This report is based on fan feedback of Starfire swords. If any of the following information is in dispute, please feel free to contribute or to contact us. We are more than willing to accept evaluation swords so as to test them according to the sword maker's specified test parameters, and to return them to the sword maker.

Starfire's swords are made of 1090 high carbon steel. One immediate observation that people have made is that they are heavy, across their product line of swords. One of the HSG's readers owns a Starfire sword, which sports a 36 inch blade, but at a weight of 7 lbs.! (Anything over 3 lbs. becomes very difficult to wield - especially on the battlefield when speed and maneuverability are paramount to the outcome of a fight).

According to Stafire, these swords are made specifically to be used in stage combat, but are not recreations of historical pieces. The blades are much thicker than that of many other manufacturers, with edges of 1/16ths of an inch thick, becoming much thicker as you move towards the blade center. However, the vendor whom the HSG reader had interacted with said that the warranty on the sword would be nullified if the customer put an edge on the swords. Making a blade thicker is often a strategy employed by some replica manufacturers to compensate for the weakness of their steel blades due to lack of proper heat treating. Blade that are not heat treated may lack edge-holding capabilities and spring qualities. We however have no information as to the quality of the heat treatment, or if such a process was even performed on the blades. The fact that they nullify the warranty if an edge were put on their swords might convey to customers the inability for the swords to hold an edge in the long run.

In terms of construction, they are welded and cannot be taken apart. Several owners have had problems with the leather wrap coming undone very shortly, even afte first use. This might be remedied by small amounts of super glue as you re-wrap the leather.

Starfire keeps the prices modest and thus they are affordable. Some might find them somewhat attractive, while others who are more devoted to collecting period historical weapons may find these swords aesthetically challenged. They may be good "beater" swords, and their heaviness would indeed help build arm strength, and the price range would allow you to bash away without much concern for damaging the sword.

DISCLAIMER - This report was compiled from various feedback from sword owners and by those who have evaluated Starfire swords first hand. The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the HSG Staff.

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