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Post by iknowurider on Sept 21, 2021 21:19:00 GMT
Hi All, I'm new here looking to start a small collection of swords and armor with the ultimate goal being to practice sword fighting and European martial arts, but also to gather what I might need for more casual fun as well. The idea first came to me by my son who really wants to learn sword fighting and fencing. He's just 8 years old so the idea may fizzle out, but that's the coolest thing about being a dad, letting your kid give you excuses to do the stuff you once loved, or wish you had someone to enable you to do, when you were a kid. We intend to see where this leads. My biggest fear though is that a true sword is a dangerous weapon. I'm excited to collect a few and display them but I've been wondering if any of you have had trouble with your kids trying to "play" with them? Guns belong in a gun safe, but do I need a sword safe? I hope not. My son's still young enough to fear me when I tell him not to touch, but I still worry for the time when he's older and bolder. I'd love to hear any stories that you sword collecting dads have to tell! Thanks! Cheers, D
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Post by pellius on Sept 21, 2021 21:43:42 GMT
That’s great! Leisure time and common endeavors with one’s kids is truly a blessing.
Also, I recommend a sword safe.
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tera
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Post by tera on Sept 21, 2021 22:05:27 GMT
"Gun cabinets" are cheap, though not nearly as secure as a real safe. Usually stamped sheet metal with a basic lock any crowbar could defeat. But, if you want some inexpensive form of secure storage that may suffice depending on the maturity of the child.
One of my former Sensei began teaching his son Iaido when he was under 10 years old. He had him use a wakizashi iaito and was very strict on all handling and etiquette rules. He took the lessons seriously and is probably way more skilled than I will ever be now. So, it can be done responsibly, I'd just emphasize safety rules and discipline no different than firearms.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 21, 2021 22:07:29 GMT
I imagine it depends on the family. I grew up with a very classically schooled mother and that included her two fencing foils at a child's height, loosely displayed in our living room. One of five (middle kid) I had my own fascination with them and over the years no one got skewered, despite the rubber blunts disappearing. We never had guns, or other swords but we were generally responsible when "playing" with the parent's stuff. My dad's tools were always returned to where we found them, except for a knife I would "borrow" and he would quietly return it to his tool boxes. Early on, my first toy sets included plastic swords. I first had a Prince Valiant set with shield and sword. The next year a full Sears Roebuck troopers uniform and sabre. I thrashed a lot of bushes with those before bending them too many times on trees. Sharp swords are always loaded. I would lock them up and shared for times when you can spend time cutting with him. A niece's son was about that age and very briefly thought fencing would be cool but there was nothing local for him. My mom would fence with us just with sticks and not her foils. She always had a sense of humor about the perils one could encounter when not paying attention. I have to admit that I took a screwdriver to a small gang of the neighbors (stuck one) at age four and after getting trounced by his older brother, mum bought me my first Colt cap pistols. So, I got the violence out of my system early, only unleashed in measure and reminded by my parents to behave. Good luck GC
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Post by wiz52 on Sept 21, 2021 22:08:53 GMT
I recently ran into a similar issue as I'm getting licensed to be a foster parent. All of my swords, even the blunt ones, need to be locked away. I ended up getting this display case. I managed to cram 3 swords in here, but it's really only made for 2. You can lock it and put it in a high place so the kiddo can't get to it easily.
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Post by captainh on Sept 21, 2021 23:52:26 GMT
A metal cabinet works or a cheaper way is a hard plastic rifle case. They have spots to put little padlocks.
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Post by shepherd214 on Sept 23, 2021 4:45:21 GMT
I have 6 and 9 year olds. I just have a sword rack and lean the rest up neatly in a corner. My kids are very well behaved and know to never touch my swords and pocket knives without permission. Never had any issues.
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Post by iknowurider on Sept 24, 2021 7:00:52 GMT
That’s great! Leisure time and common endeavors with one’s kids is truly a blessing. Also, I recommend a sword safe. Indeed. Thank you pellius!
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Post by iknowurider on Sept 24, 2021 7:07:21 GMT
"Gun cabinets" are cheap, though not nearly as secure as a real safe. Usually stamped sheet metal with a basic lock any crowbar could defeat. But, if you want some inexpensive form of secure storage that may suffice depending on the maturity of the child. One of my former Sensei began teaching his son Iaido when he was under 10 years old. He had him use a wakizashi iaito and was very strict on all handling and etiquette rules. He took the lessons seriously and is probably way more skilled than I will ever be now. So, it can be done responsibly, I'd just emphasize safety rules and discipline no different than firearms. Yeah tera, he's at that age where he hasn't learned to test my authority yet. I hope he'll have the sense to keep it that way. At least enough to not take a crowbar to my sword locker haha You son sounds like a solid kid. Good luck to you guys! D
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Post by iknowurider on Sept 24, 2021 8:22:47 GMT
I imagine it depends on the family. I grew up with a very classically schooled mother and that included her two fencing foils at a child's height, loosely displayed in our living room. One of five (middle kid) I had my own fascination with them and over the years no one got skewered, despite the rubber blunts disappearing. We never had guns, or other swords but we were generally responsible when "playing" with the parent's stuff. My dad's tools were always returned to where we found them, except for a knife I would "borrow" and he would quietly return it to his tool boxes. Early on, my first toy sets included plastic swords. I first had a Prince Valiant set with shield and sword. The next year a full Sears Roebuck troopers uniform and sabre. I thrashed a lot of bushes with those before bending them too many times on trees. Sharp swords are always loaded. I would lock them up and shared for times when you can spend time cutting with him. A niece's son was about that age and very briefly thought fencing would be cool but there was nothing local for him. My mom would fence with us just with sticks and not her foils. She always had a sense of humor about the perils one could encounter when not paying attention. I have to admit that I took a screwdriver to a small gang of the neighbors (stuck one) at age four and after getting trounced by his older brother, mum bought me my first Colt cap pistols. So, I got the violence out of my system early, only unleashed in measure and reminded by my parents to behave. Good luck GC Nice edelweiss, cute picture and yes, I'm hoping he can handle it, no screwdriver battles!
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Post by iknowurider on Sept 24, 2021 8:25:40 GMT
I recently ran into a similar issue as I'm getting licensed to be a foster parent. All of my swords, even the blunt ones, need to be locked away. I ended up getting this display case. I managed to cram 3 swords in here, but it's really only made for 2. You can lock it and put it in a high place so the kiddo can't get to it easily. Thanks wiz52, great idea, I think a locking display case may be just the thing Ill need. ) Cheers, D
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Post by iknowurider on Sept 24, 2021 8:27:17 GMT
A metal cabinet works or a cheaper way is a hard plastic rifle case. They have spots to put little padlocks. Thanks captainh! Cheers, D
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Post by iknowurider on Sept 24, 2021 8:29:54 GMT
I have 6 and 9 year olds. I just have a sword rack and lean the rest up neatly in a corner. My kids are very well behaved and know to never touch my swords and pocket knives without permission. Never had any issues. right on shepherd214, nice job! Cheers, D
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tera
Moderator
Posts: 1,666
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Post by tera on Sept 24, 2021 15:38:40 GMT
"Gun cabinets" are cheap, though not nearly as secure as a real safe. Usually stamped sheet metal with a basic lock any crowbar could defeat. But, if you want some inexpensive form of secure storage that may suffice depending on the maturity of the child. One of my former Sensei began teaching his son Iaido when he was under 10 years old. He had him use a wakizashi iaito and was very strict on all handling and etiquette rules. He took the lessons seriously and is probably way more skilled than I will ever be now. So, it can be done responsibly, I'd just emphasize safety rules and discipline no different than firearms. Yeah tera, he's at that age where he hasn't learned to test my authority yet. I hope he'll have the sense to keep it that way. At least enough to not take a crowbar to my sword locker haha You son sounds like a solid kid. Good luck to you guys! D No kids for us, I was just thinking back to my days in Firearms Sales/Operations. Helping people find affordable, responsible safe storage was part of the job. I hate gun cabinets as they provide zero protection from a criminal, but they are often enough to protect dangerous items from kids if you can't afford to drop several hundred dollars on a decent gun safe. Someone else's suggestion of a TSA rated rifle case isn't a bad idea either. Pelican makes fantastic cases, but some are more expensive than gun cabinets. There are Pelican knock-offs that have the same features for a fraction of the price, they just tend to be made of more brittle/less durable polymers.
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Post by Lord Newport on Sept 24, 2021 15:45:23 GMT
"First lesson: stick 'em with the pointy end."
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Post by iknowurider on Sept 24, 2021 22:42:40 GMT
Yeah tera, he's at that age where he hasn't learned to test my authority yet. I hope he'll have the sense to keep it that way. At least enough to not take a crowbar to my sword locker haha You son sounds like a solid kid. Good luck to you guys! D No kids for us, I was just thinking back to my days in Firearms Sales/Operations. Helping people find affordable, responsible safe storage was part of the job. I hate gun cabinets as they provide zero protection from a criminal, but they are often enough to protect dangerous items from kids if you can't afford to drop several hundred dollars on a decent gun safe. Someone else's suggestion of a TSA rated rifle case isn't a bad idea either. Pelican makes fantastic cases, but some are more expensive than gun cabinets. There are Pelican knock-offs that have the same features for a fraction of the price, they just tend to be made of more brittle/less durable polymers. Oops my eyes don't always see well just before bedtime. All good ideas. I guess the rifle case also makes sense for transporting regularly to and from practice. Thanks again tera for the tips! Cheers, D
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Post by iknowurider on Sept 24, 2021 22:44:48 GMT
"First lesson: stick 'em with the pointy end." Yes Lord Newport, that was a memorable scene for sure, and a great name for a small rapier!
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Scott
Member
Posts: 1,676
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Post by Scott on Sept 25, 2021 0:06:52 GMT
You may not need to lock you swords away if you trust your kids to not play with them. I never found it necessary. Also, buy your kids pocket knives if you haven't already and teach them to use them safely. Yes they'll probably cut themselves a few times. Buy your kids, and yourself, a boffer/larp sword, so they've got a sword to play with that's not going to injure anyone. It's a great way of teaching safe sword use with very little chance of a trip to the hospital.
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Andy54Hawken
Member
Mine's a tale that can't be told. My freedom I hold dear.
Posts: 115
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Post by Andy54Hawken on Sept 25, 2021 0:22:12 GMT
Lessons learned from a long time firearm owner and a short time sword owner :
Teaching respect for life and responsibility for actions is a place to start.
Also maybe consider taking away the "forbidden fruit" mystique of the swords...by allowing your children to look and handle the swords whenever they want , after they ask permission from you.
Something else to consider is not just your children...but their friends... You can teach your children how to behave safely and responsible with swords....but other kids , may not have that learning. Andy
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Post by iknowurider on Sept 25, 2021 5:10:07 GMT
You may not need to lock you swords away if you trust your kids to not play with them. I never found it necessary. Also, buy your kids pocket knives if you haven't already and teach them to use them safely. Yes they'll probably cut themselves a few times. Buy your kids, and yourself, a boffer/larp sword, so they've got a sword to play with that's not going to injure anyone. It's a great way of teaching safe sword use with very little chance of a trip to the hospital. Yes Scott! I was thinking the same thing about buying some larp or practice swords, any recommendations for a good store to buy those? Thanks! D
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