Crusader Sword    $69  Expedited Shipping Available! E-mail service@strongblade.com or call 866-7SWORDS On Sale!    Please select the model that you would like to purchase, Then click on the Add to Cart button. Dominus - Crusader Sword   Model# SBA-DOMINUSCRUSADER  $69   (Originally $89) |     In Stock - Ships in 1-3 days   Dominus - Crusader, Tempered What's this?   Model# SBA-DOMINUSCRUSADER-T  $138       In Stock - Ships in 1-3 days   Sharpened Dominus - Crusader Sword, Tempered   Model# SBA-DOMINUSCRUSADER-T-S  $154       In Stock - Ships in 1-3 days   Dominus - Crusader Sword Scratch and Dent (Minor damage on pommel)   Model# SBA-DOMINUSCRUSADER-SD  $39   (Originally $89) |     Out of Stock   The Crusades According to Strongblade It was a time of darkness, violence, politics and religion. The spiritual and political leader of the world called for a "crusade" against the East, to exact revenge for wrongs 'supposedly' committed against the West. Tens of thousands died and, in the end, nothing was really accomplished. We're talking of course, about the Iraq War and our current commander in chief, who actually did call for a "crusade" just beore the war began. Okay, so all this could apply to the original Crusades too, but it just goes to show how little things change in a thousand years. Back in the 11th century, Pope Urban II heard about some non-christians being unruly in what is now Eastern Europe and Parts of the Middle East. Apparently, these non-believers were killing pilgrims, Christian pilgrims no less, who were on their way to Jerusalem to pray and break bread and drink wine and whatever else pilgrims do. Pope Urban II, a crafty man, saw this as a chance to unify Europe against a common enemy and called for a "Crusade" against the evil-doers. This led to the first of many Crusades, and, in addition to unifying christians in Europe, gave a purpose to the many mischievous soldiers-turned-mercenaries who were wandering Europe with no battles to fight. These soldiers were establishing roving bands of marauders and generally making things uncomfortable for Civilizations everywhere. In the year 1096, the crusades began. Before long, the Europeans had captured much of the lands in question and Haliburton moved in and immediately began overcharging the knights for food (okay, so there really was no Haliburton back then. Big Deal.). Years later, the muslims recalimed much of their lands, including the Holy City of Jerusalem. Not to be outdone, the Europeans recalimed it again, and lost it again. This trend went on for hundreds of years, until, in the late 13th century, a pivitol "rock, paper, scissors" match was held for the lands, winner take all (after the Europeans lost, there was a great dispute about whether it had been 2 out of 3 or not, and the war began again for another few months). The rest of the story can be seen inaccurately in the movie "Kingdom of Heaven," starring Orlando Bloom. It's a little misleading, but entertaining and captures a bit of the flavor of the true Crusades.

Although the term rapier has become synonymous with any narrow-bladed sword (particularly those with fancy hilts), the term rapier actually applied to only a select few types of swords. Rapiers were narrow (usually one and a quarter inches wide), quite long, fairly heavy, and usually had only a slight edge on them. The extremely long length of the rapiers made them a bit heavy and cumbersome, not at all the Errol Flynn or Zorro-type small-swords that most people think of.