How to make swords look "Real" ?? All very good advice regarding shader's and lighting..but the best way to make swords look "Real" ?? Go do some basic research on REAL LIFE swords, and have your characters use those. Forget so-called "Fantasy" style blades that no-one in RL could ever wield...all spikes and wierd shapes. And forget the "Over The Shoulder" sword scabbard so beloved of fantasy arists - if someone is simply carrying a sword, slung over the back , merely to move it from one place to another, maybe across the back is OK. But you can't DRAW a sword in a hurry from that position- the human arms simply can't do it. As said before real swords..one's designed to be used in battle, aren't all that heavy..say 1 and a half to just over 2 pounds for a single handed sword.