Those of you out there that practice German or Italian longsword arts, I am asking this, what is your sharp longsword that you use? or if you don't have one what would you consider using?
Thats if you do, or would practice with a live blade..solo practice that is..

I'm asking this as have have been looking into live blades, not so much on the cutting side (ok just a little) but more realistic and representive of what would have been seen during the 15th C. in regards to the above said Arts..

So far I know XVa, XVIIIb, XVII, XVI seem to have been popular, the two former more so during the bulk of the 1400's.

I have really only looked into Albions, A&A's and Tried&True Armory..

cheers.

I mostly have used my Sempach and my Squire Line Bastard Sword (Type XVa). More recently, I picked up a Crecy and a Castellan, but the only sharp that I have with me at the moment is my Castellan, and it still needs a hilt (I picked it up from the Moat Sale). By far, the sword I have used most for practicing longsword is my Liechtenauer.

Yes I use mostly my Liechtenauer also, I'd most likey base a sharp off that, pity Albion don't make a sharp eqivelent (same funiture etc.), although in weight and size the Earl fits..

I rotate between most of my sharps for solo drills, but if I were to pick one favorite, it'd be my Albion Munich. It's probably my favorite in terms of overall "handiness"... but note that I say it's "probably" my favorite. I tend to be very fickle when it comes to picking my favorite sword, tending to love the one that happens to be in my hand at a particular moment. I'm sure my girlfriend is happy to know that this roaming attitude is only reflected in my weapons and not my women. :)

I practice the Italian style, and shockingly use an albion Fiore. I actually chose it for the disk pommel rather than the name. I also have an AT1592 that I really like. It's six inches longer but weighs about a half pound less. The Fiore is still quicker though, because the weight is so well centralized. I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. The AT feels like a well tuned instrument. Like a four foot scalpel. But the Fiore is both faster, and hits harder.

I like the Albion Mercenary, due to how short, stout, and handy it is. I like to get in close, so overall blade length is not an issue for me. The length works more to my advantage that a longer sword would. at least in my case.

I use the sword I made out of Albion moat-sale blade a few years ago, I believe, it has the blade quite similar to the Sempach (Type XVII), I made it with disk pommel and have enjoyed cutting with it quite a lot.

I love my Arms & Armor Durer

Well I'm supprised to say that I over looked the A&A Durer, T.Arndt, how do you find it in terms of general use ie: practice and cutting and is it peened or hexed? compression or wedged to together like Albions?
cheers..

AHah if only I had the money for a sword that extravagant! I'm quite liking the A&A Durer now so that goes in the list, as the Munich is a bit out of reach as well..dam exchange rates!

I use an Albion Earl. I've handled a variety of other swords, but that is my favorite for longsword. Though I suppose a Dane would also qualify, and I am going to be ordering one of those sometime next year.

I would go with the Fiore. Actually I did.
I like those long pointy ones and it is much more nimble than the liechtenauer. The tapered grip is nice to handle,too.
Oh I like those XVa swords. Did I mention that I have one single handed xv too. The A&A Duke of Urbino modified by Tod's stuff. This one does have some really nice handling characteristics too. Those aren't. Awesome cutters. But try as best as you can not to get caught by their vicious points.

Well so far on my list is the Fiore, which I do like the look of, and after I saw pictures of it with blackened funiture, that made it look even nicer, but that for now is the extent of the XVa blades I like.
Now the XVIIIb blades I always liked the Earl, and the Munich, and now add the Durer to that list, which in a way being a nut assmebly is a good candidate for conversion, also I like the Sempach with its type XVII blade but feel the XVII may be to early for what I want, as in Liechtenauer, I look at the tradition mainly from the mid 15th C.
Add also the Atrim (tried and true version) XVIa, but still maybe to early and I'd like a longer grip.

Its good to hear what people are using and how they find them as where I am we don't get the chance to check out swords to try before we buy!

Oh yes I look mostly to Blossfechten, so its do I want a good thrusting sword? a good cutting sword? or a good alround I'll hack your arms off and stab you in the throat to stop you from telling me that its just a stratch!....the latter?


cheers.