Experience with this replica? -- myArmoury.com

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 09 Oct, 2003 12:21 pm Post subject: Experience with this replica?

Does anybody here have any experience with this replica? It's an MRL/Windlass piece allegedly based on the Dublin Civic Sword of ca. 1400. Specs of replica are as follow: Overall- 42" * Blade- 34 1/2" long, 1 3/4" wide * Wt.- 2lbs. 10 oz.
I welcome your thoughts and observations. A tiny image of the DCS is included below the replica.

Geoff Freeman · Posted: Thu 09 Oct, 2003 1:22 pm Post subject:

As a matter of fact, my fencing instructor got one for his wife (also an instructor at my club) just the other day. She brought it in and most of us spent about a minute swinging it about a bit. It handles very nicely, and the fittings (at least on the one she got) were nice and tight--absolutely no rattles. PoB as I recall was about 5" from the guard (ballpark guess), and CoP about 2/3 the way out (take this guesstimate with a couple grains of salt, as I didn't actually take a measurement, I just eyeballed it). The pommel on the piece I handled was well-executed, with no scuffs that I could see. I good piece, especially because I think it is on sale.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Thu 09 Oct, 2003 1:38 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I ask because this is on sale for around $129 ($110 after additional 15% discount). These sales are tempting, but there always seems to be a mix of good, bad and indifferent items. It's difficult to tell which is which without this kind of feedback. Thanks for the additional info! Now, if can track down some specs for the original....

By the way, the new MRL catalog offers lots of bargains, including their estoc for $150-and it supposedly is based on an original formerly owned by H. Reinhardt.

Kevin S. McCarley · Posted: Fri 10 Oct, 2003 5:34 am Post subject:

If you don't mind my expanding upon the original topic a bit, I'll comment on the MRL estoc since you mentioned it.

I too was (and still am) tempted by the current MRL sale. I've been wanting to add an estoc (aka tuck, tok, etc.) to my collection for a long time and they seem very few and far between in the replica market. I have also had mixed experiences with MRL, mostly good, a very few bad, and a few indifferent. But their sale price convinced me to take a chance on the tuck.

Overall I'm pretty pleased. The handle/grip is quite nice, tight with no flaws and I like the proportions. I was a bit surprized by the blade tho. It is nice and stiff at the point and along the foible but isn't nearly as thick/stiff as I expected it to be at the hilt. No doubt it's a faithful replica of the original sword but it wasn't what I expected from a typical tuck.

Anyway, hope that helps in case you are considering the MRL tuck. A follow on question, anyone know of a good source for replica tucks or tuck blades?? Also, anyone have experience with the MRL "Fighting Two-Hand Sword" also on sale?? (sorry if I'm making this topic too broad)

Thanks.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 10 Oct, 2003 6:48 am Post subject:

Thanks, Kevin--A fellow Alabamian! I welcome the broadening of this topic to include other MRL replicas because it seems that most of them eventually go on sale for up to 50% off. You can build a decent entry-level collection relatively inexpensively if you're patient, flexible and do some basic background research on historical precedents of a given MRL piece. The gamble, of course, is that some of their offerings will be discontinued without being discounted. I'm waiting for their voulge, German rapier, Arbedo Sword and hanger.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 10 Oct, 2003 7:01 am Post subject:

I found a hilt-shot of the Dublin Civic Sword last night ("Swords and Hilt Weapons") but forgot to bring the image into work for scanning. I'll try to post the photo this weekend. For those who haven't seen the original, it's entire hilt, grip and rain flap included, is of gilded silver. The top of the original's pommel appears to be slightly domed. The weapon is shown in its scabbard, so I still have no idea about the blade. Old MRL catalogs note that the DCS is pictured in "The Dublin Civic Swords" so perhaps somebody with that book can describe to us the differences between the replica blade and the original. I hope to be able to view the orignal DCS next summer. If photography is allowed I'll snap it and post it in the albums. I'm increasingly tempted to get this replica and see if I could give it the DCS treatment--possibly clear lacquer over gold leaf? Gilded brasswork on the scabbard? Hmmm....

EDITED: THE REF IS NOT IN OAKSESHOTT

Sean Flynt · Posted: Fri 10 Oct, 2003 8:31 am Post subject:

NOTE: I found a tiny image of the DCS and edited the orignal post to include the image. It's some help, but it's still difficult to tell what the blade looks like. It appears to have a fuller, then a diamond cross section.

Sean Flynt · Posted: Sat 11 Oct, 2003 3:03 pm Post subject:

Here's the photo from "Swords and Hilt Weapons".