by Efunctional.However there was only 1 unit of stock left. The United Cutlery Glamdring Sword replica is a premium quality reproduction using the finest grade materials and craftsmanship. The authentically detailed sword is presented with a hardwood wall display plaque and a certificate of authenticity. It features genuine leather-wrapped handgrip and an antique silver-finished solid metal guard and pommel engraved with an elvish writing. The blade is 36" long and made of 0.25" thick tempered 420 J2 stainless steel. The Glamdring sword replica has an overall length of 47.625".

If the remaining stock has been sold out, alternatively you can purchase the United Cutlery Glamdring Sword replica sold by TolkienTown, the one-stop center for all things Tolkien.

If you don't have the room space for the 47" sword, you can opt for the Mini United Cutlery Glamdring Sword replica with plenty stocks available from Pachi Paradice.It has a blade length of 7.875" and overall length 10.875". The blade is made of 420 J2 stainless steel while the handle is cast metal with an antique finish.

Kenpachi Zaraki Sword Replica - Bleach

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:13:00 +0000

Kenpachi Zaraki is the captain of the 11th Division within Gotei 13. His lieutenant is Kusajishi Yachiru. Kenpachi is the only captain who doesn't know the name of his zanpakutou and therefore he is not able to achieve bankai just yet. Even without a bankai, he was powerful enough to acquire the 11th Division captain position by defeating and killing the previous captain.

Although Kenpachi doesn't know his zanpakutou's name, it's always in shikai state due to his immense reiatsu or spiritual power similar to Kurosaki Ichigo's Zangetsu. His zanpakutou assumes the appearance of a worn-down dull blade with a guard that extends inward from its center. This reflects Kenpachi's practice of deliberately weakening himself to match his opponent's strength so he can prolong the fight and savour the battle for the longest possible time.

The sword's blade is much longer than a normal zanpakutou. Despite its worn out appearance, Kenpachi's zanpakutou easily cuts through most objects. This was proven when it pierced right through Ichigo's zanpakutou in a duel and effortlessly sliced a building in half after Kenpachi released the full force of his reiatsu. The sword was also featured in The DiamondDust Rebellion where it demolished a large section of a castle. Although Kenpachi's reiatsu is insanely immense, the disharmony with his zanpakutou causes the two's power to diminish each other. There's no telling how powerful Kenpachi could become once he successfully communicates with his zanpakutou.

The Kenpachi Zaraki Sword replica from TopSwordswas the cheapest I can find at the time of this post. The sword replica has an overall length of 43" and blade length 28". The blade is made of stainless steel and the adjoining unique tsuba (guard) has the same design shown in the anime. White Cotton cloth wraps both the wooden sword handle and scabbard. The blade edge however is not worn-out and dilapidated like the anime, instead it looks brand new. If they could mimic the battle scars on the blade, it would have been an awesome wicked sword! Guaranteed!

If there are no stocks available, alternatively you can purchase the Kenpachi Zaraki Sword Replica from 247Swords.

If price is not an issue, there is the Kenpachi Zaraki Sword replica from Collectible Cutlery.

Frodo Sting Sword Replica - Lord of The Rings

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:47:00 +0000

Frodo Sting sword featured in The Lord of The Rings trilogy is an Elvish knife made in Gondolin during the First Age. Sting was originally found by Bilbo Baggins in a troll-hoard along with the swords Glamdring and Orcrist. By the standard of Men and Elves, Sting was more of a dagger than a sword. To a hobbit however, Sting makes a versatile short sword with the right weight.

Bilbo gave Sting its name after fighting off some giant spiders in Mirkwood. The spiders themselves referred to the blade as his "sting." Sting's blade glows in blue whenever Orcs approach and this was a common property of many First Age Elven blades particularly those forged in Gondolin.

In The Hobbit, Bilbo confronted Gollum with Sting under the Misty Mountains. Gollum hated anything that was made by the Elves and he was particularly afraid of Sting. Later on when the Fellowship of the Ring was about to set off from Rivendell to Mount Doom in their quest to destroy the One Ring, Bilbo passed Sting over to Frodo. During the battle in Moria, Boromir striked a giant troll with his sword which proved ineffective. Frodo's Sting was exceptionally sharp and it wounded the troll with ease. When Frodo was stung and paralyzed by Shelob at the pass of Cirith Ungol, Samwise Gamgee grabbed Sting and cleaved one of Shelob's claw followed by an eye. Victory was in hand when Shelob impaled herself upon Sting while trying to crush Sam.

The Lord of the Rings Frodo Sting Sword replica by United Cutleryis a premium quality reproduction. On the silver screen, the actual prop sword resembles a Roman gladius and United Cutlery meticulously reproduced it using the finest grade materials and craftsmanship. This 22" authentically detailed sword comes with a hardwood wall display plaque and a certificate of authenticity. Frodo Sting Sword replica has a solid wood handgrip with a metallic elvish-vine design. The metal guard and pommel has an antique silver-finish, engraved with elvish writing. The 15" blade with similar runes is made of 0.25" thick tempered 420 J2 stainless steel. The runes in the Elven language of Sindarin reads ""Maegnas aen estar nin dagnir in yngyl im" which translates to "Maegnas is my name, I am the spider's bane." The sword however doesn't come together with the scabbard.

The Frodo Sting Scabbard by United Cutleryis sold separately. If you bought the Sting sword from UC, it's best to buy their scabbard for the best fit. The scabbard is also an authentically detailed reproduction of the actual prop featured in the Lord of The Rings trilogy. It has a solid metal collar and tip with antiqued metal finish, Elvish vine design and genuine leather wrap.

If you have deeper pockets, you can opt for the UC1424 Museum-Quality Frodo Sting Sword replicawhich originally costs over a thousand dollars. Last checked there was a 50% discount, a bargain for hardcore fans. The 20" limited edition museum-quality sword has its own unique serial number on the back of the blade and only 3000 pieces are manufactured. The blade is made of high-carbon Toledo spring steel and has a length of 14.625". The guard and pommel are plated in genuine silver, authentically weathered and worn. The distressed hardwood grip features a hand-applied,silver vine onlay. A hardwood display is included in the package.

There's also another version of Sting which glows and it received encouraging reviews from customers. The Glowing FX Collectible Frodo Sting Sword Toyhas a plastic blade which is made to look like real metal. The blade glows with a blue light, perfect toy for children and families. Batteries however are not included. Last checked it was on 80% steep discount.

And lastly is the Miniature Frodo Sting Sword replica (1/3 scale) by UC.It has an overall length of 6.875", blade length 4.75" and thickness 0.125". The blade is made of tempered 420 J2 stainless steel with laser-etched Elven runes design. A rat-tail tang construction fit the blade into the handle. The handle is made of cast metal with an antique finish. A cold cast porcelain base is included measuring 3.75x3x2.5", has hand-painted finish and a brass shield.

Abarai Renji Zabimaru Sword Replica - Bleach

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 06:23:00 +0000

Abarai Renji is one of my favourite shinigamis in Bleach partly due to the voice of Toru Furusawa which really brought life to his smug, arrogant and brash character. Renji is the lieutenant of the 6th Division in the Gotei 13 and reports to captain Kuchiki Byakuya. He earned his eccentric nickname "red pineapple" due to the long crimson hair kept in a high ponytail. His upper body is covered with black tribal tattoos which seem to spread everytime he achieves an advancement. His zanpakutou's spirit Zabimaru also bears similar tattoos but in purple.

Zabimaru means "snake tail" and its spirit (or spirits) takes the form of a baboon with a snake tail. The baboon was portrayed as more dominant of the two. To release Zabimaru's shikai form, Renji commands hoero or "roar". Zabimaru then transforms into a 7-segment blade with a pick-like protrusion on each segment. There are a total of 7 picks, the one at the blade tip the largest. The blade can take-on another form where the segments break from one another, connected by elastic threads. This converts Zabimaru into a long-range weapon more like a whip. It's as if due to Zabimaru's 2 spirits, the blade can assume 2 forms.

Abarai Renji's bankai is called Hihio Zabimaru or "baboon king snake tail"). In bankai state, Zabimaru turns into a giant skeletal snake with a red lion's mane similar to Renji's crimson hair. Renji's outfit also changes with a fur coat over his shoulders and a skeleton on the left arm. Unlike its shikai form, Zabimaru's segments are now bound together by Renji's reiatsu (spiritual power) which can detach and attach again at will. The segments themselves are extremely tough and even if one of it is damaged, Renji can simply detach it and reform Zabimaru. Renji's bankai has the special technique known as hikotsu taiho or "baboon bone cannon" which fires an energy blast from Zabimaru's mouth. He can also use a more powerful technique higa zekko where all the segments detach and sharpen using spiritual energy.

The Functional Abarai Renji Unawaken Zabimaru Sword replica from SwordsSwords is a functional high-carbon steel katana (last checked all stocks were sold out). The Zabimaru sword replica has an overall length of 40", blade length 28" and handle length 12".The sword features a full-tang blade with razor sharp edge. The handle is nylon wrapped in beige red, ray skin and dual-pegged for full functionality. The wooden scabbard is painted in high gloss red liquid finish similar to the anime. Fittings are made of brass and blackened copper. The functional sword replica comes with a sword bag.

If you prefer a decorative sword, why not choose the Stainless Steel Abarai Renji Unawaken Zabimaru Sword replica from Hanzo Steel? The sword replica has an overall length of 41", blade length 27" and handle length 12". The sword comes with a wooden scabbard hand-painted in red with a lacquer coat finish. The tsuka (handle) is wrapped in a red cloth in the popular Tsumami Maki style. The stainless steel blade has a slight factory-sharpened edge with visible hamon (temper line).

If you prefer the shikai or awakened zanpakuto sword, bad news is there are no exact steel replicas available yet. Good news is the wooden 52" Awakened Abarai Renji Zabimaru Sword replica from SwordsSwords.This high-quality wooden sword replica is amazingly light for its size (3lbs) so toting it around the convention hall all day shouldn't work you much sweat. The blade is 35" long with an 11" wide protruding spike at the tip. It has a two-tone paint - silver along the blade edge while the rest is black. The 16" long handle is leather-wrapped for excellent grip. Great for cosplay events.

Blade Sword of The Daywalker Replica - Blade

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:05:00 +0000

The Blade Trilogy was based on Marvel Comics character of the same name which was first brought alive by Wesley Snipes back in 1998. Four years later, Blade II made its way onto the silver screen followed by Blade Trinity in 2004. Blade’s human name was Eric Brooks and his mother’s Vanessa. In the original comic, the daywalker's mother was bitten by a vampire while she was in labor with Blade. This caused the vampire gene to be passed down to Blade turning him into a daywalker or dhampir (half-human half-vampire) and inherit the best traits of both worlds.

In the first film, Blade has a partner – an old man named Whistler. Although Blade is the worst anti-social dhampir there is and prefers to work alone, he developed a strong bond with Whistler who helps supply the firepower needed to blow-up or cause excruciating pain to the bloodsuckers before vanquishing them. The stunning Blade Sword of The Daywalker made its first appearance in this film and continued to be featured in the next two. The main story of this first release is the brewing feud between 'pure-blood' elder-vampires and Deacon Frost, a young upstart in the vampire community who happens to be the culprit that killed Blade’s mother and gave the daywalker his curse. Blade finally uncovers Frost’s mega plan to awaken the La Magra at the Temple of Eternal Night so he can take-on the vampire god’s powers himself.

In Blade II a rare mutation infected the vampires turning them into Reapers, a new specie of vampire with an insatiable bloodlust for both humans and vampires. They increase their numbers by infecting their victims. Blade and Whistler reluctantly agree to an alliance with The Bloodpack, a vampire SWAT team originally trained to eliminate the daywalker.

The third film Blade Trinity introduced Blade to the man on the street. The vampires managed to frame him for the death of several humans. With the daywalker now under the public's scrutiny and in FBI hands, a group called The Nightstalkers came to the rescue and later joined forces with him. This time the alliance is with humans instead and the main villain is Drake short for Dracula I guess. Drake is the first vampire and by far the most powerful. He is also a daywalker just like Blade and the only way to vanquish him is a biological virus.

So will there be a Blade IV in the pipeline? Hard to say. Back in April 24th 2008, Wesley Snipes was sentenced to three years prison for three misdemeanor convictions for willful failure to file federal income tax returns. In vampire language, he didn’t pay his taxes. The last news broadcasted was his temporary release from prison near the end of May. Now we know the daywalker's cryptonite - federal tax.

Here comes the interesting part. The Blade Sword of the Daywalker replica from Hanzo Steel is a stunning looking piece featuring an overall length of 36” and blade length of 27.5”. The movie sword replica's straight blade is double-edged and made of Stainless Steel. The handle is ribbed for better grip and definitely eye-catching with the raised silver over a black base. But grip it too hard, it'll leave a temporary mark on your hands.

The Blade Sword of the Daywalker has another surprise in store for buyers – a hidden 6” double-edged dagger fixed inside the handle. How about that? With a slight turn, the dagger locks and unlocks itself in place within the handle. The sword replica comes in the same scabbard seen in the film with adjustable shoulder-straps for a more comfortable fit. If you intend to wear it, better have a black leather outfit ready to match.

Another option you can consider is the Blade Sword of the Daywalker replica from United Cutlery. Last checked, it costs more than twice as much due to the UC brand and its known quality. And get ready for this - even with the higher price tag, the Blade Daywalker Sword doesn’t come with the adjustable shoulder-straps scabbard but instead a display stand is included. Still, you can purchase the imitation-leather scabbard from United Cutlery separately. If you have deep pockets or more concerned on the quality make, UC is a better alternative.

Lord of The Rings Costumes

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:54:00 +0000

If you're looking for Lord of The Rings Halloween costumes, TolkienTown is a good place to shop. They've got costumes for both adults and children. You can find cool accessories as well to compliment your existing costumes. Moreover TolkienTown is offering 50% to 90% discounts on selected products in their Massive Overstock Sale drive. Worth checking it out. Just visit TolkienTown - your one-stop center for everything Tolkien.

Halloween Costumes Promotion

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:25:00 +0000

It's that time of year again. Yep, Halloween is just around the corner and everyone's rushing in and out of stores, trying to get their hands on the right costumes for this year's theme. Well if you rather not jump into the sea of crowds and fight your way to buy your costume, there's an ongoing promotion on Amazon.

From now until Oct 23rd, you get Free Shipping on orders of $25 or more of Halloween costumes and accessories from Select Sellers (CostumeCraze, CostumeKingdom and CostumeSuperCenter) in Amazon's Costumes Store. There are over 10,000 costumes to select from, so feel free to browse-click all of it.

There's even costumes for your pets. But if you only have enough budget for yourself and your pet dog is white, I'd recommend the theme Kiba & Akamaru from Naruto. Just paint your pooch's ears brown. Maximum savings ;)

You can also find wigs, masks, hats, shoes and other accessories that you need to complete your look. Go check it out while stocks last. But take note of the fine print which states the Terms and Condition to quality for the Free Shipping. I've taken the liberty to list it here for you, so happy shopping :

Browse for costumes sold by Costume Craze, Costume Kingdom, or Costume SuperCenter at Amazon.com. Please note: Items from multiple sellers will not combine to qualify. The combined $25 must be in one order from one seller.
Add costumes to your Shopping Cart until the total amount before taxes, gift-wrap, shipping, and other promotions is $25 or more. The savings does not apply to purchases totaling $25 from multiple sellers.
Click the "Proceed to Checkout" button and purchase your products to enjoy free shipping.
Offer expires October 23, 2008.

In order to qualify for the Free Shipping, all items purchased must be sent to the same Shipping Address. If you violate any of the terms and conditions listed below, the promotion will be invalid and the rebate will be removed from the order. Limit one savings per order. Offer available for a limited time only.

Grimmjow Pantera Sword Replica - Bleach

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:44:00 +0000

Finally the Bleach anime series is back on track to Hueco Mundo after the long exhausting filler episodes. It's about time cause the pre-filler episodes where Ichigo battled it out with Grimmjow was jaw-breaking and fans were all hyped-up with the increasing excitement, only to be killed off by weeks of filler intrusion. Now that it's all over, guess what?

Halloween is just around the corner and if you decided to be Grimmjow Jaegerjaques, all eyes are on you. Not everyone is worthy (or brave enough) to wear Grimmjow-sama's gear. Why? You got to have 6-packs and not afraid of mosquitoes. And most critical of all, you must have a Grimmjow Pantera Sword replica.

Grimmjow Jaegerjaques (pronounced Gurimujo Jagajakku in Japanese) is the sixth Espada acknowledged by the number "6" tattooed onto his back. His character is one that is proud, fearless and impulsive but honourable nevertheless. Before becoming an arrancar, Grimmjow was an adjuchas class menos with a panther-like physique. In his quest to become stronger and more powerful, Grimmjow wandered Hueco Mundo hunting other hollows and consuming them. Eventually he stumbled upon a group of hollows with the same purpose and due to his peerless strength, became their unwilling new leader.

Grimmjow's zanpakutou Pantera translates "panther" for Spanish but in Japanese denotes "panther king". To release Pantera's power, Grimmjow commands kishire or "grind". In his released state Grimmjow looks more like a were-panther, assuming the cat's features of jagged teeth, feline pointy ears, clawed hands, and a long tail. His speed and agility is greatly enhanced in this state. His roar alone creates shockwaves in the air and he has the ability to shoot 5 lethal darts from his elbow. Grimmjow's ultimate technique is called Desgarron or "laceration" in Spanish which projects energy claws at an opponent.

The Grimmjow Pantera Sword replica is a marvelous piece of work. The decorative sword has an overall length of 41", blade length 27" and handle length 11". The blade is made of 440 Stainless Steel. The striking feature of this sword replica is its metallic tsuba (cross-guard) which assumes the unique shape of a crooked "S".

The tsuka (handle) is wrapped with blue nylon cord and at the hilt end is the copper kashira (pommel). The sword replica comes in a scabbard made of solid wood and painted in blue. The sageo (cord) tied to the scabbard is in darker blue. You can purchase the Grimmjow Pantera Sword replica from 247 Swords.

Uchiha Sasuke Sword of Kusanagi - Naruto

noreply@blogger.com (Jason Liew) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:27:00 +0000

Uchiha Sasuke Sword of Kusanagi made its first appearance in the manga Naruto chapter 308 and the sword’s name was highly debated among Naruto fans. In that chapter titled Sasuke’s Strength, Sasuke was quoted “You see, the sword of Kusanagi I hold here is a little special”. This caused some confusion because Orochimaru also had a Kusanagi sword when he battled it out with the 3rd Hokage but it looked more like a katana.

The Sasuke sword of Kusanagi is a chokuto which is a straight Japanese sword. The chokuto’s design originated from Japan’s neighbours – Korea and China. It was developed before the discovery of differential heat treatment or tempering technology which later gave birth to the Japanese katana. The chokuto is easily recognized by its straight blade compared to the curved katana.

The name Kusanagi or more accurately Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (Sword of Kusanagi) actually came from Japanese myth. Legend has it the Japanese god Susa-no-o encountered Ashinazuchi who is the head of a family with 8 daughters. Ashinazuchi lost 7 daughters eaten by an eight-headed serpent called Yamata-no-Orochi. The serpent was coming for the last daughter Kushinade-hime so Ashinazuchi begged Susa-no-o for help which the Japanese god agreed in exchange for Kushinade-hime’s hand in marriage. Susa-no-o instructed Ashinazuchi to prepare eight vats of sake placed separately behind a barrier with eight gates. The serpent took the bait and slithered each of its eight heads through each gate. At that instance, Susa-no-o striked and severed all the heads before proceeding with the tails. Susa-no-o later discovered a sword inside the slain body of the serpent which he named Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi or “Sword of the Gathering Clouds of Heaven”. He then presented the sword to the goddess Amaterasu to resolve an old grievance. That sword’s name was later changed to the widely known Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi (Sword of Kusanagi).

In the manga Naruto, Orochimaru retrieves his Kusanagi sword from a snake’s mouth (the snake slithers out from Orochimaru’s mouth, kind of like the creature in Aliens with a sword at the end). Orochimaru’s character which is skilled in snake jutsu is drawn from the serpent Yamata-no-Orochi. But unlike the story told in the myth, Susa-no is the ultimate jutsu that Uchiha Itachi used to annihilate Orochimaru.

Now comes the best part - the Sasuke sword of Kusanagi replica from TopSwordsis a class of its own. With the blade sheathed in its wooden scabbard, the whole sword is white in colour with a black stripe along the middle just like in the manga. The anime however took a different colouring - the sword was black in colour with the stripe in the middle a deeper black. Hard-core fans can repaint the handle and scabbard if they prefer the anime design since they are both made of wood. Unsheath the sword and you will see a beautiful two-tone black and silver polished blade made of 440 Stainless Steel. The Sasuke sword of Kusanagi replica has an overall length of 40.2”, blade length of 27” and handle length of 10.7”. Overall it’s one elegant and stylish decorative sword that matches Sasuke’s cool and calm demeanor.

If safety is your concern, there's always the 40" Wooden Sasuke Sword of Kusanagi from RoyalArm.The wooden blade has 2 tones of colour, half-black and half-silver. The scabbard and hilt are white with a black stripe in the middle.