A new era for antique swords!

A new era for antique swords, a co-operative! No dear, not the co-op market where you buy your baked beans, but a co-operative for people interested in antique swords! That's us, Antique Swords Org. We provide equality based resources to the collectible and antique edged weapon community, and central to all of this is the first ever co-operative open antique swords forum.

A Co-Operative Open Forum?!

Q) What is a co-operative open forum?
A) It is one where everyone co-operates with each other. This may sound like what happens on a regular forum, but it is not. A co-operative forum effectively shares the ownership of the site amongst its members. Decisions are made communally. Although there is someone who actually owns the domain name, forum software license and web hosting account, they are not able to arbitrarily make decisions or take actions against other members. Everyone interested one way or another in antique swords is encouraged to participate, even people who do not want to register. Finally, all antique sword related subjects are open for discussion, including swords for sale elsewhere on the Internet, plus members can charge for valuations / ID's, etc., plus collectible antique edged weapons can be openly traded.

Q) Why does the antique sword community need a co-operative antique swords forum?
A) There are three main swords forums at the time of our own launch; one is mostly collectible and antique related, another mostly ethnographic related, and the last Japanese related. Regrettably each appear flawed and / or restrictive.

All allow members to be banned, often at the whim of the forum owners, often in support of a circle of their friends. This allows bullying and nepotism which is never good.

None allow guests to post messages and some have exceptionally lengthy registration processes. This deters new blood, people who have a small interest in antique swords from posting and developing their interest and with it their contribution to the community.

Decisions about the posting and / or usage rights of other members are made by a few. There is no true communal justice. Good members get banned, often for the wrong reasons, and that is it.

These other forums are often abused by dealers, eBay sellers, etc. to get free identifications, etc. Their members are not allowed to charge for their help and expertise. This is unfair and not good for the forum. Members are not allowed to decided whether to give free advice or to charge for it.

Forum owners get sensitive about members discussing swords for sale on the Internet or even about sword dealers / sellers.

Forum owners do not allow members to provide valuations.

The Antique Swords Org seeks to change all of that by giving forum members much more. To understand the specifics of what you / users can do, please read;
The Antique Sword Organizations set in stone rules.


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