Spain and Portugal for Visitors

If "Toledo" were to crop up in one of those Freudian word-association games, the next word would probably be "steel" (and, if you will forgive the grue, could well be uttered onomatopoeically, like a blade sliding effortlessly through flesh). The city of three cultures has been famous for the swords and daggers made there since long before the Roman conquest, weapons of unmatched efficiency precisely because of the superior hardness of the steel from which they were made. Toledo-made arms were known, feared and coveted throughout the world and, although the city's souvenir shops may look like no more than tourist traps, weapons are still made there today, real swords for real fighting men, albeit probably for their dress uniforms. 

Two swordsmithery firms still working and thriving in Toledo are Bermejo and Marto, and in many ways, they represent two opposing but complementary sides of the same industry. Bermejo supplies armed forces all over the world with swords for their dress uniforms, indeed says it is the "number one producer of military swords and sabers in the world." It sells to 35 countries in every continent, and its customers include the US Army, Navy and Marines, West Point, and the Vatican's Swiss Guard.

Marto, on the other hand, goes for the fantasy market, and has cornered the market in licensed reproductions of the weapons used in films and TV series like Alejandro Magno, Braveheart, The Lord of the Rings, Conan the Barbarian or Xena: Warrior Princess.

Both make historical replicas, Bermejo with more seriousness and Marto more imagination. The former, for example, has a version of South American liberator Simon Bolivar's sword, while the latter has a wide range including legendary weapons like El Cid's Tizana or the Sword of Solomon. That they make Japanese swords like a Ninja katama is perfectly in keeping with historical reality: the fame of Toledo steel had undoubtedly reached as far as Japan in Samurai times.

Another nice line of business for both is swords for cutting the wedding cake, particularly in Spain, a country where weddings are a major sector. And royal weddings like that of the Princess Elena bring juicy commissions.

If you are tempted, and I confess that researching this article really brought out the small boy in me, be aware that real weapons cost real money. Prices begin at something like 230 euros for the claymore used in Braveheart, a saber like the one worn by graduating West Point cadets costs 400 euros, and dress uniform swords like that of the US Marines cost around 550 euros. Of course, you could pay more: four swords commissioned by Sadam Husein as state gifts were priced at 6000 euros each.

See also:Spain and Portugal for Visitors' new Toledo Swordsmiths section.