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Roberto C





Joined: 31 Oct 2013

Posts: 12

PostPosted: Thu 31 Oct, 2013 10:53 pm    Post subject: What sword should I buy?         Reply with quote

Hello.

This is actually my first post on this site, I know it very well since I actually read a lot of articles from here but now I have a question about something that is not covered on any topic I have seen, also I think I would have normally posted this on manufacturers section but the site did not allow me :/.

I am a WMA practitioner and as my practice sword I had a Hanwei practical longsword, I have no complaints about the handling, it is great but there is a problem, it broke and I didn't even clashed it with another sword when it broke, it has no dents and it was on a pretty good shape overall. I was just doing some practice and it broke and I suspect it was due to a bad heat treatment on the tang area (I might upload pictures later).

The thing is that my budget is tight, I cannot afford an Albion or an Arms and Armor so I have been looking for something similar but within my price range that won't break as easily as my Hanwei.

I have taken a look on Darksword Armoury which are within my budget and they seem to be rather resistant, the problem is that I have seen many complaints about them not being authentic, not historically accurate and that some of their swords are tad heavy, but I have found two models that are within a reasonable weight and POB which are:
http://darksword-armory.com/products-page/med...word-1537/
and
http://darksword-armory.com/products-page/med...word-1352/

so I wanna hear your thoughts with the following points, also if you know of a sword that could be good please mention it :

Handling, resistance, price and performance in general is what matters
Throw authenticity out of the window: TBH I just want a good sword within my price range that won't break.
Historical accuracy is important but not too much, if it handles like something that could have been used back in the day that's good enough for me.
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Sam Barris




Location: San Diego, California
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Likes: 4 pages

Posts: 630

PostPosted: Thu 31 Oct, 2013 11:29 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

If you don't mistrust all things Hanwei at this point, I hear good things about the Hanwei Tinker blades, though I've never handled one myself. I have an Albion Meyer, which is amazing, but used a Purpleheart Armory waster until I could afford that. A waster is a pretty cheap and durable option, unless you really need steel.

Maybe someone else will chime in about the Tinker line. Happy hunting! :-)

Pax,
Sam Barris

"Any nation that draws too great a distinction between its scholars and its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards, and its fighting done by fools." —Thucydides
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Mike O'Hara




Location: New Zealand
Joined: 10 Jul 2010
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Posts: 120

PostPosted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 12:43 am    Post subject: Basic sword         Reply with quote

Hi Roberto

I started with a Hanwei Tinker and the club has 4 as our standard basic steel.

They are fine as starter swords and have survived a pretty tough life. I find them a little thin on the edge and they do take damage from harder blades. Nothing a file can't deal with and you can grind the edge a little broader.

If you can find one the Atrim I-beams are outstanding at the cheap end and they handle very well indeed.

cheers
mike

MIke O'Hara
Location: Plimmerton, New Zealand
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Mark Moore




Location: East backwoods-assed Texas
Joined: 01 Oct 2003
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PostPosted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 1:23 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

My guess is that you had an older Hanwei model, back before they got tighter on their quality control. The new Hanwei/Tinker models are the way to go. Built like tanks, and easy on the bank. I own the H/T Norman sword, and it's the toughest sword I've ever seen. Moves like a rapier, and hacks like an axe. Scary sharp, too. Eek! Big Grin .......McM
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Roberto C





Joined: 31 Oct 2013

Posts: 12

PostPosted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 6:55 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Mark Moore wrote:
My guess is that you had an older Hanwei model.


Well I bought it on January of this year so I don't think it is one of the older models :/

But also what other options are within my budget?
I will check out the a-trim
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Steven Janus




Location: Florida, USA
Joined: 12 Mar 2008

Posts: 187

PostPosted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 12:44 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Fabri Armorum is also a good choice. Kult of Athean sells them, I've had good luck with them too. They can be had for $200 to $300 range. I've bought a few stage swords from them, they are built well.
Newbie Sword collector
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Andy K.




Location: San Diego
Joined: 18 Apr 2013

Posts: 15

PostPosted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 12:44 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I'm new to swords, and the only two I own and have ever handled are both Hanwei: Tinker Pearce Sharpened Bastard and H/T Norman. Both are sturdy (I cut water bottles) and handle nice, although I have no basis for comparison with better swords. The Bastard sword I got on Ebay from somebody who got it at Kult of Athena (it was brand new) and the Norman came from KoA directly. From everything I've read on Sword Buyer's Guide and myArmoury, Hanweis are your best choice for budget swords that can be used for cutting and practice without fear that the blade will fly off.
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Roberto C





Joined: 31 Oct 2013

Posts: 12

PostPosted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 1:07 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

[quote="Andy K] Hanweis are your best choice for budget swords that can be used for cutting and practice without fear that the blade will fly off.[/quote]

But that was exactly what happened to my Hanwei. I don't trust them too much now.

About Fabri Armorum I have seen them on KultofAthena and they do like something I would use but the lack of information about them is great, what can you guys tell me about them?
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Gottfried P. Doerler




Location: Tyrol, Austria
Joined: 11 Oct 2009
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Posts: 229

PostPosted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 2:16 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

i own fabri armorum`s viking sword and cup hilt rapier.
they are very sturdy and robust and i don`t ever fear them to break.
on the other hand (at least my the viking sword) they sometimes are quite overbuilt, especially the blunts. dont know how it is with sharpened, maybe so much mass is taken off, that they get a better weighting.
the rapier is nicely balanced and handles well, but again, due to the heavy blade, he pays for this by a, for rapier proportions, short blade and a long grip with heavy pommel.

so i would say, from my experience, his swords are very sturdy, well suited for stage combat... can take a lot of punishment.
on the other hand, they might be a little too heavy for exact period weight and maybe also for use in period moves.

it seems, he was made aware of this problem, as he now offeres an additional "slim blade" choice on his homepage,
like for most of his longswords
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Roberto C





Joined: 31 Oct 2013

Posts: 12

PostPosted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 3:11 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks to everyone who has posted you have been helpful.

Gottfried P. Doerler thanks for the info, I think I will be going for one of those, but still I have some options to evaluate.

Has someone tried out a DKS 15th century hand and a half? By the specs it seems to be a decent sword, good weight, pob and the brand seems to make very tough swords I'm really interested in that one but right now I'm more convinced about the fabri though the longsword at 4lb 15oz is a bit heavy for a longsword in my opinion.
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Steven Janus




Location: Florida, USA
Joined: 12 Mar 2008

Posts: 187

PostPosted: Fri 01 Nov, 2013 4:27 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Gottfried P. Doerler wrote:
i own fabri armorum`s viking sword and cup hilt rapier.
they are very sturdy and robust and i don`t ever fear them to break.
on the other hand (at least my the viking sword) they sometimes are quite overbuilt, especially the blunts. dont know how it is with sharpened, maybe so much mass is taken off, that they get a better weighting.
the rapier is nicely balanced and handles well, but again, due to the heavy blade, he pays for this by a, for rapier proportions, short blade and a long grip with heavy pommel.

so i would say, from my experience, his swords are very sturdy, well suited for stage combat... can take a lot of punishment.
on the other hand, they might be a little too heavy for exact period weight and maybe also for use in period moves.

it seems, he was made aware of this problem, as he now offeres an additional "slim blade" choice on his homepage,
like for most of his longswords


I have bought three swords from them, a slim line longsword (sold to a friend of mine in my group), a falchion, and an arming sword. They all handle well and take a fair beating. The arming sword does get dented a bit easily, I think it may of been tempered a tad soft, but has done well in the varying fights it has been in. The arming sword I believe is there slim line also, it is about 3 pounds, with a one inch point of balance. It is very good in the hands. The falchion is a training grade sword, also three pounds. It has a forward pob and handles well also and has taken several beatings. The Longsword has been doing well but did take a twenty degree set from use. My friend I sold it to loves it as he can us it one or two hands easily and handles very well. I bought a different unknown Czech longsword to replace it. I replaced it because I wanted a war sword with a wheel pommel and that one had a cylinder. That was the only reason.

Newbie Sword collector
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Roberto C





Joined: 31 Oct 2013

Posts: 12

PostPosted: Sat 02 Nov, 2013 10:28 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I think I will be going for the fabri armorum slip longsword Happy, but before that what can you guys say about the practical Atrim ?
I have seen a couple reviews and they say it is amazing.
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Steven Janus




Location: Florida, USA
Joined: 12 Mar 2008

Posts: 187

PostPosted: Sat 02 Nov, 2013 11:37 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Roberto C wrote:
I think I will be going for the fabri armorum slip longsword Happy, but before that what can you guys say about the practical Atrim ?
I have seen a couple reviews and they say it is amazing.


And in exceptionally short supply like every other VA product. They are good though.

Newbie Sword collector
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Edward Lee




Location: New York
Joined: 05 Jul 2013

Posts: 393

PostPosted: Sat 02 Nov, 2013 12:11 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Darksword's Danish sword is pretty good. It's light, solid. The leather could use some rework that's for sure. I'm pretty sure most of the darksword products are aimed to be highly abuse-able rather than being historically accurate.
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Ben Coomer




Location: Colorado
Joined: 06 Sep 2011
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PostPosted: Sat 02 Nov, 2013 1:03 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I really like Hanwei/Tinkers as well. My sharp bastard has seen years of use and is still in pretty good shape. Handles nicely as well. My only complaint is the handle is a little too narrow for me, but I've got big hands.
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Scott Hanson




Location: La Crosse, WI
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
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PostPosted: Sat 02 Nov, 2013 1:12 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

What is the primary intended usage?

Contact drilling with other steel swords? Floryshing and cutting practice? Sparring in heavy protective gear? Sparring in light to minimal gear? Pell work?

I think we need to know that before we can really give you the best advice.

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another"

Wisconsin Historical Fencing Association (WHFA)
A HEMA Alliance Affiliate
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Roberto C





Joined: 31 Oct 2013

Posts: 12

PostPosted: Sat 02 Nov, 2013 2:04 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

You are right Scott I should have said that before, well the main uses will be drilling with other steel swords and sparring with both light and heavy gear.
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Scott Hanson




Location: La Crosse, WI
Joined: 19 Jul 2006
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Reading list: 6 books

Posts: 154

PostPosted: Sun 03 Nov, 2013 8:50 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

No problem, just wanted to make sure that I was recommending the right stuff.

For that, I'd start by looking at the pieces here: http://hemareviews.blogspot.com/2013/08/hema-...ew=classic

Peter Regenyei's feders are very popular, so that might be a good choice.

There are several other relatively inexpensive Czech makers on that site that look pretty good as well. I am thinking of order a Mac Arms longsword myself.

edit: I'd also recommend saving up and getting a decent sharp sword, and training cutting. I personally don't do it often enough, but it's a valuable part of ensuring your strikes are effective.

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another"

Wisconsin Historical Fencing Association (WHFA)
A HEMA Alliance Affiliate
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Roberto C





Joined: 31 Oct 2013

Posts: 12

PostPosted: Sun 03 Nov, 2013 10:18 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thanks for the link, there are some interesting pieces. I'm not big on sharp swords right now because cutting bottles is too easy for me by now and I definitely don't have enough money for tatami or something that requires more cutting technique.
We are a small group by now (my country definitely does not have a long tradition of HEMA or that kind of martial arts) but we are trying hard to be good at it Happy.

I will keep looking at the Czech manufacturers.

I'm no longer interested on the Danish one, I think I want it more for the aesthetics rather than it's shape and characteristics, it looks like a thrusting sword mainly and I need something more classical and able to perform on cutting, though I'm still interested on the 15th century longsword from DKS but no one seems to have it :/.

Again thanks to those who have been posting.
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