[Matthew P. Adams]

I have had my eye on that AT192 since forever. I had put in an order with Christian Fletcher, but due to circumstances had to cancel it. Well, after a while I was able to reorder, but by that time, Christian had made the switch to Albion blades. I thought that was that.

Well, some time went by, and Tried and True opened their virtual doors. I contacted Tom about a good blade for Fiore practice, and he said Gus recommended the XVIa.3.

Well I'm not sure how but he also mentioned he had a 1592. It must be fate.

Then he asked what sort of options I wanted... I gave it some thought, and asked if he could hilt it in the style of a Durer painting. I have always lusted after the Munich, I personally prefer a wheel to a scent stopper, and "S" guards are just plain sexy.

So here are the "for your approval" pictures as sent to me. They are even better than I had imagined. AND get this... 52" and 3lbs 1/2oz!!

Here it is, a Danish longsword, with a German hilt, for Italian practice. I'm sure there will be loads found in a river one day, to prove they are indeed, quite historical.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk292/ianflaer/100_1240.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk292/ianflaer/100_1241.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk292/ianflaer/100_1242.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk292/ianflaer/100_1246.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk292/ianflaer/100_1247.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk292/ianflaer/100_1248.jpg
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk292/ianflaer/100_1249.jpg

[Robert Hinds]

Very nice! Congratulations on your new sword.

[J. Hargis]

Matthew:

Nothing quite like getting what you really want.

How long was the wait after you gave them your options?

Thanks for showing this great piece, Jon

[Ben Sweet]

That is one beauty, congrats!

[Matthew P. Adams]

@ J. Hargis

I'll let you know when I get it! Ha ha. No, but the wait was six months. This had more to do with Gus getting some non sword related work, and Tom made a post about that back in March. The wait time was longer than estimated, but Tom was up front and proactive in communicating the whole time.

After being on the forums and seeing how long commissions can sometimes take, I was honestly prepared to wait a year. Underestimating the time it takes for completion seems very common, and I think it has more to with these being made individually than anything else. It would be great if one could make a living entirely from sword fabricating, but, with rare exceptions it doesn't seem feasible, at least not without a significant price jump. If waiting a few months keeps a sword price in the hundreds instead of the thousands, well, that's fine by me. More than.

And, as for "getting what I want" this blew my expectations out of the water. I know it's a hodge podge, historically speaking, but aesthetically and (I believe) functionally I think it "works". The guard is roughly the same length as the grip, and if you look at the pommel, it appears to be the same width as the blade after it swells below the ricasso. And I really like how the flared cross came out. Tom shaped it himself, from a roughly cut and unfinished cross, sent by Gus. He did that to preserve as much length as possible. Normally Gus doesn't make cross guards longer than 8" which would have been to short for this blade, IMO. And that grip is stellar too! I asked for a "deep red" and waisted, and I really like how it came out.

So this will be my first high end sword, and I have a Fiore on layaway, and then I'm done for a while. Unless someone makes comes out with a Montante. (66" long, 16" grip, in the 5lb zone, maybe... Hollow ground? In case any manufacturers are listening )

[Jean Thibodeau]

Very nice looking sword and impressive.

[Zach Luna]

[Matthew P. Adams]

The box came this afternoon!

I can not emphasize how light this 3 lbs feels! Being an AT, I wasn't surprised when the pivots and vib. nodes are placed right where they should be. I would call this a judicial dueling weapon. I think with the modern steel and heat treat it's perfectly durable enough to take to the field, but the balance and speed scream finesse. I wish I could pass it around, it's just that good.

The only comparable sharp I have is the Tinker Hanwei longsword. The stats say its 2 pounds 14oz, and the AT feels lighter at 3lbs 1/2oz. This is totally subjective of course, but I'm right handed and had the Hanwei in my right and AT1592 in my left and just hefting them you would swear the AT weighs less.

So, it's just what I want, it handles like an extension of my mind, and its beautiful.

...and it's as close to a functional light saber as I'll ever get.