I’m here for the goodies produced from this movie fully licensed United Cutlery G.I. Joe Swords. There are a total of two kinds of swords. They are the Snakes Eye Sword and the Storm Shadow Sword. Apart from their look and quality, what I like about these swords is that each one is unique. Unique in the sense that each individual sword has its own serial number. This will help prevent knock-offs from corrupting the G.I. Joe sword market. United Cutlery received the license for these swords and did an impressive job from bringing them from the screen to your hands. Nice job UC! So lets go into a little more detail about the swords themselves.

Name: Snake Eyes Sword

Blade Length (inches): 24.25

Blade Material: High Carbon Steel

Carry System: Hardwood, Leather Wrapped

Handle Material: Stainless with ABS Overlay

Overall Length (inches): 36.63

Special Features: Licensed Replica, Serial Numbered, Certificate of Authenticity, Custom Display Stand

Name: Storm Shadow Sword

Blade Length (inches): 27.00

Blade Material: High Carbon Steel

Carry System: Hardwood, Leather Wrapped

Handle Material: Hardwood with Ray Skin and Genuine Leather Wrap

Overall Length (inches): 38.25

Special Features: Licensed Replica, Serial Numbered, Certificate of Authenticity, Custom Display Stand

Pre-Order Yours Today!

Are you a Harry Potter fan too? Check out these fun collectibles and gear to help you jump-start your own magical adventure!

Now that we set the mood lets get back to the topic on hand shall we. That is, Crossbows in the Medieval Era. Crossbows played an important role throughout the Medieval period. The crossbow was really the first hand-held weapon that could be used by an untrained soldier to injure or kill a knight in plate armor. The most powerful crossbows could penetrate armor and kill at 200 yards. Crossbows are easier to aim than longbows because the crossbowman doesn’t have to use a hand to hold the string back while aiming. It was easier to master then a typical bow, therefor making it ideal for unspecialized soldiers. The only downfall to this was that a crossbow took a lot longer to reload.

In the armies of Europe, mounted and unmounted crossbowmen, often mixed with javeliners and archers, occupied a central position in battle formations. Usually they engaged the enemy in offensive skirmishes before an assault of mounted knights. Crossbowmen were also valuable in counterattacks to protect their infantry. The rank of commanding officer of the crossbowmen corps was one of the highest positions in any army of this time. Along with polearm weapons made from farming equipment, the crossbow was also a weapon of choice for insurgent peasants such as the Taborites.

Based on how we praised the crossbow above you may be surprised by the following statment. Medieval crossbows were inefficient. The reason for this is that the draw length and the lathe (also called a prod) of crossbows are short. So even though a crossbow may have a great deal of stored energy when spanned, the tips of the lathe do not have enough time to reach the maximum velocity, so the amount of stored energy is not transferred fully to the bolt. It is the lathe tip velocity that determines the speed of the bolt that is loosed.

So lets take a look at this ego-driven Assassin’s Creed collectible shall we. Alone this product is fun but has its limits. This is because there is nothing to hold it to your arm! There are hinges on the sides which you can custom make some straps to secure it. Once you get the glove and vambrace your life will be much easier. With the blade hidden the base measures 10-3/4 inches from tip to tip. The weight is perfect, only 1.2 pounds. The finishing is done by hand but looks professional and not hurried.

While I was bringing out the blade for the first time I was impressed with its size. “Man, how long does this thing get!”. The entire blade (or at least what sticks out) is 8.5 inches and .5-.75 inches wide, Bringing this entire contraption to 18-3/4 inches. Only about 4″ of the blade is naked; the rest is shielded off but not 100% invisible. While it still serves poking purposes (be careful near eyes and other delicate body parts), the blade is unsharpened/dull. All pew pew assassin action stays put in the virtual world. This Assassin’s Creed collectible is all show and tell.

One of my favorite features is the secure lock it has which prevent the blade from engaging/disengaging on its own. To engage the blade you just move the lever found on the base up. Simple enough. So do you just move it down to disengage? No! There is a button (yes, a button) that needs to be pressed before you touch the level. Mastery engineering if you ask me. Well that pretty much sums up this Assassin’s Creed collectible. Catch me next time when I review the impressive Altair Over Tunic With Hood.

Amazing Assassin Extension Knife:

Pros:
-Safe
-Perfectly balanced weight and dimensions.
-Looks wickedly cool!

Cons:
-Needs to come standard with a hand strap thingy.

Once you know what your characterizing make sure you stay in that category. Don’t try to pull off a half-witch/half-princess outfit. For women the simplest outfit would be a dress with a historical touch. You can find a ton of dresses that are actually based on historic replicas and the price is extremely reasonable. Other outfit ideas that are popular for women include: a shirt, bodice, and long skirt combo or a classic chemise.

Common outfits for guys revolve around the imitation of warriors and knights.

Pirates are also very common at Renaissance Faires. These costumes can go from simple (white shirt, black pants, and a tricorn hat) to very creative (eye-patches, weaponry, sashes, etc.). All you need to make your pirate costume or any other Renaissance Faire outfit for that matter can be found at Realm Collections. Now that you know the countless possibilities, you will never wonder what to wear at a Renaissance Faire. If your not into all that dressing up, going in everyday clothes is also fine!

The Celtic Friends Network is a place to make friends and discuss or purchase Celtic jewelry, art, music, crafts, and more. I have connected with many new faces: artists, writers, store owners, and just those who want to learn more about the Celtic ideas.

This Celtic social network lets you fully customize you page with pictures, videos, text, and a variety of page designs. You can join groups, start or participate in discussions, write blogs, and much much more. So if you’re looking for a Celtic social world, the The Celtic Friends Network is my strong recommendation.

The Celtic Friends Network is an international social network that allows people with Celtic interests to make friends and discuss Celtic subjects. We are designed for the exchange of information, pictures, videos, and ideas about Celtic topics. This site is similar to other popular social networks like MySpace, yet provides a focused topic, which is anything Celtic.
-http://www.celticfriendsnetwork.com/

Celtic Jewelry
Celtic Jewelry is a foolproof Valentine’s Gift. Not only is it jewelry which every woman loves (right?), but if she has any interest in the Celtic art your gift will be both beautiful and thoughtful. So if this sounds like the Valentine’s Day gift you have been looking for check out this collection of Celtic Jewelry from Realm Collections..

For the Fantasy Fans
If your significant other is a fantasy or video game fanatic a gift corresponding with his/her favorite movie/book/game would be perfect. Some options include Lord of the Rings Memorabilia, Assassin’s Creed Replicas, and Pirates of the Caribbean gear. for more options check out www.realmcollections.com.

These are just some ideas I thought go well with the holiday. If you are seeking some other historical gifts for Valentines Day (clothing, decor, swords, armor, etc.) you can find it all at Realm Collections.

SeeAuctions.com specializes in exceptional authentic antiques and highly collectible items, providing a secure venue for live online auction hosting. Most auctioneers on the website have a passion for quality antiques and an acquired taste for exceptional deals. With over 50 years experience in the antiques and collectibles industry, SeeAuctions.com is committed to ensuring extraordinary value and opportunities to acquire “non-reproduction” items which meet their members’ demands. As a full service, integrity-oriented auction hosting company, SeeAuctions.com continually strives to provide the services and tools necessary to ensure every buyer and seller receives the best possible service and auctioning experience available. (http://www.aboutus.org/SeeAuctions.com)

You can find the full set at RealmCollections.