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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Tue 02 Apr, 2013 2:32 am    Post subject: StageSteel Great Claymore         Reply with quote

I would like to ask : Does anyone own a RitterSteel/StageSteel Great Claymore...or their Wallace Claymore...or the RitterSteel Great Claymore? I ask only as a favor to a friend of a friend who is a total 'newb' to the sword community. I am aware of some past review/comments on this line of swords....questionable at best. Does anyone have a clue as to ANY kind of feedback on this brand? The 'friend of a friend' I refer to is looking for a 'starter ' sword for his collection , and I just don't have the hands-on of any of these models or brands. He plans to buy a sword, then have me make a little of my 'shop magic' on it to spiff it up a bit. I must admit...I do see a little hope for a cool customization job on one of these SLO's....but, .........well,........Anybody know anything about them? WTF?! McM
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Tom King




Location: florida
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
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PostPosted: Tue 02 Apr, 2013 5:57 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

they are I believe the same company that used to produce the "starfire" brand of swords prevalent in the 90's; essentially they are sword shaped crowbars. If your friend is looking for a decent starter sword that can be modified, just recommend him a windlass or hanwei.
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Allan Senefelder
Industry Professional



Location: Upstate NY
Joined: 18 Oct 2003

Posts: 1,563

PostPosted: Tue 02 Apr, 2013 9:26 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Star Fire is still Star Fire http://www.starfireswords.com/ . Ritter Steel http://www.rittersteel.com/about-us.htm is I believe a Pacific rim country product ( IIRC thats what a local vendor shop told mre a number of years ago ) that Ritter claims was started by Knights Edge back in the 90's. Haven't handled anything by Ritter to make comment on quality ect.
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Matthew P. Adams




Location: Cape Cod, MA
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Likes: 8 pages

Posts: 462

PostPosted: Tue 02 Apr, 2013 11:09 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

All I know is from looking into two handers a while back. The Landsknecht sword weighs 12 pounds. I ended up getting a Hanwei Lowlander instead.
"We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training" Archilochus, Greek Soldier, Poet, c. 650 BC
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Likes: 6 pages
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 2,294

PostPosted: Tue 02 Apr, 2013 11:22 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

From my friend--Thank you, fellas. I already suggested a purchase of a good, used Hanwei or Windlass to him, but he's kinda hung up on the StageSteel Claymore. I told him that it was pretty much just a boat anchor, but he still wants one. WTF?! I'd be interested to see the thing in-hand myself, but I can already see zero distal taper and way too much weight. If he buys one, I'll do a little review---after I get done with it. He wants a re-grip in brown leather, spiral wrapped , and the guard and pommel 'de-blackened'. Hmmm. We'll see. Wink ......Thanks again guys!......McM
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Greg Ballantyne




Location: Maryland USA
Joined: 14 Feb 2011
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PostPosted: Tue 02 Apr, 2013 4:28 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I was the same way when I was looking at my first sword..... also an inexpensive Claymore. A year later after getting anther better quality sword the inexpensive Claymore sure seemed shabby.... perhaps not worth the effort of fixing up, a sorry blade remains a sorry blade, and the sad furniture remains sad
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
Likes: 6 pages
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 2,294

PostPosted: Wed 03 Apr, 2013 3:47 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks again,mates. I believe I've just about got him convinced on a Hanwei claymore. After seeing mine, I've made him understand the differences between a good sword and a SLO. I believe the Hanny will do fine for him, and is easily able to be customized to his likings. Even the weight of the Claymore should be no prob for him....he's 6'-2'' and about 215. Laughing Out Loud And about 20 years my younger! Laughing Out Loud ----Thanks all!.........McM
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Lin Robinson




Location: NC
Joined: 15 Jun 2006
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PostPosted: Wed 03 Apr, 2013 7:08 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Mark Moore wrote:
Thanks again,mates. I believe I've just about got him convinced on a Hanwei claymore. After seeing mine, I've made him understand the differences between a good sword and a SLO. I believe the Hanny will do fine for him, and is easily able to be customized to his likings. Even the weight of the Claymore should be no prob for him....he's 6'-2'' and about 215. Laughing Out Loud And about 20 years my younger! Laughing Out Loud ----Thanks all!.........McM


The Hanwei Lowlander is a good choice; the highland style might be better as it is lighter and consequently much easier to work with. The Lowlander weight 6 lbs 14 oz and is fairly well balanced for the price point. There are so many poorly made unbalanced "claymores" out there right now that I have to conclude they are used only for display items by their owners. I also tend to shy away from retailers/makers whose copy reads like lines from Braveheart which is to say that they really do not understand the history behind the sword or when the sword was likely to have been used.

Lin Robinson

"The best thing in life is to crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women." Conan the Barbarian, 1982
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Matthew P. Adams




Location: Cape Cod, MA
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Likes: 8 pages

Posts: 462

PostPosted: Wed 03 Apr, 2013 8:22 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Also the threaded pommel makes for easy customization. Unscrew the pommel and everything slides off. I'm in the process of re-gripping and putting a solid pommel on mine. The fit of the original grip was very loose, but I'm sure quality varies.
"We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training" Archilochus, Greek Soldier, Poet, c. 650 BC
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