Don't feel bad, Sir Edward...I'm in the same boat. My wife is afraid to buy 'the wrong thing' as she puts it; and since she doesn't know much about swords and armor I'm not at all fussed about it. My parents, God bless'm, bought me a sword for my birthday last year. It really IS the thought that counts...had I known they were looking for one for me I could've pointed them in the right direction, but they wanted to surprise me, which they did.