Difficult decision. I'd say Castellan/Landgraf/Fiore. Saves you a bundle too as you already own the Landgraf IIRC. :D

Not that I like the esthetics of the Castellan, or the Talhoffer for that matter. Or perhaps I should say I don't like the pictures, as I haven't seen nor handled the real thing of course. RIngeck looks nice, but the similar furniture would make my Merc look cheap and vice versa.
I really do like the Landgraf and the Fiore pics though, and will probably order 2 Fiores as my next purchases, if I feel they turn out right (47" or even more sounds good to me, though similar dimensions as the Landgraf/Sempach would be acceptable).

Hi guys,

I don't mean to interrupt your fantasizing about Wal-mart sized sword collections, but I wanted to pop in and say how much we enjoyed this event and thank you Aaron for your gracious hospitality and your generosity in allowing us to test cut with your beautiful weapons. I also want to thank Albion for providing their weapons to the mix, and making them available for cutting. These were all a delight to behold, to examine, and to cut with!

I was very impressed with the viking swords, the Brescia Spadona which, while I can only discuss based on what I myself saw and did with the weapon, was exquisitely balanced, looks fantastic, and cuts the medium we were using with the precision of a laser.

I was also particularly impressed by the Constable. Such a light, small, delicate looking, pointy weapon next to the other longswords, it almost seemed like a faerie sword. I was shocked to see what a great cutter it was.

As for my more general impressions, I'll quote from my own post to the ARMA forum:

Quote:

My two major impressions were A) how hard it is to cut properly (you can see a photo of me botching one cut in the myArmoury website) and B) how dangerous those swords are! You just don't get any real sense of it from blunts. For anyone who has been doing WMA training but hasn't had an opportunity to test cut with a really good replica sharp I highly reccomend it to enhance your understanding of these weapons and the entire concept of martial arts with swords. This also makes my appreciation of Hollywood depictions of swords even less. Because they use aluminum blunts etc. in those movies, the physical awareness of the swords, the body language and attitude of actors toward it, is way, way too casual. I got to say it again, these things are DANGEROUS! It's definately like handling a loaded gun, thats the only thing I an compare it to. All in all a very fun day and an invaluable learning experience. I can't wait until my sharp arrives from the Czech republic next week so I can start practicing my cutting technique. Integrating the skill and concentration needed to cut properly into WMA fighting techniques is even more of a challenge, just thinking about it it's starting to dawn upon me how long I have to go...

Finally, I really enjoyed meeting all the guys and having the fascinating (though too short!) conversations that we did have about various historical matters. it was a treat to be around so many well schooled folks. I think this was also a great chance for the other folks in our WMA group (Chris, Skip, Marjorie and Walter) to get some exposure to the world of Spathology and some of the basics of the art and science of swords, which was assisted greatly by the amusing questionnaire Albion provided.

Thanks again to Aaron especially, you are a scholar and a gentleman sir, and I speak for the whole group of us when I say we greatly look forward to extending our own hospitality to you down here in New Orleans.

Jeanry

One other comment: "Death to pool noodles!"

As a wise man once said, "The urge to destroy is also a creative urge."

:lol: