Yellowknife (Sep 20/06) - In the market for a Samurai sword or dwarf cleaver? Then Chun Kwok Law's Crystal Sensation in the Centre Mall is your one-stop shopping destination.

"Somebody asked me if people come here for the swords," said Chun, leaning towards his small CD player and turning up the volume on some traditional Chinese tunes.

"I say no, they're here for the music."

Crystal Sensation may deal in lamps, sunglasses, electric water fountains and snow globes, but what attracts the most attention are his blades, which Chun estimates are approximately 50 per cent of his sales.

"Some people look at them and say oooooooh, that's dangerous," Chun said while unsheathing an imitation katana (Samurai sword) and whacking his arm with it. "See, it's harmless. If you want to hurt somebody with knives, it's easier to go to the kitchen."

"Youth now have to have something fantasy," explained Chun of the fascination kids have with his swords. "But I try to use my judgement when selling these."

Chun said his blade buyers straddle the spectrum; young and old, male and female.

As well, he maintains everything in the shop is perfectly legal and the blades, which are imported from China, Japan and Pakistan, must clear Canadian customs before making it north of 60.

According to Chun, throwing stars are illegal so he does not carry them.

"But what about these throwing stars here?" asked this reporter pointing to a Ninja set tagged, "blowout sale $118," complete with sword, throwing stars in the sword's hilt, throwing knives and throwing darts.

"Oh, these aren't sharp and go with the sword set so it's ok," he said.

In addition to Samurai, Ninja and Chinese swords -- which Chun noted are often purchased by practitioners of Tai Chi - there are Hobbit swords, Harry Potter daggers (currently sold out) and even a replica sword from the feature martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

So what's his favourite sword?

"Oh, I don't have a favourite but I like this," replied Chun handing over a CD called 12 Girls Band, an orchestra from China featuring a dozen beguiling females who play contemporary songs with traditional Chinese instruments.