Medieval swords are part of the visual bread and butter of the Conan the Barbarian franchise. Whether you’re watching one of the Conan films or series, you’re bound to find a fantasy sword used by Conan or one of his many enemies and allies. But for many fans interested in cosplaying or collecting memorabilia from the show, it’s Conan’s personal sword that’s worth getting a copy of.
Picking Out A Conan Sword: A Quick Guide to Replica Sword Buying
Buying a replica sword can be confusing if you’re new to the sword collecting scene. Generally speaking though, buying a Conan sword is simple if you keep in mind what you expect your sword to look like and how much you have set aside for the budget.
Material
Sword replicas are made from a number of different materials, but the most common one is ABS plastic. This durable type of plastic is known for its ability to age well without becoming brittle and for how it can keep its color as long as it isn’t exposed to the sun for extended periods of time. Because of its cheapness and durability, it’s a common material for children’s toy swords.
Another popular material for replica swords is wood. Cheap woods like bamboo are especially valued for their high tensile strength which allows replica sword makers to bend them to make replica swords. This is why many replica katanas are made of bamboo when they aren’t made from stainless steel.
Speaking of stainless steel, the rust-resistant material is popular for display replicas, movie props, and functional battle-ready swords alike. More expensive types of stainless steel such as carbon steel blades which are made of high carbon steel, are preferred for swords designed for real sparring.
Display Replica vs. Functional Sword Replica
Replica swords aren’t one and the same. Despite what the name implies, some replica swords are designed to be functional swords in that they have a sharpened edge and are built to withstand dealing and parrying blows from an opponent sword. These types of swords are especially made for Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) enthusiasts though they are also popular among collectors who want an ‘it’ piece.
Blade Length
Not all Conan swords you find online will have the same length. Different sword types will have different blade lengths though most replica swords will be roughly around 100 cm long. As a rule of thumb, katanas tend to be around the same length as longsword inspired designs while claymore or two handed swords tend to run larger. Conversely, bastard swords can be longer or shorter than a longsword, though they will have a longer handle.
If a full size sword isn’t something you have space for, you can consider getting a letter opener replica. Letter opener replicas tend to be made of stainless steel, giving them as much realism as other full size replica swords, but in a more pocket-sized package.
4 Facts About the Conan Sword You May Have Missed
The sword of Conan may be patterned around conventional fantasy movie swords, but Robert E. Howard’s Conan franchise does have a few key distinctions that set the lore of Conan’s swords apart from other fantasy franchises.
1. Conan’s Sword Is Called the Atlantean Sword
The primary Conan the Barbariansword is named the Atlantean sword because it originated from the tomb of an ancient king. Because of the name, the sword is implied to originate from Atlantis, a near-mythical civilization in the Conan franchise that’s said to once have been extremely advanced but were reduced to basic tools after a cataclysmic event.
2. Conan Used to Use His Father’s Sword
In the world of Conan the Barbarian movies, warriors are trained to wield swords from the start, necessitating having one at all times. Before he gained the Atlantean sword, Conan had to rely on his father’s sword to help him get through difficult situations, especially as he was trying to solve the Riddle of Steel.
Conan later learns to become his own man by abandoning his father’s ideology, that the sword (a.k.a force) is the only thing he can trust, and relying on his lover Valeria, a character development moment that is symbolized by discarding his father’s sword.
3. The Atlantean Is a Bastard Sword
Despite its exotic appearance, the Atlantean sword is designed to resemble a bastard sword. Bastard swords are like regular longswords except they have longer grips that allowed their users to utilize them for close combat and gave them extra leverage for thrusting between plate armor.
In the case of Conan’s bastard sword, though, it may just be because Arnold Schwarzenegger has massive hands and wouldn’t have been too comfortable with a typical longsword.
4. The Atlantean Sword Has Runes Engraved On It
If you look closely at Conan’s sword in the movies, you’ll notice that it has a runic inscription running along the length of the blade where a blood groove would typically go. This series of runes translates to “Suffer no guilt ye who wield this in the name of Crom.”
In the Conan stories, Crom is a warrior god worshiped by the Cimmerian people.
Our Picks for the Best Conan Sword Replicas
Finding an exact replica of the sword from Conan the Barbarian will take a hot minute especially if you’re on the hunt for a replica similar to the museum replicas of the sword. These Conansword replicas, however, are some of the best you can find online.
1. Conan the Barbarian Father’s Sword
This replica of Conan’s father’s sword features an alloy steel blade with runes inscribed on the center. The blade ends in a short crossguard that’s designed to look like an animal skull, likely a deer due to its branching horns. The sword’s handle is wrapped with faux leather and ends in a bi-horned pommel.
Material: Alloy steel
Length: 96.52 cm
2. Windlass Steelcrafts Conan the Barbarian Atlantean Sword
If it’s a proper battle-ready sword you want, this Windlass Steelcrafts replica is the sword to go with since it’s designed to have a fully sharpened edge. The sword is made of stainless steel and has the same inscription on the center as seen in the movie. Unlike Conan’s father’s sword, the crossguard on this one is a stylized lion’s head and a stylized fish head on two opposing ends. The sword ends in a highly stylized pommel and has a comfortably wrapped handle to keep your blade from slipping as you duke it out with the forces of evil and fight in the name of Crom.
Material: Stainless steel
Length: 101.6 cm
Conclusion
Conan the Barbarian is a well-known and beloved character in fantasy film circles, making his swords some of the most in demand ones for collectors and cosplayers alike. Replicas of the sword can easily be obtained online as long as you keep our buying guide in mind and consider picking from the Conan swords we’ve identified as the best on the market.
20-something freelance writer who likes games and history maybe a little too much. When I'm not writing for the web, I write notes for a new Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Hyperfixations include Genshin Impact, color eyeliner, true crime, and Star Wars.
Juliana has been writing for nearly thirty years and concentrates on Tudor and Medieval history. She has written for Tudor Dynasty, Tudor Writing Circle, Historian Matt Lewis, and others. Juliana currently writes for Pen and Sword Publishers and is the author of several books, including Medicine in the Middle Ages and A History of Insanity and the Asylum.
