[Tim M.]

Hello folks. I developed an interest in swords but unfortunately between bills and school I don't have the money for those good ol' Arms and Armor swords.
I recently came across Paul Southren's site about $100-300 swords and the Generation 2 swords caught my eye. However, I would like some second opinions on the swords before I do anything. Thoughts?

[Grayson C.]

Gereation 2 is widely renown as by far the most durable swords in this price bracket. They can stand up to many, many forms of abuse and there are rarely any problems with structural integrety. The only real complaints with these swords are the looks, which are only a personal preference. The swords suffer a little in minor things like aesthetics. Also they can be a bit heavy.

The man who manufactures Gen2 swords is Clyde Hollis, an awesome guy who comes here a little. He is also frequently at SBG sword forum as well so you may want to catch him and ask him a few questions.

Honestly, the only other problem in addition to those 2 mentioned above is the lack of variety. If they had a selection of, say, MRL, then there is no question that these swords would be more popular. That being said, gen2 is an obscure company tha very few have heard of.


You are pretty safe with them, buy with confidence!

Also, there are a few reviews here by Paul Southern:
www.sword-buyers-guide.com

and by Bill Tsafa here:
http://mysite.verizon.net/tsafa1/swordreview.htm

[Lafayette C Curtis]

And I really wish Generation 2 would put up its own website, since many of the sites that sell its blades sell only the older, poorly-balanced versions. His newer ones are much better but you don't see them on every site.

[Grayson C.]

www.imperialcoinc.com is gen2's official site


you can also buy them from www.armsofvalor.com one of their distributors.

[Lafayette C Curtis]

Imperial Co Inc? That's a pretty weird name. No wonder I've missed the site through all these years.

[Glen A Cleeton]

[Joe Fults]

[Chuck Wyatt]

I recently purchased The Lucerne Sword from imperial weapons after reading the reviews on Paul Southern
and Bill Tsafa sites. I am very pleased with it! Down sides are aesthetics, it's very basic in design. It is on the heavy side, but not to the point where it's unusable. I haven't done much test cutting, more dry handling but it feels solid, very solid and nothing wiggles or rattles. Blade is also very stiff; you just want to thrust with it as soon as you hold it. It also comes razor sharp and covered in grease to keep it from rusting. Sword is also pretty well balanced; the Imperial Weapons site is accurate with its COB. Overall I am very pleased with it. Much happier than with any sword I have tried from MRL. Not as pretty but much more durable. Also Imperial Weapons was excellent to order from, I placed the order over the phone on Friday and received on Tuesday
Cheers
Chuck

[Mike Harris]

I have owned both the Lucerne and the newer version of the Black Prince from Generation 2. I would concur on the above impressions. They both handled pretty well and seemed lighter than their actual weight. However, the fittings are very plain.

I also own a version of the 12th Century Norman sword from Generation 2. It was a bit overly blade heavy but cut pretty well, though it was a bit difficult to get up to speed in the cut. I have since shortened the 34" blade to 29". It now handles very similarly to my Angus Trim Moonbrand, except for an extra 2" of grip. I think the newer versions of this sword (and the others with the same blade) are supposed to have a bit of distal taper, something that is lacking in the version I have. If so, this should help their handling substantially.

It is my understanding that Clyde Hollis at Imperial Weapons is engaged in an on-going effort to upgrade his designs, based on user feedback, to make them handle more like historic originals while maintaining the reputation for durability. I don't know to what degree he is backing these changes into the existing line. But I am pretty sure he is giving it a strong focus on all new designs.

[Grayson C.]

Hey Mike, glad to see you in on this thread as well, I was hoping you'd come share your thoughts

Great job with your modifications, by the way. (Rammstein from sbg)

[Mike Harris]

Thanks, Grayson.

Grayson's referring to a post on the SBG website related to the "gross sword abuse" my shortened Generation 2 12th Century Norman has endured with absolutely no sign of structural damage whatsoever. I have to echo the durability of these, at least this, sword. I have tried to break or seriously damage this sword, but it has resisted all such attempts. Those attempts were specifically in response to claims about the durability of Generation 2 swords. I kind of have a rebelious streak. When I found this sword for $180 at Kult of Athena, I decided it would be the subject of my wrath. Apparently, my wrath isn't as impressive as I thought it might be.

http://sbgswordforum.proboards70.com/index.cg...1166503116

[Mike Harris]

As further information:

I just received a Generation 2 Ranger sword/dagger set, part of the ProSword fantasy line. I made some measurements on the sword with my dial calipers. The numbers I found interesting are thickness of blade just behind fuller on the ricasso .305", and the thickness of the blade at one inch before the tip .150". I believe that works out to a bit more than 50% distal taper. In profile it goes from 1.950" at the guard, to 1.650" at the beginning of the fuller (in 2.5 inches) then proceeds in a uniform taper to .900" at about 2 inches behind the tip, just before the radical tapering curve of the tip begins. My admittedly poor math skills lead me to see that as about a 40% profile taper? Anyone please feel free to correct my math.

I have seen another post elsewhere on myArmoury describe Generation 2 swords as "sharpened crowbars." That certainly doesn't seem to be the case with the admittedly small sample I've owned. While this line of swords still has areas for improvement in historical accuracy, I feel these mostly now have to do with the hilt designs on some of the existing models.

[Tim M.]

[Steve Grisetti]

Speaking of Gen2 swords, does anyone have experience with the Hank Reinhardt Collection? So far, the only one of these new models that shows up on the Gen 2 website is this Type XV:

[Mike Harris]

Steve,

That is the only sword in the Hank Reinhardt Collection that has been made so far. And I don't think any production swords have shipped yet. After all the mixed reviews his swords have received, I think Clyde Hollis is doing everything he can to make sure this one exactly matches the original Oakeshott drawings before releasing any production pieces.

I am also pretty sure the series is going to include three swords. I couldn't say what the other two are.

Regarding the Ranger from the ProSword Line, I have had one in my hands now for three days and plan on doing some testing this weekend for a performance review, written for Sword Buyers Guide. It is a pretty massive sword, certainly a two handed hilt, with exactly enough room for three of my fairly small hands.

[Tim M.]

In regards to the Type XV of the Hank Reinhardt colection, I'd make the assumption that considering that the sword is under the guidance and permission of Mr. Reinhardt, the swords will be high quality and well made.

Mike,
I'll be sure to check it out. Hopefully if I get all my bills paid and I have some spare cash I'll have the chance to buy it if you have a good review for it

[Sean Belair]

[Joe Fults]

I would ask high quality and well made compared to what?

It is not my intent to slight the weapons in question. However, failing to provide any context or frame of reference for comparison makes any statement about quality very sweeping. Because everyone operates under different quality expectations, when we fail to qualify our opinions I think we potentially do adisservice to the companies we are advocating, and the people acting on our reference.

[Nathan Robinson]

[Bill Grandy]