Hawkeye Sword Guide: All We Know About the Ronin Sword
What’s in this article?
Clint Barton isn’t among the most loved members of the Avengers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a film franchise based on Marvel comics, primarily because of his lack of superpowers. That said, he’s been able to keep up with his superpowered colleagues with his specialized bows and arrows.
This changed in Avengers: Endgame where Clint was shown wielding a katana that later on became known as the Hawkeye Ronin sword. This katana sword put Hawkeye further up the ranks, allowing him to showcase his martial arts abilities. Sure, he’s still no Iron Man or Captain America, but the sword cemented his role as an equal to Black Widow in terms of abilities.
How Did Hawkeye Get a Ronin Sword?
By the time we see Clint with a sword, it’s after Thanos snaps several Marvel’s Avengers members out of existence following the events of Infinity War. It later turns out that a timeskip occurred on Earth during which Hawkeye had reunited with Swordsman, the circus performer who first taught him and his brother how to fight. Swordsman initially trained Clint to wield a sword.
This established a deeper connection between the film and comic versions of Marvel Hawkeye. Because of it, fans can expect to see more of Kate Bishop, who is being trained as Hawkeye’s apprentice, and Swordsman, though the showrunners over at Disney + have said that they plan to make key changes to exactly how Swordsman is involved in Clint’s life.
What’s So Special About Hawkeye’s Sword?
Marvel Studios surprised MCU fans with the introduction of Hawkeye’s katana-style bladed sword which has led to speculation about the sword being special in some way. One of the leading theories has been that the sword is made of vibranium, a hyper durable metal found only in Wakanda, the advanced African nation ruled by the Black Panther.
Unfortunately, the sword is no more special than the bow and arrows that Clint already uses. In the same way that it’s ultimately his archery skills that make a difference, it’s his sword fighting skills that give the sword its lethality.
Does Hawkeye Use A Sword In Any Other Marvel Media?
Clint assumes the identity of Ronin in the comics as well, making him the second person to do so after Maya Lopez who appears in the Hawkeye TV series as an antagonist to Clint. It’s not yet known how Clint will take on Maya’s role as Ronin, but it sure will be fun to watch as we anticipate that twist.
Picking Out A Hawkeye Sword Replica
Hawkeye’s sword isn’t a popular weapon like the swords in anime such as One Piece. This low demand makes it difficult to source Hawkeye sword replicas, but you can still find a good copy by keeping these tips in mind.
- Price point
The price point of a replica sword often determines how detailed it is going to be. More complicated sword designs like the ones we see in the Lord of the Rings books have pricier replicas as their details are harder to replicate. In the case of Clint’s sword, you can expect to need a small yet sizable budget as the sword has an unconventional cutout design on the blade though it has minimal decorative features.
- Material
Replica swords are typically made from stainless steel, foam, ABS plastic, and bamboo wood. These swords are durable yet come at an affordable price. Foam will do if you’re simply trying to pull off a cosplay, but a decorative sword may be better off being made from stainless steel.
- Purpose
Swords are either made to be decorative or battle-ready. Decorative swords are best for cosplay and collections as they are able to visually replicate a sword. However, martial arts enthusiasts who want to use their replica sword in a demonstration fight will need a battle-ready sword that can withstand the stress of a real sword fight.
Conclusion
Hawkeye’s sword came as a shock to MCU fans because of how closely we associate him with his archery abilities, but Clint has a gift for sword fighting that he’s been keeping from fans since the early days of the Avengers. We’re likely to see more of his sword in Hawkeye, the Disney + spinoff.
