The boy (13) wants a sword. While I would rather him ask for a text book on differential calculus or etrade account, I just have to accept that he's a kid. He's going to have to pay for it himself, and has a fine lawnmower for that purpose.

So, although it's his money, I'm going to put a (one) boundary on his purchase. He's not going to go to the mall, saunter into "goth geeks are us" and buy the first cool-looking overly polished piece of sword shaped low carbon steel he sees. If he's going to spend money on something like this I'm mandating the same thing about this purchase that I do every other we buy: quality and utility first, then appearance.

So...the question for the forum is: who makes swords that are of high carbon steel, properly tempered?