Actually, I do historic reinactments. That baskethilt I mentioned I use, albeit it for a slightly earlier time (pre Culloden). It's blade was not surplussed military as such arms were privately purchased by low and highlanders of the time. Mine, as a matter of fact, is used for reinacting lowlanders in Midlothian. The grip is wood and rather smooth. There is no consensus about this blade whether or not it had any kind of material on it or if that is how it was made. Yet, the basket is in welded-pieces and the whole thing is remarkably balanced not that much different from a schianova.
Now, I could not even approach the cost of medieval period for an original blade, and if I could, I would not fight with the blade in any case as I would not wish to destroy history. I do not fight with my baskethilt for that reason and for that kind of martial combat, I have no problem with folks buying reproductions.
Yet, back to the surplussed military swords. There is nothing inherently wrong with the concept. Certainly there were poor designs out there. It seemed the closer to the 20th century, the worse the designs became in an attempt to make them better (and more universal). Yet, the Cuirassier's sword carried at the ending of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries would be much different. A mounted heavy cavalry charge against musketry was very effective and very deadly, as "outdated" as swords were supposed to be. Heavy cavalry is itself martial. It is in no way inferior to a one-on-one duel or other "fencing" styles, the term used loosely of course. Indeed, the light-cavalry saber-style combat is neither. These were styles used in their day, and mounted combat goes back almost as long as pedestrian styles.
Now, to modern martial combat. There is no such thing. Unless one of the participants is going to die (or both, as was not that uncommon), it is all pretend anyway. Even though one might develop the skill and ability to rival or exceed that which was ever practiced on any battlefield, be it on grand scale with many combatants or in the mano-y-mano duel in some field or alleyway, one is never truly going to practice it (save for places like Ruwanda where millions were killed with such rudimentary weapons as machetes). That is good, of course, and this is not meant to belittle those who practice long and develop superb fighting abilitites. Personally, I would likely get pasted in combat by those here (though I did staff-fight in my younger days, full speed and with no puches pulled). Of course, given the situation and the fact I have a CCW liscense, I would hope that I could shoot a given person before his blade could dispatch me, but I am a pragmatist in that way. I do believe in the superiority of the .45ACP over any blade, no matter how well-built it is and how great the bearer.
So, you see, I appreciate the sword for its balance, the quality of the blade, the purpose for which it was designed, and most particularly, for its history. A $2,000 custom blade would be of no great value to me for I would always consider what real sword I could own for that sum. Good quality historical replicas of swords produced in the early 19th century would have even less value to me because I could get the real deal for the same price, or only a bit more. A replica is always a replica, fine or not, of the real, original sword. I would rather look at a blade that is stained from time and ponder where it has been than hold something that was admittedly a work of art but is younger than my dog. Swordsmiths who built swords when swords were of real, deadly use draw me more.
So, I cannot fully appreciate why one would wish to buy a modern replica when for similar prices, one could have the real deal.
Arkhavain