Welcome to the March '99 Issue of our award-winning Magazine! Sword Forum Magazine Online is the Internet's first magazine and discussion forum purely dedicated to the discussion of the art, forging, collecting, and martial arts practitionary use of real swords from various cultures - both modern and ancient. This is where the sword lover and the master sword smith meet and where the next generation of connoiseurs and bladesmiths are born. Gracing our Front Cover is an exquisite Lion Head Short Sword by Jose de Braga. Many will recognize Jose's unmistakable artistry from the impeccable attention to detail and flawless presentation of graceful lines and immaculate engravings. Jose de Braga's work can be seen also in the motion picture Highlander III: The Final Dimension where his creation - Dark Magic served as the Sword of Kane the Sorcerer! "Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for the fight Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight, Thou my soul's shelter, Thou my high tower: Raise thou me heavenward, O Power of my power." - Ancient 8th Century Irish Hymn     Editorial Minding the Minefield - A word from the Editor of SWORD FORUM Magazine Online. Cover Sword: March 1999 Lion Head Short Sword - This month's cover sword is by world reknowned artist and sculptor, Jose de Braga. He is known for a variety of masterpieces, and is the maker of the famous swords that appeared in Highlander III: The Final Dimension! Historical Swords Gothic Bastard Sword, 19th Century - An elegant and classic sword in any era, housed at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. But is it real or fake? By Björn Hellqvist The Making of Medieval Swords - The Medieval Sword emerged from the communication between smith and swordsman, and faced challenges of quality and performance in a brutal age. By John Clements, Director of The HACA Japanese Swords Nihon-to Shape Changes Over Time - The formation and evolution of the Japanese sword spans several centuries. By Dr. Richard Stein The Manchurian Candidates: Chinese-made Katanas - A side-by-side comparison of all available Japanese-style swords made by Chen Chao-Po in Manchuria, China. By WarAngel, Editor, SFMO Tsuka Shortening: How to Shorten the hilt on a Chen Chao-Po Katana - A "how to" guide for those interested in achieving more conservative lengths of Chen-made swords. By Christopher Lau / Motoyasu Choosing a Katana Length - With Japanese swords, longer does not necessarily mean better, as excessive length can impede upon proper technique. This article will help you determine the right katana length for you. Written by Christopher Lau / Motoyasu Cleaning Your World War II Gunto - The gunto is a wartime mass-produced sword of the Japanese government during the Second World War. These are a few overlooked maintenance tips to prolong the life of your investment. By WarAngel and Christopher Lau / Motoyasu Forging Sword Shop: Basic Forging of a Katana Blade Form - An illustrative guide to forging a Japanese-style blade. by Randal Graham Metallurgy Metallurgical Terms Made Simple - Navigating us through a sea of confusing terms, Kevin Cashen simplifies the complexities of metallurgical activities. Written by Kevin Cashen Is Stainless Steel Suitable for Swords? - As the mass market is flooded with swords made of 420 and 440 stainless, where is the line drawn against the use of knife steels in swords? Written by WarAngel and Motoyasu Swordsmanship Arming Yourself for Rapier Class - A quick and easy guide to the types of blades, off-hand weapons, and safety gear available for your rapier fencing class. by J. Mark Bertrand Japanese Sword Training in the West - An introduction to the various Japanese sword arts available today. By Kim Taylor Vietnamese Swords "The Swords of Vietnam" - Beautiful swords that show Chinese, Japanese, Thai and even French influences. by Scott Rodell. At the Movies The Sword of Zorro - From the motion picture "The Mask of Zorro" comes a replica of the sword of Alejandro Murieta. by Karolus. Reviews MRL's Gothic Bastard Sword vs. Del Tin's Gothic Hand-&-Half - Two similar replicas of a museum piece. Which is more accurate, and which is a more serviceable weapon? By Atrim Kris Cutlery Chinese Gim - An excellent value gim for Tai Chi sword training. By Alex C. Kris Cutlery 26" and 29" Katana - An affordable "beater" sword made in the Philippines of surprising quality and durability. By WarAngel Calendar Upcoming Events Advertisers A Work of Art Kevin Cashen Randal Graham - Dragon Fist Forge The Historical Armed Combat Association (HACA) Jose de Braga Daryl Meier - Meier Steel Sal D'Aquila - Point Gallery Christian Fletcher Medieval Military The Final Point A Star in the East? - So much in so short a time has been accomplished by one man. Does he mark the beginning of a new era for the production sword market? Next Issue: May 1999         Click here for Jan. 99 Issue Copyright 1999 by Sword Forum Magazine Online. All rights reserved. http://SwordForum.Com. Editor: "WarAngel" - editor@swordforum.com SFMO is free to our readers and is a labor of love. We don't make a cent!