[Steve Plambeck]

I'd forgotten until I ran across the rule again recently, but wizards are permitted to use bronze and copper versions of any weapon without having to deal with the DX penalty for carrying iron.

Under the RAW, bronze and copper weapons cost and weigh the same as their iron and steel counterparts and do only 1 hit less damage.

A (2-1) broadsword for example doesn't sound like such a bad weapon.