[Doug B.]

Hey everyone,

I used the search function, but couldn't find a topic on this--sorry if I missed it.

I sparred with a polypropylene practice longsword today and it was incredible. I have only been using a shinai up until this point, but these plastic/nylon/polypropylene sword felt much better. I do not know the brand that we used so I was looking for some help.

I looked through (almost) all the dealer links from this site and it seems that there are only a few distributors of these types of trainers. CAS Hanwei, Cold Steel, and Museum Replicas were the only ones I could find.

Does anyone have any recommendations for where to look? Or what you like to use?

Also, for reference, here is the weapon I used today. http://i.imgur.com/qRKRT.jpg

Thanks

[Nathaniel Gage]

A term you might want to include in your search is 'waster,' which to my understanding is simply another term for such a practice sword. The one you used was nylon, and though I'm nearly certain I've seen that exact model elsewhere I'm unable to find it at present.

CAS Iberia has something similar to what you used for $75: the Rawlings Synthetic Sparring Swords. On this site there are several options for customization, although the line is only two years old as far as I can find. It looks well put together, tightly-fitted with blades that are solid and yet bendable enough to be durable. There are several reviews floating around out there. I'll include the one I found useful below.

Sword - http://www.casiberia.com/syntheticTrainers.aspx

Review - http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.p...nge-Review

[Jean Thibodeau]

Well I have two of these by Cold Steel: http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=...ning+Sword

I personally like them but others might have criticisms and other preferences.

A) They are mostly wood waster substitutes and not safe if one hits full force with them on unprotected body parts: DON'T CONFUSE THEM WITH SOFT FOAM SWORDS !

( NOTE: This wasn't a problem for me as our group trained using a non-touch system with very little body protection except for fencing mask and light weight leather gloves. We did put high emphasis on control and although light hits where expected to happen at times we where also expected to stop our blows just short of contact or pull back at contact ).

B) When used in pairs I found that they slid on the bind more like steel than wooden wasters. They flex a bit more on the flats than on the edges like steel than the totally rigid in all directions wooden wasters: Worked well in the bind for me at least

C) Compatible if used against a wooden waster but not as slippery if not used in pair. ( Not compatible against steel )

D) Practically indestructible.

E) Blades a little short compared to my steel Albion blunt and the handles are also maybe an inch or two too short, but I still found them usable as one can adapt to shorter or longer swords to a degree.

So as wasters, good, but nothing is closer to a real sword than a steel blunt.

[Tom King]

http://www.woodenswords.com/WMA/index.htm

[Doug B.]

[Jean Thibodeau]

[Bill Grandy]

Hey, I recognize that floor.

Doug, that's the Pentii synthetic waster by Purpleheart Armory. If you were bouting with Jonathan Gordon, today, then you were using mine. They have their flaws, but all in all, they're probably the best mass-produced synthetic wasters out there at the moment.

[Doug B.]

[Randall Moffett]

Do these hold up to use in armour? What about bucklers? Is it softer or more likely to chip than wood?

These seem to be simply used in place of wooden practice swords. Are they harder than wood? If some one uses wood for their current practice needs does this work in their place?

RPM

[Philip Melhop]

[Bill Grandy]