[Anders Lindkvist]

I´m going to buy a new longsword and I dont really know which to choose. It going to be blunt for fullcontact.

I have tried out alot, Lutels longsword are nice and Povel Moc are also awsome. I dont really sure and can´t deside. The swords from www.swordcutler.com seems good, have anyone tried them?

Do anyone have suggestions or can recommend anything. I can cost about 300-500 dollar.

Best Regards/
Anders

[Blaz Berlec]

You're not cheap, man.


http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=2180

Here's a short discussion about swords from "Swordcutler". I hope this helps.

Personally, I think Lutels have more "machined" look to them, and Pavel Moc's swords are more expensive and his model range is very limited. I recommend Lobko, he won't let you down.

[Adam R]

Hi Anders,

I have had my latest longsword for a few months now, it is perfect. I use it for training in both slow technique and full intent moves, it has handled both perfectly, the only marks are a slight, barely noticable bur on the blade from one of the full on edge on edge contacts it has received, this has now simply dissappeared after a slight touch with a fine file. There are a few marks on the quillons from repeated Zwerchauen, allowable I feel. It has a sturdy blade and an excellent balance, a nicely hollow ground finish. It is entirely custom, but based on a longsword in the Armouries (ref IX.16) example XVII.9 in Oakeshotts Records of the Medieval Sword, it has almost an exact match of weight and dimensions. I opted for slightly more blunt than normal for longevity, but obviously you can choose what you wish.

The chap you (indeed everyone) needs to speak to is Mark Vickers, you can see his site here and get in touch with him from there. Prices are good, workmanship excellent and delivery times very reasonable. What more can I say?

Mention my name, I only wish I were on commission

Adam

[Lee O'Hagan]

Adam,
Pictures please sir,
I've got a place in with Mark octoberish,
Bumped into him at a renfaire and he had a customers sword with him,
The Bayerisches sword,records,page 191,
Wow,

[Adam R]

[Lee O'Hagan]

Cheers Adam,
Although if not in marks que,
The above mentioned makers would have recieved an enquiry,
some fine stuff on the swordcutlers site at the quoted prices,

[Anders Lindkvist]

So Adam,

His swords look really nice, and the balance and handling characteristics are good?

What do they cost, in what pricearea are we talking about? Are there any scabbards?

/Anders

[Anders Lindkvist]

Blaz Berlec, these RAdek sword seems to cost about 100 Euro less than Pavel Moc, The finsih is not good as Pavel but is the quality and handlig charachteristics as good as Lutel and Pavel?

/Anders

[Blaz Berlec]

Well, I can hardly give you an answer to that question. Not enough experience with above mentioned makers.

I have only seen two Lutel swords so far, and haven’t had the chance to handle them for a length. Some of their models are in my opinion looking too machine made. But nicely done and with very even finish. I’m also more into earlier swords (13 – 14 th century), so their program of 1 ½ swords doesn’t really suit me. Lutel’s swords are really not very popular here in Slovenia, and to my knowledge in Czech too. They have obviously concentrated on export to USA, and their prices show that.

I have handled a few models of Pavel Moc’s swords – Wagner, Tallhofer, Embleton and one custom made sword. I think they’re a league above Radek Lobko’s swords – much crisper lines, absolutely no waviness to the blade, well made leather grip, and better feel of speed and agility. Custom made sword I saw is a hollow ground XII-ish blade with very broad rebated edge – around 4 or 5 mm wide, but due to hollow grind sword feels very quick and agile and would probably last a lifetime of edge on edge bashing. The only drawback is a great amount of undamped vibration for some reason – blade vibrates too much to my liking during parries and hits.

Lobko’s swords have several drawbacks. They’re not completely evenly made – blades can be a bit wavy, fuller can start to end before it enters the guard, leather grip is not glued too well (at least on some models), swords can be (just) a bit heavier and slower than Moc’s, guard, fittings or the blade itself can be a bit non-symmetrical…

So, comparing Lobko and Moc is difficult. Is the extra cost worth it? In my opinion, no. I can get nearly two Lobko’s swords for one Moc. And the drawbacks are really not seen from couple of yards away, both swords behave very similarly, and both have very “hand made” look to them – not due to any large mistakes or such.

Oh, and by the way – I’m probably not the best person to judge swords and their makers – I have only limited knowledge of swordfighting and I’m just beginning to explore various schools from Fechtbuchs. So take this review with a large dose of salt.

[Lee O'Hagan]

Hi Anders,
Not Adam but,
The sword of Marks i saw was a sharp as opposed to a blunt,
I picked it up and was really hard pressed to put it down,
Fit and finish were excellent,for the size of the sword it seemed to move effortlessly,
admittedly it was a hollow ground blade,very well finished,no flaws that i could make out,
and i gave it a pretty serious look over,
the pommel had some very nicely done engraving which mark said was done by a gunsmith friend,
Also a couple of loose crossguard's were on his stall both well finished,
As for price,
The first quote i asked about was a hand and a half,
hollow ground blade,complex guard, side rings,
leather over wood,with wire wrap grip,
estimate,£really good, dependant on decoration,
email and ask,pretty suprising,

The fact i couldnt buy the commisioned sword he had with (i did try,cheeky i know)
I asked to go straight on the wait list,
Also saw some fine armour pieces too.
Didnt see a scabbard or enquire as to the prices,so i cant comment on that,
Apart from that all i can say is i saw one sword and asked to book two spots in his backlog six months apart,

[Anders Lindkvist]

Blaz Berlec, Thanks for the good information, so you think that one of Radeks sword is very priceworth.


Radeks Fridrich III. Emperor of Germany-sword look really nice, I´m going to mail him for more pics of the whole sword.

As it looks now it stands between Radek or Pavel moc....

[Anders Lindkvist]

Just one more quastion about Radeks sword?

Are the quality so good that it can take alot of violence and beating from other swords? I mean it is going to be used in semi and full contact reenactment fighting.

/Anders

[Blaz Berlec]

[Anders Lindkvist]

Blaz Berlec, such things are important. You don´t want a sword that look like shit after a couple of weeks. And those evil persons that always parry edge to edge....

I have mailed Radek about prices, and his offers are at the moment the most intresting.

Thanks everyone for the good information. Pictures will be posted on this forum when the weapon arrives...

/Anders

[Blaz Berlec]

[Adam R]

[R. Laine]

[Markus Haider]

[Anders Lindkvist]

Rabbe Jan-Olof Laine wrote:

"One thing that really bugs me is how some people (and I don't neccessarily mean you, just some WMA folk) instantly associate edge-on-edge parries with Hollywood-style foible-on-foible bashing, which they certainly don't have to be. "

Rabbe Jan-Olof Laine, ok my fault to overreact. Certinly there are several moves that show edge to edge parries. But my self as a educated knive and blacksmith always try to avoid such things. I know how the steel itself react when great pressure is dealt to small areas. Its all about steelqualities, handcraftskills and how the blade is heattreated. One of the two swords will be the loser, looking on long terms. Swords are just to expensive to be used in such manner. Thats what I think. Parry with the flat edge if possible, if not: shit happens.

But I not very slavish to the manuals....

[Patrick Kelly]

Nice discussion so far guys, but let's watch the language. (In reference to your description of fecal matter )