I wonder if anyone else in the shooting world is familiar with Mr. Neil Burridge of Cornwall? He is a brilliant bronze smith and makes the most incredible replicas of swords, axes, and so forth of bronze age Europe. I have many of his pieces and they are a hoot. I have to say they are not as strong wearing as steel, but our ancestors got by for thousands of years with just copper and bronze, so you sort of have to appreciate it!
http://www.bronze-age-swords.com/