I have reviewed the forum descriptions and I think this is the correct place to post.

Why do lower end and even some custom viking or viking style swords CONSISTENTLY have grips that are to long. Invariable when a MRL, cold steel, or the new Frank Rembrandt sword are reviewed, not to mention some high end custom smiths we read and notice "the grip is too long". The grip doesn't have to be too long so why are these companies and even custom smiths making viking swords with grips in the 5 inch area.

I just don't get it. Just shorten the grip and the sword will be nicer, and look SO much better. TO me few swords look as awkward as a viking sword with a longish grip.

Jeremy

Simple answer Jeremy.

Because people keep on buying them.

In my experience, people will put up with all sorts of inadequacies in a product, with the excuse that it is "all they can afford" or "it's pretty good for the money". Personally I don't think people realise the power that they have as consumers. If you don't buy junk, then there won't be a market for junk, and manufacturers will have to improve or go out of business. Also, the excuse that "it would cost to much to change" doesn't neccesarily hold water. In the case of something like the grip length all that is required is to research the subject properly in the first place.

Unfortunately, this seems to be true of so many products in general, not just specialist items like swords. So often money is handed over for a product that is flawed, doesn't do what it should, breaks down after a year, etc. Rather than the customer just saying "no thanks, I'll wait until you make something I can use" and then going elsewhere.

Sorry about the short rant, but this is a bit of a soap box subject of mine. I get fed up with being told that we are living in a consumer driven society, when all the evidence would seem to point to the exact opposite being the case.

Cheers,
Darrin.

Thanks Darrin,

I will never buy a lower end sword or other A&A piece. I tend to get in trouble when I rant on the subject of the value of these items SO I decided to post what I believe is a very constructive and possibly helpful insight for these companies and others who continue to make viking swords with over long grips.

I believe that the aestetics could really be improved on these swords if they just had shorter grips-period. Do people not like viking swords with more typical grip lengths? I'm not sure if I understand the consistent nature of over long grips. It is like most viking swords feature this anomoly.

Please guys don't point out the RARE examples of longer grips- this is not typical.

Jeremy

I spoke to Cecil Querino of Kric Cutlery on this very subject. I have the KC Viking which is a simple durable weapon, with a grip Cecil himself considered too long. I asked him why he made the grip too long, and he said: that few people really know swords, and their history. When people grip the accurate length grip they don't like the way it feels, often because they want to use the sword incorrectly - perhaps like a katana or a rapier.

So sword makers are forced to an election - make historically accurate swords, that only the knowledgeable will buy, or adjust the weapon so that it "feels" right to those who just want a sword, but don't really bother to understand that each design is a specialized tool, meant to be used in specific ways.

KC used to make a "Crusader" sword. They discontinued it, despite it being a big seller. Cecil said that it was not really an accurate historical design, but people who had never held a sword would pick it up and love it. HIs historically accurate Teutonic, felt awkward by comparison, but is more accurate and much more useful for its intended purpose.

Remember, the sword business is a tough one. People like swords, and buy swords for many different reasons. Appealing to an audience that either doesn't know their history, or sometimes does not care about historical accuracy is a PART of that business.

A&A does such a great job with their products, that I really think it is unfair to disparage them, for necessary industry compromises.

The main reason is people want a comfortable grip. Many historical Viking swords had grips that the average sword buyer would find uncomfortable. Lower end swords are very mass market. What are you considering too long? 4-4.5" seems to be pretty standard on high production Viking swords. Most custom stuff is done the way a customer wants it. If somebody wants a 2 handed Viking sword, they make it that way. If I were to guess I'd say the fantasy market is much larger than the historical market.

Jeremy V. Krause wrote:

I have reviewed the forum descriptions and I think this is the correct place to post. Why do lower end and even some custom viking or viking style swords CONSISTENTLY have grips that are to long. Invariable when a MRL, cold steel, or the new Frank Rembrandt sword are reviewed, not to mention some high end custom smiths we read and notice "the grip is too long". The grip doesn't have to be too long so why are these companies and even custom smiths making viking swords with grips in the 5 inch area. I just don't get it. Just shorten the grip and the sword will be nicer, and look SO much better. TO me few swords look as awkward as a viking sword with a longish grip. Jeremy

Easy Option: Get a sword you otherwise like, remove the pommel and grip and shorten the tang. That's an easy project requiring very few tools (simple tools, at that).

Difficult Option: Change modern consumer values for the reasons mentioned by others here.

Human physiology hasn't changed so much that we simply have to increase the size of everything X percent. To the extent that Americans drive the arms and armour market, we also distort it with our collective weight problem. If the average American man looked like he stepped out a Talhoffer plate, Windlass's gothic harness would be wasp-waisted instead of looking like a stainless-steel pickle barrel.

My own feeling is that if the preponderance of existing examples are a certain size or shape, we should first try to understand how those items could be effectively used as-is, even if that means changing our lifestyles. It's tough to hold a sword properly when you have a cheeseburger in your hand. Simply scaling up everything to keep pace with one's personal excess is a sure-fire way to grossly misunderstand historical arms and armour design and use.

I don't have much hope for the difficult option, so I go for the easy option. I try to upgrade the best of the cheaper stuff, get custom work when possible and, increasingly, learn how to make things myself so I don't have to live by somebody else's bottom line.

So I suppose my question would be why do they call it a "viking sword" when in truth it is a fantasy piece with viking styling? Since the mass market isn't that concerned with historical accuracy, then why do the makers call them such? If the market wants fantasy pieces with some historic styling, then call it what it is...

ok im a little confused, first off I own and am holding the A&A viking long sword in my grubby little paw right now, how is it supposed to fit my hand? my pinky finger wants to ride on the pommel, something one of the viking re-enactors we have up in the great white north (minnesota) told me it was supposed to do. was i mis-led? was I bamboozeled?

just looking for clarification because.. well I don't know the answer.

There are definitely a lot of swords out there called Viking that shouldn't be. And many of these the grip is the most accurate part. But since Viking sells people will use it.

Robin Smith wrote:

So I suppose my question would be why do they call it a "viking sword" when in truth it is a fantasy piece with viking styling? Since the mass market isn't that concerned with historical accuracy, then why do the makers call them such? If the market wants fantasy pieces with some historic styling, then call it what it is...

Hello everyone,

Just for clarification when I wrote "A&A" I was referring to the hobby/industry of arms and armor.
Arms & Armor of Minnesota makes a great product and the guys who work there are top notch in my book.

Jeremy