Anybody can hit two expensive peices of wood together and call it sword fighting. But does it have to be expensive, the answer to that question is NO, all you need is a local Home Depot/Lowes/ any hardware store selling wood, a sander (for easier use make it electric) and a nail gun (or a hammer and nails). get some good 1×2in. x at least 8ft. or some 2inx2inx8ft either one will work. Style would be next, assuming that this is for teenage boys I would reccomend 38 in. Cut it down to 38 in. now, put both hands on one end and mark where your hands end, cut two peices the same lenth approx. 6-8 in. long at the mark put the smaller cuts on either side of the side. Congrats you know have a fully funtional training sword AKA: Wasters. The wood you use depends on the strength of the sword you want. For cheaper wood get some 1 in. x 2 in. x 8 ft. from the Home Depot for $2.00 each, sadly this wood is southern pine and it sucks for absorbing impact…. UNLESS!!!!!! you put an edge on the sword, yes the edge will wear down but if after each use you attept to reshape it a little the swords will last another few rounds and for $2.00 Who could say no to that (ANY RESPONSIBLE PARENT) <—— Kidding, but seriously sword fighting is dangerous. It can get expensive unless you do something like what i have explained above, my brother and I spent hours without breaking our southern pine swords, it took an hour of reshaping but by that time we were ready to go at it again. These work and are inexpensive. I hope you enjoy my suggestions feel free to suggest anything for this or any other topic.