So, you have a dragon problem near your castle, do ya? Before you call ye olde exterminator, you may want to consider slaying the best yourself. Never handled a sword before? Why not start with a wooden one – to practice with?
Known as wasters (or bokken in Japan), wooden swords have been used for centuries by warriors to practice their moves without damaging their fine – and very expensive – steel blades. Used primarily for costume or play today, these babies are carefully built and finished to resemble the real article. Roman, Japanese and medieval designs are all available.
There’s even link describing the step-by-step process of building your own wooden sword. This way, you can be ready the next time that dragon decides to cause trouble in the neighboring village.