Wilkinson's is out of business, but was functionally replaced by Pooley Sword, formed by workers who were at Wilkinson's for decades. A British history professor whom I know on the Net said the swords are almost identical, to the same official designs. I think the address is
www.pooleysword.com
I have handled the Wilkinson cavalry sword, pattern 1908 and the Officers (Infantry) sword, pattern 1897 and was most impressed. The cavalry sword, looking much like the later US Patton sword, is too long for easy use while dismounted. The other is about ideal for me.
You can get both service (brown) and ceremonial (chromed) scabbards. The price is commensurate with the quality, and I think they still quench and temper the blades in whale oil, to prevent breakage in actual war use. The blades flex within specs, if stressed enough. I URGE you to view their site. They make not only official British swords, but others. I think they can supply the USMC officers' sword with Mameluke hilt, similar to those worn by UK Field Marshals.
If you cannot afford these, your best bet is to look at antique dealers for the US Patton sword of WWI. I've seen them in fine condition for a few hundred dollars, and they were made to be used: they weren't toys. Long, like the British M-1908 that they largely copied. On horseback, it won't matter and was preferred for the way they fought.
The arms and armour sites have info on replica swords and my son has a very nice rapier that he had personalized when ordering with gold-filled engraving. He has a Roman cavalry sword (spatha)from the same maker. I've handled it and it's well made, with white bone handle and wood fittings.
These firms make both the Pompeian pattern and the earlier styles typical of Caesar's legions.
I think prices run from some $300-1,000.
The finest single sword that I've seen in some time was a pic on the Net of a Viking sword made by a Finnish master smith. Even the scabbard (leather, probably over wood) had ridges to match the fuller lines on the superb blade. I didn't see a price, but think $10,000-$15,000 would probably buy it. That sword and the maker's other work is absolutely of museum quality.
US Civil War swords occasionally turn up in nice shape. My son has owned a couple of M-1860 Light Cavalry sabers, but sold both when others offered him considerably more than he had in them.
If you want a Japanese style, hunt shows for military issue ones from WWII. I've seen them sell for a few hundred dollars. They are NOT the work of the masters who made the originals hundreds of years ago and who make those in limited quantities now for prices that only Donald Trump and his peers can pay.
Get the annual title, Knives, from the Gun Digest people. They illustrate swords, but I've seen almost none that suggested that the makers knew zip about what they should be building. I doubt if these guys even got to Barnes & Noble and looked for the coffee table sort of books that show real swords through the centuries. That's where you begin. I have such a book that shows the famous mosaic of Alexander at Issus, and the artist showed his sword hilt in surprising detail. Keep in mind that that artist KNEW what the swords looked like then...when he lived!
I checked the URL that I gave above for Pooley Sword. It's correct. If you don't go there and find yourself impressed, I've wasted my time with you. But I think you'll like what you see. Work all the buttons, too. Learning about swords and the historical background is where you begin. Look for books by authors like John Wilkinson-Latham. I've seen a magnificent book, "Swords" for under $30 at B&N. It's my main reference, but I have a couple of other sword books, too.
Unless you are prepared to spend at least $500, I don't think you should be thinking of buying a sword. And you need to read a lot about them first.
But first, get thee to that Pooley site. Nice, eh?
