I have the Kult of Athena Baladay. www.kultofathena.com/product...itar.htm

It is a positively awesome sword and balances quite well. I just looked and it is apparently on back order at the moment, but it is definitely worth the fourty-five bucks. It is the second sword I have owned and the first one did not balance too well. I had to wear a headband and put sticky stuff on it to make it work. It works for others, just not me.

So...I would definitely recommend the Baladay. I have heard nothing but positive reviews from other people about it. I would also suggest trying one out before you purchase it, especially if you are getting it online. I do not know anything specifically about the sword you listed. Sorry.

I love all my swords for different reasons.

If you are dancing up close to audiences a lot and want something that will not harm anyone should it fall, nothing beats the Saroyan. It looks great, has lots of etched images and such that up-close patrons will appreciate, and the fact that there is nary a sharp point on it makes it an excellent choice. I also recommend this for brand-new-to-sword dancers because it is not too heavy,well balanced, and comes pre-notched on the balance point.
dwp.bigplanet.com/saroyan/scimitars/

For a budget, I recommend the "jaguar"! I don't know what it is actually called, but we always call the little animal a jaguar. It is less flashy, but still well balanced and looks sharp though only the point is--you will poke a hole in your foot with this one if it hits tip-down, but the rest of it is dulled. It's a bit heavier, and best of all it comes with a hard sheath! This not only protects your sword, but can be used to dance with as well (the dramatic unsheathing is fun in performance). The sword is a good length for all length arms. And my favorite vendor is out of them now, so I can't show you where to get one.

The final one is the Cas Iberia Balady, which my troupe is using right now. I am not keen on the awkward leather sheath with snaps, but the sword itself is solid and well made. I like that there is no hand guard on the pommel, which makes it easier to move around as needed while dancing. The tip is very sharp, so beeee carefuuul when dancing around fellow dancers and audience members. The balance point is further back on the blade than I would like, and the sword is on the short side (long armed dancers be aware), but it is an impressive look and a great price. Since they are backordered at Kult of Athena, try here www.bellydanceprops.com/scimitars.php

I would not buy a sword sight unseen from a merchant who does not allow returns because other customers who bought the same sword had been unhappy with it. Many merchants will make you pay the return postage and a re-stocking fee, but outright refusing to accept returns if the customer is dissatisfied does not reflect good customer service. I also am somewhat suspicious of the merchant's claim that the sword is "great for balancing" because it is so small. My experience has been that big heavy swords are better for balancing because they do not bounce around as much as smaller, lighter swords.

If there is any way for you to attend a tribal bellydance festival where there might be dance sword vendors, I strongly recommend that you try out several swords and buy the one you like best. If you buy a cheap little sword but then never use it, it was no bargain.

ok so I have a question. the Iberia scimitar and the balady scimitar look very similar but have a very big price difference. does anyone know what the actual difference between the two swords is? If they are pretty much the same then why not go for the cheaper option?

Atlanta Belly Dance has posted some reviews of different swords on youtube. The "Turkish Scimitar" is the Balady from Kult of Athena, which I have and like (as do many others).

Balady/Turkish: www.youtube.com/watch

Sultan: www.youtube.com/watch

Moroccan: www.youtube.com/watch

I think they are going to put more up. Good luck!