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Steve Grisetti
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 Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject: Gustav Vasa Arrives |
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I have wanted an Arms & Armor Gustav Vasa ever since I first took an interest in this hobby. I finally ordered one on the very last day (maybe the last hour?) of the A & A Spring Sale - the financial timing was not the best, since I need to pay for a wedding shortly  .
Anyway, after a long, but worthwhile wait, my Gustav Vasa arrived. The predicted completion time was 10-12 weeks, and Arms & Armor actually finished the sword a couple of weeks ago. They kindly delayed shipment to accommodate my hectic travel schedule (and even then, I had to instruct UPS to deliver it to my neighbor, since I was enroute to Venezuela the day it arrived).
I hesitate to post pictures, since they can't compare with Nathan's fine photos in his collection on this site, but I simply must attempt to show off my new pride and joy:
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sorry for the blur on this one
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Aaron Schnatterly
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| Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: Gustav Vasa Arrives |
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| Steve Grisetti wrote: | | I hesitate to post pictures, since they can't compare with Nathan's fine photos in his collection on this site, but I simply must attempt to show off my new pride and joy: |
Nearly every picture is worthwhile, Steve... these give me a better impression, actually, than the ones of the same sword in A&A's own site. Looks like a very, very sweet piece. You wouldn't know it from my collection, but I am quite fond of rapiers... there's an A&A or two in my future - just not sure how far out.
So, do tell... how's it handle?
-Aaron Schnatterly
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Fortior Qui Se Vincit
(He is stronger who conquers himself.)
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G. Scott H.
Location: Arizona, USA Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 410
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| Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Gustav Vasa Arrives |
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| Steve Grisetti wrote: | | but I simply must attempt to show off my new pride and joy: |
You shameless show off!  Seriously, it's always fun to see somebody get really excited over a new acquisition. Please, feel free to show off some more.  She's a beauty. Congrats, Steve.
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 6:12 pm Post subject: Re: Gustav Vasa Arrives |
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| Aaron Schnatterly wrote: | | ...So, do tell... how's it handle? |
Well, I am no fencer, but this piece seems to do exactly what it is supposed to do. If I attempt a thrust, the point goes precisely where I would want it to go, and carries substantial momentum with it. Similarly, a cutting movement seems to track very well. That probably doesn't help you much....
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William Goodwin
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| Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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Beautiful piece Steve! Congrats to you.
Bill
Roanoke Sword Guilde
roanokeswordguilde@live.com
"I was born for this" - Joan of Arc
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Aaron Schnatterly
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| Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: Gustav Vasa Arrives |
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| Steve Grisetti wrote: | | Aaron Schnatterly wrote: | | ...So, do tell... how's it handle? |
Well, I am no fencer, but this piece seems to do exactly what it is supposed to do. If I attempt a thrust, the point goes precisely where I would want it to go, and carries substantial momentum with it. Similarly, a cutting movement seems to track very well. That probably doesn't help you much.... |
Actually, it does. An ill-balanced piece in untrained hands doesn't want to do much worthwhile. I've almost exclusively heard good to excellent things about A&A rapiers - glad the trend continues.
We all seem to go in spurts, picking up pieces of interest in a particular set, era, style, or whatever, then reach a saturation point, and switch to something different (possibly completely different, like guns instead of swords, for example). I can see that any shift in my current "habits" will either be to Anglo-Saxon/Viking pieces, or to later ones like this.
-Aaron Schnatterly
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Fortior Qui Se Vincit
(He is stronger who conquers himself.)
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Patrick Kelly
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| Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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Congratulations Steve. The Gustav has always been one of my favorite A&A swords. I love the detail on the hilt, and I love the earlier rapier designs.
"In valor there is hope.".................. Tacitus
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Edward Hitchens
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| Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats Steve! I hope your Gustav Vasa rapier is everything you hoped it would be.
Do you own any other Arms&Armor pieces?
"The whole art of government consists in the art of being honest." Thomas Jefferson
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Mark Mattimore
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| Posted: Thu 14 Jul, 2005 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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I'm so jealous!  The Gustav Vasa is my favorite production rapier and VERY high on my to-buy list. Excellent pics. Any chance of getting a close-up of the tip? Just curious. Thanks for the report.
In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro.
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Fri 15 Jul, 2005 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks to you all for your kind remarks. I would hand out cigars, but that's not very practical
| Edward Hitchens wrote: | | ...Do you own any other Arms&Armor pieces? |
Yes. I have the A&A German Bastard Sword  - another piece that I had wanted since "the beginning". Along the lines of my "cigars" remark, the GBS and GV are like my children. I love them both, but differently .
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Fri 15 Jul, 2005 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Mark Mattimore wrote: | | ...Any chance of getting a close-up of the tip? |
Sure thing - but not until tomorrow.
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James Holczer
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| Posted: Fri 15 Jul, 2005 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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Very nice, that’s one of the A&A pieces that are on my list of must someday own.
Congratulations
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Sat 16 Jul, 2005 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Mark Mattimore wrote: | | ...close-up of the tip?... |
Here are a few more photos, including the tip, as promised.
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The lighting and magification make the secondary bevel look very pronounced.
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Wire wrap is beautifully done. Ricasso is very robust
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Lion's Head at end of quillions
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Aaron Schnatterly
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| Posted: Sat 16 Jul, 2005 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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Nice! Alright, Steve, now THOSE are some pictures! Now, I can see details clearly that I really wanted...
I had actually looked a number of times at this piece on the A&A site, but I had sort of shrugged it off. It seemed dark, and rather unappealing. I've now gone back and looked again - still just didn't hit me. Somehow, I guess I thought I had checked out the review (tried to make it through all of them - must have skipped this one mistakenly)... This is a very attractive piece, when the details can be seen! Yeah, I can see the possibility of one of these making it's way to my place at some point.
-Aaron Schnatterly
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Fortior Qui Se Vincit
(He is stronger who conquers himself.)
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Lee O'Hagan
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| Posted: Sat 16 Jul, 2005 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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Congrats Steve,
Definately one of my favourite swords i've seen via A+A,
actually tried to win one of these a while back on ebay but alas i didnt win,although i think it may have been a forumite i lost out too,
your pics just make me wish i'd won,thanks for sharing,
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Thomas McDonald
myArmoury Alumni
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| Posted: Sat 16 Jul, 2005 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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That is a very nice sword, Steve .... Congratulations & may it serve ye well !
Mac
'Gott Bewahr Die Oprechte Schotten'
XX ANDRIA XX FARARA XX
Mac's PictureTrail
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Mark Mattimore
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| Posted: Sat 16 Jul, 2005 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Steve Grisetti wrote: | | Mark Mattimore wrote: | | ...close-up of the tip?... |
Here are a few more photos, including the tip, as promised. |
Thanks Steve. Exactly what I was looking for. You take great pics 
This may have just moved up a notch or two on my to-buy list.
In omnibus requiem quaesivi, et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro.
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Bill Grandy
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Sun 17 Jul, 2005 7:26 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, this is one of my favorite A&A pieces. I have an OLD one (the medusa and lion heads are made of brass on mine), and if I'd only ever seen it, I'd think it was really nice, but I've seen the current model, and it's amazing how much A&A could have improved on an already impressive sword.
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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| Posted: Sun 17 Jul, 2005 10:19 am Post subject: |
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| Bill Grandy wrote: | | Yeah, this is one of my favorite A&A pieces. I have an OLD one (the medusa and lion heads are made of brass on mine), and if I'd only ever seen it, I'd think it was really nice, but I've seen the current model, and it's amazing how much A&A could have improved on an already impressive sword. |
I think you have bronze pieces in there, Bill, not brass... I remember oggling that catalog photo and reading that description dozens of times "back in the day"
.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
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Steve Grisetti
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| Posted: Sun 17 Jul, 2005 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks again for all of your kind comments. I can feel my hat size swelling! Here is a picture of the medusa heads on the guard rings.
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