[Dmitriy Sobolev]

Hello to all forum members!

I'm planning to buy a good practice sword. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find good and willing manufacturer in Russia. And I'm very impressed by works and prices of some manufacturers reviewed on myArmoury (say, "practical" versions of CAS Iberia Highland back/broadsword or Mortuary sword - with complex elaborate hilt and with scabbard for $240 only, - or Armour Class $160 "re-enactment" rapiers certainly may find their customers in Russia, will they be offered on our market).

The problem is that in Russia we usually use duralumin (or even fiberglass) swords for unarmoured sparring (it's more safely due to blade thickness even in case of weight equal to steel weapon), reserving steel blunts for armoured fights. Such a weapons are not considered "wasters" in Russia and are widely used in many live-action RPGs, some tournaments and just friendly sparrings, where use of steel swords is prohibited.

So I will want an aluminium blade (of relatively simple geometry - no distal taper needed, only profile taper and fullers). And I want to order a custom hilt too (not very complex, though - it should be some kind of a cross between British 1908 pattern with rubber "half-pistol" grip and Italian 1871 and later patterns with "thumb hole" in the guard).

Could anybody give me advice about swordmaker able to produce such a sword for affordable price and to ship it in Russia? What price may I expect?