Your Dream Collection

***Valkrist*** · #1 07-28-2010

So, I was thinking that, aside from my assorted UC LOTR collection, what other swords had left such an impression on me throughout the years that I will simply have to have one day in order for my dream collection to be complete. I'm not going to get into the WETA LOTR Mastersmith collection here. I'm happy enough with the UC versions and can't justify that much cash for a single sword that will just sit on my wall (however beautiful it would look.)

Therefore, eliminating those from contention, my top three must-have-someday dream list consists of:

1- Conan's Atlantean Sword (the Albion version)

2- Connor MacLeod's (Ramirez's) Katana (the best, faithful version out there, possibly the one currently made by Zeist.)

3- Excalibur (from the 1981 John Boorman directed movie of the same name - also made by Albion, I believe.)

A fourth contender would be Maximus' Gladius from Gladiator, and a fifth might be William Wallace's Claymore from Braverheart. All in all, five very iconic swords from five movies I absolutely love.

I would invite others to contribute their own lists, as this is why we are all here.

A couple of questions for Sed, who I know is sure to read this and comment: is the Maximus Gladius that was made the same one that he wields as a general at the beginning of the movie, or the one he uses in the arena later on? (and if someone suggests it's the same one, then there's a serious problem with the continuity of the movie) Also, did you ever find that cheaper Marto version of the Atlantean that was only available in Spain?

Darlak · #2 07-28-2010

Hah, I could go on forever and ever and ever...

First off is the slayer of kings, the sword wielded by archaon in warhammer. Black library made a few of them some years ago, now I can't find it anywhere...

Then there's the death dealer helmet. Oh and kropserkel's witch king armour. Oh, and one of those ancient chinese armours, kinda reminding of a samurai suit, just twice as awesome. Been trying to find some info on such suits, but with no luck.

Sedhal · #3 07-29-2010

Anyway....

Yeah the Maximus replica was the one he had at the beginning of the film (in fact, he actually had two if you remember. The primary one got stuck in the tree after the beheading and his backup was used for the majority of the battle from there on out until he later retrieves the first one from the trunk). It's one of my all-time favorites. Simply stunning. As much as I like the Factory X replica, however, I wish a better version was available with an authentic grip and trench in the pommel (the movie version has a carved trench around the midsection of the ball whereas the Factory X replica is plain).

You can kind of make it out here:

http://cdn2.ioffer.com/img/item/124/...5sOKjr9PIC.jpg

But the close-up on the removal-from-tree shot is the best view of it in the movie.

Here you can see right before he ditches the sword we're talking about that he carries the second one on the horse's left side: http://www.krescendo.com/gladiatorla...s/image003.jpg

And I sure wouldn't mind adding that armor to my collection.... might be some of my favorite movie armor ever:

http://www.krescendo.com/gladiatorla...s/image001.jpg

As for my dream collection, I'll ditto every one you mentioned along with Albion's Conan's Father's sword. I could never decide which Conan blade I liked more so I would obviously need both.

And the Marto replicas really look like crud.

If they were a hundred bucks? Sure. I might get one. But even then I wouldn't be happy with it because there are plenty of good things I can get with a hundred bucks. And if it's not the best version out there, I can't sleep at night. And besides. They're not 100 bucks. I've seen them go for insane amounts and it's definitely not worth it for such an inaccurate and non-functional piece.

For years I drooled over Albion's Conan swords... they may have stopped making them for now, but one day... I will have them.

So you pretty much covered the most important swords I believe are essential to a sword collection. But I'll add that I still want a lot of Paul Chens. Kami, Tiger, Bushido, etc. And many more. And many customs. In fact, I want a collection as big as Hanzo's in Kill Bill someday. A wide assortment. All different colors, designs, etc. That is truly my dream collection if we're not talking replicas.

And there is one last thing... something more personal:

http://c0359001.cdn.cloudfiles.racks...17-10856-0.jpg

http://c0359001.cdn.cloudfiles.racks...17-10857-0.jpg

Those come naturally though, I suppose. First thing's first. They need a reason to get made.

***Valkrist*** · #4 07-30-2010

Nice research on the Maximus sword. I had totally forgotten the first gladius gets stuck in the tree and he then switches to a different one, but yeah, that's the one I meant. Disappointing to hear the replica is not as good as it could be, but that seems to be a common trend with a lot of these movie prop companies.

I didn't know Albion had stopped making the Conan swords, but that's not surprising at all given that it's an older movie. When you say 'for now' do you think they will resume production one day or is that just wishful thinking on your part? I'm figuring we'll have better luck picking one up from a private collector that is selling theirs down the line somewhere. I doubt the new Conan remake is going to spark new interest in the old swords because people will think that the new plastic toy that Conan wields is the real Conan sword.

I too love the Father Sword, but decided against listing it because I wanted to diversify and include one blade only per movie. If I strike it rich one day, then it's definitely going on my colllection also.

Love your designs also. Here's to hoping they become reality someday.

Fingolfin · #5 07-30-2010

My dream collection? Well, it starts with a nice open room looking down Anduin from a high circle in Minas Tirith...

I agree on the Atlantean sword, the Marto doesn't begin compare with the Albion. That's one that I'd REALLY like to have for my wall.

Sedhal · #6 07-30-2010

Thanks Val! Means a lot.

But yeah that was wishful thinking on my part. In fact, I do plan to hunt those down when I have the means to do so, someday (that word pops up a lot in these discussions). It's a loose end. An unfinished piece of business. An unfulfilled dream. And I have a big hole in my sense of accomplishment until I get those -- no matter what else I manage to do or get. Because... say we do get fairly wealthy someday. What good is that if we don't have two of the first big (and I mean BIG) wants of our life? I'll never forget those swords!

But sadly you're probably right about the new Conan sword(s). People just don't know. I make the mistake of browsing DeviantArt sometimes and MAN do I see some stupid and hideous stuff (you know, random anime/WoW hybrid mash-ups with no thought to taste or function) and no negative comments. In fact, none short of "WOW AMAZING" and "WICKED SWORD". People just don't know what a sword IS.

This takes me back but I was watching part of FOTR one time with a friend at the time who said "look you can tell the sword is fake because it wobbled!" when Boromir was fighting the Uruks in slo-mo. I just facepalmed...

Fingolfin · #7 08-01-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sedhal

This takes me back but I was watching part of FOTR one time with a friend at the time who said "look you can tell the sword is fake because it wobbled!" when Boromir was fighting the Uruks in slo-mo. I just facepalmed...

Oh man. That is really, really funny!

Val, I see you have the Highlander on there. I've never seen any of the movies or tv series (yeah yeah give me grief) but I know what they're about, and I thought that sword broke in one of the movies...so why does UC's Duncan sword look like the Connor sword if Connor's sword broke? Can anyone shed me a little light on those swords in general? I really like the Highlander swords but I really don't know much about them, or katanas in general for that matter.

Sedhal · #8 08-01-2010

Oh boy. That's a loaded question. We just discussed a lot of this in a thread last week. To quickly touch on some things, Duncan's and Connor's are not the same. In fact, Duncan goes through two versions in the series and Connor's sword changes from movie to movie.

And since you haven't seen them, I'll sum it up like this: The only worthwhile Highlander is the original so when we talk about the sword we generally refer to the one and only sword from the one and only film.

The bonus is that it clears up a lot of headaches about the sequels and TV shows and all the continuity errors/redesigns/etc by completely avoiding discussing them.

***Valkrist*** · #9 08-01-2010

Yeah, what he said.

The Connor and Duncan katanas are very similar but the most clearly visible difference is in the pommel.

If you're ever going to get into watching Highlander, watch only the first movie, and maybe check out the third one. If you *must* watch the second one, look for the Renegade version. That cut makes the movie just barely watchable. Barely. The least said about the fourth movie, the better. The series was passable except for continuity violations, and I never watched the Raven spinoff so I can't comment, but I'm sure it was somewhere on the wrong side of tolerable.

Fingolfin · #10 08-01-2010

Yeah I've heard from friends that number two is a joke and was completely ignored in the next movies. I've heard the one released in 2000 (?) Was better than 2. So if I were to look at the swords from the movie, is it safe to say that UCs Connor sword is accurate? I see they have one called a Damascus edition...isn't that just a better blade?