Looking for a first budget sword based on these parameters…

Finally decided I wanna put in the time, effort and research to choose my first sharp, functional sword. Found some offers I’m interested in, the variety in options is coming with some analysis paralysis, so I was hoping to get some help regarding my final decision.

**Budget**: **200 Euros/$250** My reasoning? A. Budget end for a sword but still not nothing in general B. New to the hobby so screwing up with care, cleaning, sharpening means wasting a midrange/premium range product, so would’ve gone for something cheaper regardless

**Preferred Sword type**: \- Preferred: **Basket hilt** (specifically Schiavona, shocker); **Rapier**; **Sideswords** (all difficult to impossible at that price range so I’m not holding out any hope, instead thinking of making one of those the second sword I buy when I have more money) \- Runner ups: **Military or dueling sabers, smallswords, spadroons** **- Messer**; **long, arming, bastard swords** (only up to about the lower-mid $200 range); **Katana** (only up to about $200/high 100 Euro range)

**Considered Products or brands**: \- The **Windlass Rapiers** *look* interesting but they seem like they might be a bit too expensive for what I’m getting so maybe saving up to buy an LK Chen or a by then good cheap rapier at a later date would be better \- A few swords from the medieval line by **Ronin Katana** that are sold elsewhere other than their own store \- The military sabers offered by Windlass or their spadroons (cheap, but mixed reception) \- The entry level **Shadowdancer Katanas** seem pretty good quality for their price, especially being made of spring steel, plus very cheap to get **- Windlass D-Guard Bowie**: Barely a sword, 1055 steel, cheap, exclusively good reviews from what I’ve seen though \- The **Condor Cutlass** seems to fall into a similar category as the D-Guard Bowie being on the cheaper end, good reviews exist too and it should be able to take a bit of a beating as a machete **- Swordier** has great variety but I’ve heard they can be a bit of a gamble, plus the whole "design theft" thing does leave a bit of a bad taste in my mouth

**Sellers**: **- EU sellers** are prefered but I know that limits options and sadly means the actual products tend to be a bit more expensive so I’m willing to adapt, though **Swords and More** does currently have a Windlass sale **- Swordis** seems like a good option based on some of their prices as well as their shipping policy on the Shadowdancer products for example **- KoA** while reputable seemingly can get pricey with the shipping from what I heard

**Additional information**: While I have no experience caring for a functional sword, I have experiences with (large) carbon steel knives, so I know the care basics.

Got longer but I wanted to be more thorough rather than vaguely asking for **a** budget sword. Hope you can help out a curious newbie. Thanks