Since the weapons aren't quite as easily comparable anymore, I decided i'd put down a list of the manufacturers and their modifiers, to give a better feel for what choices you're making.

Unknown - Pretty standard garbage stuff. Levels 5-15

• -80% Price
  
• -20% Blunt Damage (and weight)
  
• -20% Cut Damage

Ancient - Old Relics, very common in the world. Levels 15-40

• -60% Price
  
• -10% Blunt Damage (and weight)
  
• -10% Cut Damage
  
• Increased minimum damage, providing a boost for low skilled characters.

Old-Eye Blades - Mass produced by UC slave labour. Levels 15-50

• Penalty to Melee Attack (scales with quality)
  
• Bonus to Melee Defense (scales with quality)

Metal Purity - Holy forged, blessed by priests, etc. Levels 15-50

• Bonus to Melee Attack (scales with quality)
  
• Penalty to Melee Defense (scales with quality)

Catun Scrapmasters - Famed company from Catun. Levels 35-50

• +20% price
  
• +20% Blunt Damage (and weight)
  
• -20% Cut Damage

Truth Two - Excellent blades. Uncommon, but found everywhere. Levels 40-65

• +50% Price
  
• -10% Blunt Damage (and weight)
  
• -10% Cut Damage
  
• Bonus to Melee Attack (scales with quality)
  
• Bonus to Melee Defense (scales with quality)

Skeleton Smiths - Forged by skeletons, found in ruins or on skeletons. Levels 40-65

• +50% Price
  
• +10% Blunt Damage (and weight)
  
• +10% Cut Damage
  
• Penalty to Melee Attack (scales with quality)
  
• Penalty to Melee Defense (scales with quality)

Edgewalkers - Ancient and legendary group. Very rare. Levels 70-80

• +40% Price
  
• -10% Blunt Damage (and weight)
  
• +10% Cut Damage

Cross - Meitous. Unparalleled quality. Level 100

• +100% Price
  
• +10% Cut Damage

Homemade - The stuff you make. Levels 5-90

• No modifiers