Our 12"H T-arms can be bent to hold shorter swords. The longer the sword the higher the center of gravity will be and the more unstable it will be. Using this T-arm to mount a sword will require the right tools. The upright is about 1/4" steel and is not easy to bend so you will probably need a vice. The top bar is about 1/8" x about 11" across, and can be hard to make tight bends. We suggest Not bending the arms near the upright as this connection is often a week spot.  

For our Demonstration we drilled a divot into the base for the tip of the sword to improve stability. The base is .5" acrylic. *Note: Avoid putting pressure on soldered joints when bending.

Click here for "How to Display Swords" video

Common tools we suggest having available include:

Needle nose pliers In a variety of sizes

Large pliers such as Linesmans Pliers

Large wire snippers for trimming the arms to length

A hack saw to shorten the post if desired. (remove from base very carefully as this junction can be very tight and removing the post can damage the base)

Flat black touch up paint for the base or armature

Shrink Tube to pad the artwork from the armature (and a heat source to shrink the tubing at the end of forming the armature)

Displaying Swords, Knives, and Daggers

Collectable and decorative swords come in many shapes, sizes and styles. There are Ninja and Samurai swords, Chinese swords, Middle Eastern swords, African swords, Broadswords, Persian swords, Roman swords, European Medieval swords, Scottish swords and Knight swords, Viking swords and Celtic Swords, and American military swords just to name a few.

Swords are a popular collector’s item and there are a number of ways to display them. A typical material for a sword stand is wood, and often a wall mount is used. Some stands are a bit overpowering and bulkier than they need to be. Art Display Essentials offers a different approach to the standard wood display. They have a stock item that is a clear holder that comes in three sizes; 3”, 6”, and 9” high. These stands are sold individually so the collector can customize their display to the arrangement that is best for their needs. For example, you could use one shorter and one taller to hold the sword on an angle, or three across for longer items. You can also use taller ones in the back to hold the sword and shorter ones in the front to hold the scabbard, to give a tiered effect. These can be seen above.

To achieve a specific angle or to display the sword vertically you can have a custom mount made specifically to hold the sword just right. 10-31 Inc. has been mounting swords, daggers, and knives for over 25 years. They carefully mount each piece with just the right proportions and finesse giving it a very clean and professional look.

Another alternative for mounting daggers, knives, or short swords is to do it yourself. Art Display Essentials has stock “T”-arms, “double T”-arms and “H”-arms that can be used for that very purpose. They come as a basic “T” with one top crossbar or a double “T”, which is one top crossbar and a lower bar. The other is the “H”shape which has the top bar with another smaller crossbar on each end. You can bend these arms around the piece to hold it in place. The height of the post could be adjusted by removing it from the base and cutting it, although you would need a good pair of cutting pliers. The double “T” would be used for holding a knife or dagger vertically where as the “H”-arm would be used more for a horizontal or angled display.

You can see these armatures here

For a stock knife stand Art Display Essentials has an acrylic one which can be seen here

There are also small easels available for the smaller knives seen here: Mini Easel, Small Easels

Some sword types:

Prehistoric Swords, Egyptian Swords (Khopesh), Iron Age swords, Ancient Greek and Spartan Swords, Makhaira Swords, Falcata and Kopis Swords, Classic Hoplite Sword, Early Celtic Swords, Acinaces (Persian short sword), Swords of the Roman Legions, Gladius swords, Spatha swords, Viking sword , Khmali sword, Arming sword, Longsword, Estoc sword, Two-handed claymore sword, Curtana sword, Sabina, Medieval Swords, Side Swords, Rapier swords, Smallswords, English Mortuary Sword, Sabres, Sword Canes, Renaissance Swords, Zweihänder, Flamberge, Basket-hilted swords, Broadsword, Schiavona, Mortuary sword, Backsword, Katzbalger, Cinquedea, Executioner's sword, Swiss sword, Medieval Falchions, Eastern Scimitars, Cavalry Sabers, Smallsword, Colichemarde, Sgian-dubh, Spadroon, Karabela, Szabla, Shashka, Pulwar (Afghanistan), Shamshir (Persia), Talwar (North India), Kilij (Turkish), Mameluke sword (18th to 19th century Egyptian), Flyssa (19th century Algeria), Kaskara (19th century Sudan), Nimcha (18th century Morocco), Shotel (Ethiopian scimitar), Takoba (Tuareg sword), Balisword, Bolo, Buntot Pagi, Dahong Palay, Dha, Kalis, Kampilan, Klewang, Krabi, Pinuti, Pirate Sword, Katana swords, Ninjato swords, Gongfu Style Swords, Jin Shi Swords.

http://swordstands.net

http://ancientartifact.net

http://museumdisplay.com

Sword and Dagger Displays