It's official: Paul is a fan of Kit Rae!

I don't believe the thread is a joke at all. The man makes very, very cool looking pieces of art. They are wonderful to display, even if they are far from historical. The distinction is that his work is art, with artistic license, and not a functional sword.

There is no reason why one cannot appreciate the work and talent that goes into it, though. It's like saying a clay sculptor is a joke because he does not work with marble.

we will agree to disagee... I would liken it more to playdo than clay.....

Kit Rae stuff is not 'bad', it's just not what the majority of people on this forum want. Kit Rae stuff really *is* stylized blade(they're still metal, and still sharp, so they're still 'blades' technically) sculpture. Not swords, not weapons, not meant for function in those regards in the least. They're ornaments. Decorations. I guarantee almost everybody on these forums has something in the same genre as kit rae stuff - whether it be a poster or painting on the wall, to a fashionable paper-weight for their desk, or something.

And there is nothing wrong with that. So if Paul likes 'em, then more power to him.

I, personally, do not share in that fandom - but that doesn't mean I need to ridicule it.

It's part of the decoration aspect of it. We, being people who prefer functional swords, see it as misleading. But to a consumer who is buying a decorative piece, it being dull takes away from it's "bragging" aspects as well as its "ooh ahh" factor.

The manufacturer cant do everything to ensure the consumer's safety. At some point, the buyer MUST become responsible for their homework on the matter.

Not at all. I work with people every day. What I'm saying is, the manufacturer is NOT the babysitter of the consumer. It is not their job to sit there and fawn over buyers to make sure they dont get hurt. Just like in our market, safety is up to us, on this end. When was he last time you asked Clyde Hollis how to properly swing a sword?

The manufacturer makes the product and explains what it is, it is up to the consumer to use it right. Will everyone be safe? No. But it's not the maker's fault. United Cutlery and kit Rae are not at fault for making sword art. It is the fault of less-intelligent buyers who, being uneducated, believe it to be something it is not.

I would have to completely agree with you. To me it's not anything snobbish, I'm not going to criticise you people who like them, but if your going to rave about how you find it artistic.. I have to say I'm gonna do the opposite.

.. I don't see how any of these are anything more than .. some D&D nerds wet dream. Now I'm all for art, but they look far too.. un-original to be art. I had a vague memory of what they are, while reading this thread, thinking I must have judged them to harshly I just went and looked at them again and now I have to say they still look ridiculous.

They even look cheap, if these are the "A. Trim's of the SLO's" then that doesn't speak very highly of SLO's. And to be honest, I think they look horribly stereotypical. Fantasy was supposed to be freedom of creativity or something? Yes I understand that but how the hell is covering something in skulls and uselessly jagged, jagged edges "creative" when every single other fantasy fanatic does the same damn thing.

Closest I've ever come to liking a fantasy sword, is the LOTR swords, and that was because they actually struck me as APPEARING practical with just heavy decor, and just as importantly, they actually struck me as somewhat original. The LOTR swords added totally something new, and with the exception of Hadhafang also seemed to have avoided those useless, childish looking jagged edges that seem to be a prescribed feature for every "fantasy sword." Why a sword can't just have a normal blade .. I don't know. It seems the people who entrusted their lives with these things, who had several thousand years to play with blade shape, didn't need "fantasy" blades.

Do I appreciate the work that goes into them? For comedic effect, absolutely!

Call me a snob, I don't care, I guess the thing that pisses me off is the fact something is considered "original and artistic" when it's really just a stainless steel repro of every Halloween decoration I've ever seen.

So yeh know, quite a few of us D&D nerds prefer historical, functional pieces.

I'm an avid RPG player also... I like historical and fantasy designs... but above all I want the weapon to be FUNCTIONAL. I weapon thats pretty to look at but unusable is useless to me.

Guys, you have to face some facts. The SBG Forum is growing every month. New members bring new opinions. There are lovers of functional swords, wall hangers, and those who have a place for both in their interests. Unfortunately, it is human nature that people really want everyone else to look at things through their eyes. "See this MY way, damn it!". Let's face it, if Paul can take a second look at Kit's designs and come to have such respect and admiration for his swords, any true lover of functional blades could do so as well.

Personally, I started out as a fan of wall hangers. My first sword was a Kit Rae sword. I now have about 85% of his "Swords of the Ancients" collection. Recently (within the last year), I developed a great interest in functional blades and have began purchasing those as well. I have a great interest in both. Kit has been designing functional anf fantasy knives, throwers and swords with United Cutlery since the early 80s. He was one of the designers working on the "Lord of the Rings" licensed reproductions. He is considered one of the foremost designers in the fantasy/collectible blade industry. You may not like his blades, but his credentials deserve respect.

I respect the opinions of those who think anything that is not functional is a waste. But, I understand the artful vision involved with fantasy blades such as Kit's. After all, he IS an artist (check out some of his prints). Most of my collection are wall hangers. But, please understand, I have never sliced anything with a sword (gasp!). That's right! I live in a large metropolitan area. It is 2008 (almost 2009), and I am not, nor do I have any dreams of being a warrior. And to be totally truthful, I really don't think cutting a bottle of water in half is really what I want to do with my spare time. Nothing personal to those who do. I'm sure it would be cool to do once in a while, and important in testing functional blades, but not my thing. But, I respect those who do enjoy it as part of their sword enjoyment experience. There a varying areas of interests involving swords. As I said, my sword interest started with wall hangers and artful desins. My point is that the interests of sword collectors are as varied as the types of swords to be found. And I think that what Paul has experienced is an eye opening to a new area of sword collecting and admiration that was not really his thing before.

I've been following the Kit Rae designs for a while now, am a fan of many of his designs and not so much of some others. But, I have never seen a single Kit Rae sword that claimed to be fully functional. As a matter of fact, his SWORDS have disclaimers stating that they are not and that it is dangerous to use them for any cutting or even in battle re-inactments. He does make functional knives and throwers, which are commonly stainless.

United Cutlery has now come out with a line of functional katanas and wakizashis. It is called the "United Black" line, and is composed of 1040, 1045, 1060 and damascus blades. They are very attractive swords. I have not read many reviews, but what I have read has been very positive. They are creeping up to the top of my want list right now. I'll report on what I see when I get one, although it will probably have to be up to someone else to go out and cut something with one.

In closing, I'm simply saying, before you go berating the work of Kit Rae, Gil Hibben or any other fantasy/collectible designers or the opinions of their admirers, remember......it's all in the eye of the beholder. There is a place for everything.