Today's update:

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A Giveaway with an Italian Flair!
A new contest!

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Albion Doge Sword
A hands-on review by Bill Grandy

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Windlass Steelcrafts Classic Cinquedea
A hands-on review by Bill Grandy

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E.B. Erickson Schiavona
Added to Nathan's collection

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Phoenix Metal Creations Type 1 Schiavona
Added to Nathan's collection

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Wallpaper: Nathan's Collection Apr '09
Created by Nathan Robinson

As always, you can see our Complete History of Updates listed right from our home page.

Nathan,

the type 1 schiavona is amazing, of course the E.B.E's one is amazing too but the type 1 is absolutely

my favourite kind of schiavona hilt.

just a little question, if i remenber well i have read in an old topic that phoenix metal creations was no longer in activity,

i'm right or i have made a mistake?

cheers

Gabriele

Good to see some more reviews and I can agree with Bill about the Doge's handling ( Although he is more qualified than me to give an opinion but it seems to confirm my impressions ).

With the finger ring I also wonder about how useful it is or what is the best way to grip the sword if one uses the finger ring ?

Does one hold with the upper guard close to the web of the hand " choking up " on it with the fore finger fully engaged or does one hold with the hand a little farther from the guard with only the tip of the index finger in contact with the finger ring ?

If choking up on the guard I can see the hand being in danger of being cut as the " meat " of one's hand bulges around the upper guard and, at least with the longsword, my instructor recommends leaving a small amount of distance between the hand and the guard as the guard protect the hand better this way.

One thought is that the finger ring is normally considered there to protect the finger ........ BUT, there is a small gap where a blade sliding down one's blade might slip by and still cut the finger !

I wonder if this finger ring or hook might not also be there to trap the opponents blade and possibly we mistakenly interpret it as a finger ring as later swords and sword techniques do use finger rings ?

The ring does give some protection to the finger but the side of the finger is still dangerously exposed to harm on the side of the finger ?

This problem being fixed with later much more complex guards and in the late 15th or early 16th century the use of gauntlets probably gave the finger adequate protection and the finger ring would or could be more for a handling advantage rather than just to protect the finger ?

I could be completely wrong about the above, but I thought I would just put the " theory " out there for discussion.

Nathan,

Any thoughts of possibly creating a high resolution wallpaper that includes all (or a number) of your complex hilted swords?

Chris Arrington wrote:

Any thoughts of possibly creating a high resolution wallpaper that includes all (or a number) of your complex hilted swords?

I intend to put together more things like this. Unfortunately, I lost a large hard drive full of images related to arms and armour last year. I'm going to have to send it to a data recovery specialist and shell out the cash for those types of services. It's a physical crash so there's not much I can do about it, myself. There's so much good stuff on that hard drive and so very little overlap with my backup.

I use this as my own desktop right now: Wallpaper of some of my my collection.

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Thanks Nathan ! Installed as my desktop.

I have an extreme case of sword lust right now. ;)

I don't recall seeing that Type 1 Erik Stevenson schiavona before. Did you just acquire it, or have you had it for awhile? It is another fine example of Erik's work. Interesting how he attached the knuckle-bow to the pommel.

From its overall cast, I guess you could call it the Dark Schiavona.

Very nice pictures of very interesting swords ... with lots o' activity going on in the
intricate hilt structures. I've a growing curiosity in the schiavona because it
strikes me as somewhat unique and individualistic in nature ...

There's that " common " look if you will, but striking differences. A few questions
for you, sir :

1. Do blade styles differ ? that is, the length, width, with fuller/s or without, heavier
lighter ?

2. I noted the " Dark Schiavona " has a thumb-ring; is it comfortably located for the
hand ? when designing the idea, were you careful to discuss the ring's position or
did you have a historical picture to go by ?

3. Is the thumb-ring common to this type of sword ?

4. Does the schiavona have a pedigree ? that is, did it evolve from the influence
of another type sword ?

5. Are you going to tell me to use the search-engine because you don't have time
for my questions ? B-)

Matthew G.M. Korenkiewicz wrote:

1. Do blade styles differ ? that is, the length, width, with fuller/s or without, heavier lighter ? 2. I noted the " Dark Schiavona " has a thumb-ring; is it comfortably located for the hand ? when designing the idea, were you careful to discuss the ring's position or did you have a historical picture to go by ? 3. Is the thumb-ring common to this type of sword ? 4. Does the schiavona have a pedigree ? that is, did it evolve from the influence of another type sword ? 5. Are you going to tell me to use the search-engine because you don't have time for my questions ? B-)

Let me refer you to my spotlight article that answers most of your questions:

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Spotlight: The Schiavona
An article by Nathan Robinson

It's linked in both collection pages and throughout this topic. No search engine necessary :)

1) There's a ton of variety to blade styles. See the schiavona article and the schiavona photo album

2) No, I don't micro-manage custom makers and tell them specific things like that. For me, part of picking a custom maker is choosing one that knows more about swords than I do so that he can do his job well. We used historical photos as inspiration, as indicated in the collection page. Besides, if a thumb-ring is properly shaped, the position really isn't that important as long as it's in the general area of the back of the hilt (unless it's completely screwed up)

3) Yes, it is. Read my article

4) There are many things that lead to the schiavona's development. Read my article

5) I was tempted :D

Chris Arrington wrote:

Thanks Nathan ! Installed as my desktop.

Thanks for the encouragement, Chris.

I got inspired and made an actual desktop wallpaper:

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Wallpaper: Nathan's Collection Apr '09
Created by Nathan Robinson

Hello
Here`s a hard question:-) Which one is your favorite?

Sorry jean, I'm new to this forum, I'm used to a certain fencing website forum- bear with me. Hope you unravelled my post.

Hi
Yeah, if you read closely my post is in the middle...never mind. What I was trying say:
If there are loops or appendages that travel around the blade, above the crossbar (as in earlier rapiers, that are almost as heavy as broadswoards) if they are to be used as places to hook your finger (or fingers), your fingers will of necessity come in contact with the blade, if they are intended for that purpose, that part of the blade will not be sharp. This is the precursor to the ricasso. These simple finger loops gave rise to the eventual swept-hilt rapier, then cup-hilt rapiers with crossbar, quillons and fully enclosed ricasso.
Many of these earlier rapiers did little to protect the hand; their earlier counterpart broadsword did even less, and people still looped a forfinger over the crossbar to improve weapon grip. It was not uncommon to find a battlefield littered with fingers as well as bodies.