I think my tramontonia machete is a dead ringer for a chinese broadsword and a few moves designed for the Broadsword worked awesome with the machete.
It is getting better all the time for those of us who want a real combat capable sword. You can get a katana for 250$ that is better than a real one as far as fighting with one or practice cutting. For all the romance of antiques modern steel is a big improvement. The only problem is good steel is so cheap compared to how it used to be when every piece of steel was worth 100's of hours of craftsmens time. With my katana the blade was much cheaper than having the wrap done and the
tsuka(handle) made.

I really want a version of a viking sword as good as the Cheness is for the katana. The Cheness are made in china by hand in such huge numbers that they are very cheap for what you get.

This is the Shirasaya model which means "white scabbard". The plain wood handle and saya (scabbard) are designed just as blade storage but work fine with a bit of varnish on their own. It is the exact sword Forest Whitiker used in the awesome movie "Ghost Dog ,Way of the Samurai". The shirasaya was also very popular in old yakuza films. In the sheath it looks just like a piece of wood.
I had a new handle made but I am just going to sand the crap out of the saya and give it a coat of varnish.

I will take some photos today of my finished sword.

Vikings actually used axes much more than swords. I have a nice little homeade hawk but have had my eye on the one Justin from Ranger knives makes. It would do any modern viking proud.
Hail Odin.