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Arms & Armor Scholar Sword
A hands-on review by Bill Grandy Recent years have seen an incredible growth of practitioners of various historical European swordsmanship styles. This growth has been coupled with an increased demand for better training tools, which sword manufacturers have readily met. Various rapier simulators have been developed by a number of companies, as have longsword simulators. The standard medieval single-hander, however, has not seen the same level of popularity as many other weapons until more recent times. Practitioners of Fiore's single-handed sword or of Liechtenauer's sword and buckler styles, among many other practitioners, have shown a large desire to have more training tools available for their usage. Thankfully, manufacturers seem ready to meet these needs as well. Overview The Scholar Sword reviewed here was created by Arms & Armor, a maker known for creating high quality replicas of historical weapons but also having a line of practice swords for western martial arts training. This sword is intended to simulate a typical cruciform hilt styled single-handed sword for use in any Medieval or Renaissance martial arts practice.  Measurements and Specifications:
Replica created by Arms & Armor of Minnesota. Handling Characteristics
The blade is designed with a rectangular cross-section. The edges and point are rounded and thick for safety. The blade is mostly stiff but has a decent amount of flex to absorb shock in the thrust. Furthermore, the lively balance also allows for the user to control the actions easily, making it safer to use than a sword that is too unwieldy. While just about any sword simulator holds an inherent level of danger, this sword has been very safe when combined with control and common sense. The heat-treatment of the sword seems to be excellent. After several months of drilling and fencing with this weapon against various other steel swords it has only seen minor surface scarring and some small dents in the corners of the edges. In addition to other steel weapons, it has hit the rims of many steel bucklers and remains in excellent shape. The hilt has on occasion started to loosen during use, but using a wrench to turn the pommel nut a few degrees has always fixed that issue right away. Fit and Finish
The grip is wood with black leather stitched around it. It is comfortable in the hand and has proven to be very durable. The stitching is not completely straight, but this is not really much of a concern, particularly for a practice weapon. The blade clearly does not look like a real sword. It may not be the best type of weapon for reenactment or demonstrations in that respect. For general training, however, the overall aesthetics are excellent. Conclusion The Arms & Armor Scholar Sword is not just a regular sword that is unsharpened. It is a purpose-built training sword. It handles wonderfully and is built to handle daily practice. It is even quite attractive for a training tool. It may not be what everyone is seeking since the blade does not have the beveling of a real, sharpened blade. For western martial arts, though, it is excellent, and one of the better trainers out there at the moment. About the Author Bill Grandy is an instructor of Historical European Swordsmanship and sport fencing at the Virginia Academy of Fencing. He has held a strong passion (obsession?) for swords and swordsmanship for as long as he can remember. He admits that this passion comes from a youth spent playing Dungeons and Dragons, but he'll only admit that if there are no girls around. Acknowledgements Photographer: Bill Grandy |
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