Stats:

Weight: 2 lbs 9 ounces
Overall Length: 34 inches
Grip: 3 and 1/2 inches
Blade Length: 28 inches from guard
Point of Balance: approx. 4 inches from guard
Center or Percussion: approx. 20 inches from guard
Distal Taper
At Crossguard -.70 cm
At COP - .40 cm


Initial Impressions:
Interesting take on the classically acclaimed sword design.

Appearance:
This sword in my appearance is a major step up for the Generation 2 lineup. The castings look great, the blade shape and finish are even and precise, and the leather used on the grip has a smoother, less shiny finish that previous offerings. Gone are the metal bolsters on the grip that plagued “authenticity seekers” in the past with Generation 2 pieces. The hollow grind on the blade is more subtle that I would have though visually, but it is detectable. The profile of the blade is nice, and I was actually surprised how narrow the blade ended up being at the cross. The pommel is a bit on the big side for what I know of swords of this size and type, but not knowing what the original was like, that may be more correct than my personal taste prefers. The scabbard is well done for this price range, being wood core covered in leather. All in all, a very well done sword for this price range.

Handling:
Oh my! Are you in for a treat. I was not expecting this. My initial “feel” was that this piece was going to be a bit heavy or slow from my static handling. But once I got it up to speed and moving, it was not bad at all. Its not a laser beam for movements, but rather it is well within normal expectations for a sword of this type, and it sure packs a punch. Now, to where it shines… It is a beast for cutting. And I don’t mean this lightly. Simply put, I don’t know if I have ever handled a single hand production piece that cuts with so much force or ferocity. And this is truly a surprise because of the blade style/size combined with the hollow grind. I spoke with Clyde about this and he said Mike Harris had similar feedback from his review of this model for the SBG site. In my opinion, this sword cuts targets like a two hander. I testing this piece on more than just soft targets too. It demolishes maple branches, springy woods, just about any “cuttable” object I could find.

Durability:
One issue came up with this model that I have already spoken to Clyde about. When attempting a simple “flex test”, I braced the tip against a 2X4 for a flex. The issue was that this actually bent the tip. I don’t know what the cause was, and for my purposes, I am willing to grant that this could be a one off event as opposed to a design flaw, until Clyde has time to examine the blade after I send it back and provide better feedback on what caused the bend. This is obviously pause for concern, but my hope is that it can be addressed at the foundry if it is a problem to the design or heat treat process, and I am sure Clyde will let us know as soon as he can.

What you should expect:
The cost of this model is $279 from Imperialweapons.com. Assuming the concerns with the tip are addressed with a good answer, I will be buying this sword for myself, and would recommend it for those looking at this design. I have handled the River Witham model of the Gen2 Reinhardt line, and I must say I like this one better not only as an example of its type, but also as a sword exhibiting a better level of fit and finish and attention to aesthetic detail. It’s a beast of a cutting sword too!

Thanks for the review, Mike. I have to say, based on the photos, and based off of your impressions, this one looks like its a big step in the right direction for Gen2. Assuming heat treat issues are addressed, it looks like it might be a good deal for the below-$300 range.

That was my opinion as well, but I wanted to hold back until more info was available. There certainly need to be more meat along the spine near the tip, and it would seem that too much was removed in the shaping process. I'll have it back on its way to you tomorrow Clyde!

Mike,
I was sent one of these for review and mine had the same issues yours did. Though I liked the handling of the one I was sent, I'm looking forward to seeing a corrected version.

Neat little sword. :)

It seems like a good sword for the money. But the one thing bothers me. It's the recessed pommel boss - the edges are rounded instead of angular, and it looks kind of like a doughnut sitting on the pommel.. To me it just doesn't look right.

Roger, I know it looks weird, but that's EXACTLY how the original looks.

Clyde,

Once you have corrected the heat treat issue satisfactorily, I will likely pick this sword up, based on the glowing reviews concerning it. Without having the sword in hand, it looks as if after some minor corrections to the scabbard chape and throat, it will likely pass my living history group's way super-stringent vetting process.

Chad, that strikes me as odd too....unless the metal used for the bosses is much thicker than the original (would seem to have to be much, much thicker to compensate).
Dan

Just ordered the Generation 2 Henri V from Kult of Athena and I guess I will see first hand if the point problem has been fixed.

I assume that it has since it should be a production model and not an early prototype that it should be O.K.

I guess I should have asked first before ordering but you know how that doesn't work when one sees something they want
" NOW " . ;) :p :loll: Oh, well somebody has to be the first. ;)

Having done custom work on a number of these, I can tell you nothing has changed, yet. My thorough inspection of each one tells me that the problem isn't random either. They all have a very thin tip, making for a poor thrusting sword. However, aside from the random 'crooked' furniture, most of them seem to be fine swords for the sub $300 category. I haven't done any cutting with any of the, but from what I've been told they make for a good cutting sword.