You should be able to construct one of these with wood if you want a slightly more weighty feel to it but you would require the right tools mainly a jig saw and sander and maybe some others.
I would personally make the blade seperate from the handle, Then slot the two together when finished and glue them together. The slot will just help it hold better. Secondly materials could be Foam Board and the cloth for the fabric parts and you would leave gaps for the bit on the handle.
The part between the handle and blade can't remeber it's name lol would be a foam board base or wood then cut sheet styrene or craft foam and layer it on to make the patterns.
The next bit above that will be a simple cover to hide the join from the blade and that bit that cant remeber name for. this would be foamboard or wood construction.
Now your hilt you would make at first 5 pieces.
Front bit, Back bit, two sides and a bottom piece. Now you can make a long rectangular box. then shape it with a sander if your using wood or a craft knife with foam, Then you can take the pieces apart or before you even stick them together line the inside with a little padding or just some soft fabric. Then put your sword in and add the fabric tie for decoration
Regards
Matt
if you want a crappy plan drawn up let me know might explain a litle better.