Very First Sword

Spunjer · 29th January 2013, 09:01 AM

this year marks my tenth year anniversary.

this was the sword that started it all: a Kalis that was given to me as a gift by a Sama when i visited Davao in 2003. i remember putting it away in the linen closet after coming back home. it would take another year before i took it out and inspected it closely. little did i know this particular kalis would jump-start my wonderful journey to the world of sword collection.

my first post:
http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002526.html

does anyone else have a picture of their very first sword? please post. i figure this would be a fun thread...

Andrew · 29th January 2013, 05:12 PM

No pics of my first sword, as I have a long, embarrassing history involving wall-hangers and gunto, all of which have been discarded or liquidated to support my current habits.

However, here are my first two dha/daab/dah. The pewter mounted daab is Northern Thai/Southern Yunnan (note the Chinese motifs). It was incorrectly identified on eBay as a "Thai naginata" and I picked it up for a song. Very fine blade, good age, exceptional balance--still one of my very favorite swords "in the hand."

The brass mounted daab is also Thai, quite small, with a solid blade and a Thai penny last used in, I believe, 1935 (but undated) mounted as a pommel cap.

Spunjer · 29th January 2013, 09:47 PM

thanks for posting your dah, Andrew!

this is one of my biggest regret; not saving this particular kalis. i kinda wish i still have it. i saw it on ebay once (after selling it). i should've snagged it then.

c"mon, guys.. i'm pretty sure there are pictures of you very first one in your computer file somewhere..

Andrew · 29th January 2013, 09:51 PM

Still have both of these, Ron. And they're still two of my favorites, and two of the best purchases I've made on eBay--my recollection is I paid US$180 for the larger, US$90 for the smaller.

Better pics:

Sajen · 29th January 2013, 11:00 PM

Nice idea Ron. I start my collection with this two keris from Madura in 1992 and still keep them.

laEspadaAncha · 29th January 2013, 11:10 PM

My very first sword was a swap meet replica I bought with allowance money when I was all of 9-10 years old... it lasted about a month before it broke while "fighting" with a friend (in the eternal battle between fake swords and metal trash can lids, score one for the lids). And while I most definitely don't have any photos of it, I do have a photo of where it is...

My first sword's final resting place, the Miramar Landfill:

Spunjer · 30th January 2013, 12:41 AM

Lol, rest in peace, laespadaancha's first sword..
Good job on still having your first pieces, Detlef. You can actually see how far your taste have come.
But then again, i never had a say on my first one..

Maurice · 30th January 2013, 11:59 AM

Unfotunately my computer crashed a few years ago.
So my earliest photo's are all gone.
It was a Javanese golok, which I bought for my own training.....
My second one was a terrible touristic mandau! Wouldn't dare to put images here even if I still had any of it....

VVV · 30th January 2013, 12:57 PM

My first sword was a 18th C Japanese wakizashi that my father bought from my Kendo teacher when I was a young teenager. Later I gave it to my brother who still has it together with his collection of mostly Chinese swords. Once I put my boy's room at fire when I was cleaning it with petrol and smoking at the same time...

Michael

Atlantia · 30th January 2013, 03:45 PM

I've collected swords since I was at school......
I can't even remember the first one now.
I remember the first knife.
A faux stag-antler hilted sheath knife bought when my parents backs were turned on a holiday in Jersey (C.I) when I was 6 or 7 and having it 'confiscated' by my mother as soon as she saw it.
Got it back when I was about 8 or 9 I think.
Ahhh, simpler times indeed!

About 20 years ago now, I swapped and traded most of my collection with a local dealer to get two swords. A Wakazashi and the Spanish Rapier below.
It's the sword that has stayed with me the longest. The Wakazashi is long gone, but the Rapier still has a place of honour.

Atlantia · 30th January 2013, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VVV

Once I put my boy's room at fire when I was cleaning it with petrol and smoking at the same time...

Michael

My wife always say's that men can't multi-task!

Timo Nieminen · 2nd February 2013, 08:58 AM

My very first sword was a very cheap and nasty flea market Indian "cavalry sabre", IIRC, 1985. It has acquired a new handle since then, and the scabbard has been recovered. It sometimes still sees service in the garden.

This was followed by some Taiwanese katana, and then in 1997-1998, some antiques. At the end of 1997, I picked up a P1890 cavalry sword and a Masai lion spear, and, IIRC, in 1998 (or maybe 1997) a few more ethnographic pieces, namely an Indonesian sword and a Fijian-style club. The club might be made in Australia; 'twas very new when I bought it.

David R · 2nd February 2013, 03:42 PM

I think my very first real swords were a late pattern "Gothick Hilt" infantry officers sword, a very poor condition Tulwar and a stripped blade with its sheath of a Wakizashi.....I group them together 'cos I cannot remember which order I got them in. All gone now, sold when finances demanded. The longest owned piece I have still is this Kukri, bought for thirty bob when I was still at school.

christek · 9th February 2013, 01:35 PM

Hello all,

My first sword was this tulwar, Not a particularly beautiful example, but a utilitarian one to which I am quite attached. Besides a modern folded steel katana, this was my only sword for some time. Happier days for my wife

Kind regards,
Chris

29th January 2013, 09:01 AM	#1
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Very First Sword this year marks my tenth year anniversary. this was the sword that started it all: a Kalis that was given to me as a gift by a Sama when i visited Davao in 2003. i remember putting it away in the linen closet after coming back home. it would take another year before i took it out and inspected it closely. little did i know this particular kalis would jump-start my wonderful journey to the world of sword collection. my first post: http://www.vikingsword.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/002526.html does anyone else have a picture of their very first sword? please post. i figure this would be a fun thread... Attached Images

29th January 2013, 05:12 PM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	No pics of my first sword, as I have a long, embarrassing history involving wall-hangers and gunto, all of which have been discarded or liquidated to support my current habits. However, here are my first two dha/daab/dah. The pewter mounted daab is Northern Thai/Southern Yunnan (note the Chinese motifs). It was incorrectly identified on eBay as a "Thai naginata" and I picked it up for a song. Very fine blade, good age, exceptional balance--still one of my very favorite swords "in the hand." The brass mounted daab is also Thai, quite small, with a solid blade and a Thai penny last used in, I believe, 1935 (but undated) mounted as a pommel cap. Attached Images

29th January 2013, 09:51 PM	#4
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	Still have both of these, Ron. And they're still two of my favorites, and two of the best purchases I've made on eBay--my recollection is I paid US$180 for the larger, US$90 for the smaller. Better pics: Attached Images

29th January 2013, 11:00 PM	#5
Sajen Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany, Dortmund Posts: 8,781	Nice idea Ron. I start my collection with this two keris from Madura in 1992 and still keep them. Attached Images

29th January 2013, 11:10 PM	#6
laEspadaAncha Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 608	My very first sword was a swap meet replica I bought with allowance money when I was all of 9-10 years old... it lasted about a month before it broke while "fighting" with a friend (in the eternal battle between fake swords and metal trash can lids, score one for the lids). And while I most definitely don't have any photos of it, I do have a photo of where it is... My first sword's final resting place, the Miramar Landfill: Attached Images

29th January 2013, 09:47 PM	#3
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	thanks for posting your dah, Andrew! this is one of my biggest regret; not saving this particular kalis. i kinda wish i still have it. i saw it on ebay once (after selling it). i should've snagged it then. c"mon, guys.. i'm pretty sure there are pictures of you very first one in your computer file somewhere..

30th January 2013, 12:41 AM	#7
Spunjer Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Witness Protection Program Posts: 1,730	Lol, rest in peace, laespadaancha's first sword.. Good job on still having your first pieces, Detlef. You can actually see how far your taste have come. But then again, i never had a say on my first one..

30th January 2013, 11:59 AM	#8
Maurice Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,346	Unfotunately my computer crashed a few years ago. So my earliest photo's are all gone. It was a Javanese golok, which I bought for my own training..... My second one was a terrible touristic mandau! Wouldn't dare to put images here even if I still had any of it....

30th January 2013, 12:57 PM	#9
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	My first sword was a 18th C Japanese wakizashi that my father bought from my Kendo teacher when I was a young teenager. Later I gave it to my brother who still has it together with his collection of mostly Chinese swords. Once I put my boy's room at fire when I was cleaning it with petrol and smoking at the same time... Michael

30th January 2013, 03:45 PM	#10
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	I've collected swords since I was at school...... I can't even remember the first one now. I remember the first knife. A faux stag-antler hilted sheath knife bought when my parents backs were turned on a holiday in Jersey (C.I) when I was 6 or 7 and having it 'confiscated' by my mother as soon as she saw it. Got it back when I was about 8 or 9 I think. Ahhh, simpler times indeed! About 20 years ago now, I swapped and traded most of my collection with a local dealer to get two swords. A Wakazashi and the Spanish Rapier below. It's the sword that has stayed with me the longest. The Wakazashi is long gone, but the Rapier still has a place of honour. Attached Images

2nd February 2013, 08:58 AM	#12
Timo Nieminen Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 422	My very first sword was a very cheap and nasty flea market Indian "cavalry sabre", IIRC, 1985. It has acquired a new handle since then, and the scabbard has been recovered. It sometimes still sees service in the garden. This was followed by some Taiwanese katana, and then in 1997-1998, some antiques. At the end of 1997, I picked up a P1890 cavalry sword and a Masai lion spear, and, IIRC, in 1998 (or maybe 1997) a few more ethnographic pieces, namely an Indonesian sword and a Fijian-style club. The club might be made in Australia; 'twas very new when I bought it. Attached Images

2nd February 2013, 03:42 PM	#13
David R Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 1,079	I think my very first real swords were a late pattern "Gothick Hilt" infantry officers sword, a very poor condition Tulwar and a stripped blade with its sheath of a Wakizashi.....I group them together 'cos I cannot remember which order I got them in. All gone now, sold when finances demanded. The longest owned piece I have still is this Kukri, bought for thirty bob when I was still at school. Attached Images

9th February 2013, 01:35 PM	#14
christek Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 52	Hello all, My first sword was this tulwar, Not a particularly beautiful example, but a utilitarian one to which I am quite attached. Besides a modern folded steel katana, this was my only sword for some time. Happier days for my wife Kind regards, Chris Attached Images