[Joel Chesser]

Hey, everyone, hope you chaps and chapesses are doing well today!
I was wondering if any one had any knowledge of Ritter Steel.
They have a few attractive pieces for around MRL and Del Tin prices. here is their web site

http://www.rittersteel.com/medieval-swords.htm

thanks all!

[Björn Hellqvist]

I haven't had the dubious pleasure of handling a Ritter Steel piece, but judging by the pics, the only thing that might be remotely attractive is the price. IMNSHO, they look clumsy, ugly and unauthentic. Add $100 and you'll get far more (and far better) stuff to choose from.

[Bill Grandy]

I have had the "pleasure" of checking out several of their stuff, and Björn managed to sum them up correctly just from his viewing the pictures. Keep in mind, I'm not even trying to compare them to more expensive made swords, I'm saying that even for their price, they're still not very good. Heavy, poorly balanced, very poorly finished, clunky, and very ugly when you seen them up close. They're assembled with epoxy and poor welding jobs. They're about the same level as the CAS Iberia Phillipines made line, which to me is essentially wall hanger level. The funny thing about these so called "battle ready" pieces is that they aren't made well enough to be considered functional swords, yet they aren't good looking enough to really be considered good decorators, either.

Since their within the MRL price range, go with MRL!

[Joel Chesser]

yeah i sorta had the feeling that would be the case. and frankly here was only like one or two of um i would have bothered with anyway and MRL has peices that look like closer to what i want anyway.
thanks for the input dudes.
I also found it kind of amusing that they called them selves battle ready, the sad part s that they are still better then the first POS i had.

ithink ill just wait and pay for the Del Tin.

[Timothy Gulics]

I have one Rittersteel piece... their gladius. In my opinion, it is one of very few Rittersteel pieces that is at least nice to look at.

Interesting story behind how I got this one. I had gone to a renaissance fair a few years back and planned to buy a custom sword from Badger Blades, but unfortunately they could not process my credit card (for some bizarre reason). I wound up taking my business to a fellow named "Axen" who had this lovely gladius for sale. I purchased it and enjoyed it, but it eventually wound up gaining a bit of rust on the blade (it sat in its scabbard too long). At this time, while researching how to remove the rust, I discovered that the "Axen" gladius was in fact a slightly modified Rittersteel gladius. And I paid twice the Rittersteel price for it.

Needless to say, everything came to a head and I passed the gladius onto a friend. I eventually wound up buying an unmodified, original Rittersteel gladius down the road to replace my "loss".

Better off saving your money. At its very worst, it is a decorative wall hanger (not bad). At its best, it is a beater that should hold up to some punishment (also not bad, but not great).