I used to collect swords and other medieval style weapons, but more on the decorative end of the spectrum. I had a couple of high carbon steel swords that had a decent temper and could probably inflict some damage, but they weren't exactly from high end cutlery companies. There was a lot of junk decorator stuff, but also some slightly higher end, more expensive but still decorative stuff, like a bastard sword I bought at a smith in Madrid, Spain.
I got away from that as I got older and wanted more focus on things I could actually use - thats when I started obtaining machetes, multi tools, and lots of folders, as well as stuff like maglites...
Then I learned how to baton and do some simple bushcraft more recently, and it's been all downhill since then <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />
