In the collecting world there are three was to describe a sword:

1) ORIGINAL this means that the sword is exactly what it appears to be; an original from the period as to type and pattern. A broadsword dating from 1958, carried by an officer in a Scottish regiment, would be "original".

2) REPLICA an exact copy of the above sword, lacking any military connection, would be a replica. Most civilian broadswords fall into this category.

3) REPRODUCTION a sword, not necessarily true to type or pattern, of a more or less specific historical period. Most swords manufactured today, especially those made for reinactors, fall into this category.

All things being equal, CONDITION is the over riding factor in determining the value of a sword. Shiney cost more, is the rule of thumb. And, for what it's worth, a sword without a scabbard drops about 30% in value-- the cost of a new scabbard can easily equal 50% of the cost of a new sword!