[Nathan Robinson]

Hey Gus-

It's about the time of the year that I start buggin' vendors for new things. I've been talking with you about curved blades for quite some time now, so it's probably time I check in on it.

Do you still have plans on doing curved saber type blades? If so, how's the development going and what is the status of the schedule at this point?

As you know, I'm very much wanting to see more curved European weapons on the market: two-handed sabers, grosse messers, falchions, etc.

The minute you get one available, I'll buy the blade and change one of my outstanding orders with Erik Stevenson to accommodate this type of blade!

[Scott Byler]

I'll second the desire to see more curved Euro blades on the market. Not nearly as much choice in that arena as in the straight bladed wares.

[Angus Trim]

Hi Nathan

You know, I have a slew of photos of late 16th century and later Polish and Hungarian sabers. But I only have three for the fifteenth century, and I believe they're all Hungarian. I need more.......

Not so much for the hilts, as the blades. With the Pole and Hungarian Saber photos, came several measurements. I only have one for spec for the Hungarian fifteenth century stuff, and that's the hand and a half there are so many photos of.

When?

Frankly I don't know. You'll remember an email discussion you and I had, where you mentioned in your opinion I was at my best, when I made blades for a custom guy like Erik Stephenson? Well, not to comment on that, but there are three cutler's that have or will receive blades from me in the near future, who's initials are not ES.

One telecon yesterday with a blade customer, touched on these curved thingies......

So far this summer, Erik's got his ussual allotments, but I've also sent rapier blades out to cutler A, sent rapier and longsword blades to cutler B, designed three new X blades, and sent them out to cutler C {and he wants more Roman stuff, and is rounding up more specs as we speak}, and discussed things with cutler D {including curved thingies}.

You know, Nathan, its a strange thing. I had no idea there were still that many guys out there in the US, that did decent work, that had no real web presence, nor a national name.....

We'll see what happens over the next two months, if any of these potential "partnerships" flares, then likely I'll be forced into doing the curved thingies.....

We'll see, there's always a lot of catch 22's in this business...........

Auld Dawg

[Chris Holzman]

lighter sabre blades... say Italo/Hungarian or German duelling sabres..... especially fencing blades.. theres a market hole for curved fencing sabre blades, like the stuff used in the mid to late 1800's... If there were a confirmed market for some small batches, would that be something you'd consider (especially if you could get an original blade in hand, to play with and copy? (i have a german fencing sabre from the mid 1800's that i'd volunteer) The classical fencing guys would doubtless jump on them, if the prices were anywhere close to reasonable...

I'd also like to see some of the heavier sabres..

I have a project sabre at the moment, mounting it as a shashqa... 34 inch US M1860 Light Cavalry sabre blade (rescued from ebay as a bare blade, definitely an original period blade.... In its current mountings, its 2lbs 2.5oz, POB about 5.5" ahead of the hilt... light, fast, cuts two inch green bamboo like a laser, and eats cardboard for lunch, but is not something i'd want to brutalize and try to cut hard targets with, just due to it being that old. Its fairly thin bladed out toward the tip, but that does contribute to its nice handling.

Frankly, I dont see why more people aren't playing with western curved thingys. The only thing I cant think of is that there is a distinct shortage of good ones out there. otherwise, they're nice. really nice.

[Angus Trim]

Hi Chris

That's a nice offer, but at the moment I'm focussed on finishing the rapier simulator, dagger simulator, and sidesword simulator projects. Once the supply {guard} problems are solved, then I may very well be interested in a new project.

This simulator stuff has been an interesting, and frustrating project. A year and a half to get the dagger and rapier blades bought off at SCA corporate.

For over a year, I've been told that the stuff is currently the best available, except the guards appearance suck, and they're not quite really available.......

Get this project solved, then maybe another project.........

[Patrick Kelly]

I agree with Nathan on this one Gus.

The market is pretty well saturated with the "classic" designs. I really think there's an interest, and need for the more unusual off beat stuff. I'd particularly like the see more falchions on the market.

[Chris Holzman]

[Angus Trim]