I just got my new MRL catalog and saw the Hero's Warsword Lowland claymore. Anyone have one? Just wondering if its worth the money.

You can get it for less HERE at KOA. I don't have one, but just looking at the specs - over 7 lbs, and apparently no distal taper, plus the fact that it is made by Windlass says to me that, even at $200.00, it isn't worth it.

Also, looking at the advertising blurb, saying that this sword is like one used by Robert the Bruce -- didn't this sword type originate hundreds of years later?

The photos direct from MRL look great. The straight-on angles make it look fairly well proportioned and with good shape. The additional angles available at Kult of Athena, however, reveal its true shape. It looks hideous. The cross-guard is so flat and clunky. Ick.

There is a sword nearly identical made by Macallen Armourers in Scotland that is said to be affiliated with Robert Bruce. They also make a nice Wallace(not Braveheart) replica. Oh well...I figured it would be a boat anchor.....Think I'll look farther into other aspects.

As I said....a boat anchor.

Basically a 3/16 inch thick leaf spring or section of junked ship bulkhead with an edge on it. But what I find interesting is that Windlass is peening their tangs now.

Windlass is making a much better batch of products these days. Many of their swords are still screw on pommel models,but the ones that are peened are,I've been told, much improved by it.

what about hanwei's lowlander, is that any better?

and besides. wasnt robert the bruce more commonly seen using an axe, like at his fateful encounter with sir Henry de bohun before the battle of bannokburn

I just received my Lowlander.

The good: It balances right at the bottom of the ricasso (tip held down). The vibration nodes are in the right place. It has proper distal taper.

The bad: On mine, EVERY thing is loose. The cross guard isn't press fit, it just slides on. The grip will twist around the tang. The pommel is hollow. The leather lacing has started to tear where the pommel screws over it. Also the tang is a little narrower than would be my preference.

It may sound like I'm not happy, but I really like this sword a lot. It reminds me of refurbishing an old motorcycle. The shocks sag, the breaks are wooden, its underpowered, but its still got charm.

I'm lucky enough to have access to a machine shop, and I'm getting a pommel made that will key onto the tang, and be held with a recessed nut. I'm building a new grip for it, I just picked up some epoxy for the grip, and a large rat tail file to turn some of the ricasso into wider tang shoulders. If you are willing to take on a project, then its worth it.

Also, you may end up with one that fits together much better than mine, so there is that.

Bottom line, for just over two hundred, including shipping, I would not hesitate to do it again. I love how it handles, and I believe I can make it sturdy enough.

... of course it isn't all together yet, so time will tell.

Hope this helps,
Matthew

Hey Matthew thanks for your reply. Are you referring to the Windlass or the Hanwei sword?

Secondly I thought the wrap of the hero's war sword was wire wrap but not made of leather. Does it seem like its actually leather?

Thanks!

Thanks, Meng.....Boy, this is an old topic! I'd forgotten all about it. No, I have no intentions of buying one new. If someone were to advertise one for sale pre-owned for about 100 bucks or so, I might think about it. With a blade that size, I could cut it down to a nice big single-hander. Thanks again............McM

An even older discussion about the construction of the big and long MRL swords. The Pavia is the same timeline as the Hero's sword.

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.p...d-of-Pavia

Cheers

GC

Thanks, Glen....I'd seen that before. I fear something like that is probably also the case with the Hero. Still a lot of steel there for a project blade.............McM

Even with it having the wobble problem. I would recommend it over the Lowlander Sword. I had a Lowlander Sword, and it tried to kill me. When it broke in half, after I did a hard right slash. At least I know my Hero's Warsword won't try to betray me like my Lowlander Sword did.
Just tape it with hockey tape, and you should be safe using it without having to worry about it killing you. Just make sure you don't get the Lowlander Sword. It is a bad hollow designed fake wall hanger sword.
Here is a video of me swinging my Hero's Warsword.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JexvzuGQAE

Well, some Lowlanders saw pretty heavy use and are still going strong. Every manufacturer can make a defective sword and you got one. Hollow pommel is not a bad thing if the tang is peened properly over the top. One could buy a Lowlander, take of the pommel and peen it again to be sure it's done properly. And Hanwei blades are in most cases good blades. I'm sure if you take all Lowlanders and all Hero swords on both sides there will be swords with their problems, but I think Hanwei makes better swords in general.