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Richard Miller




Location: Santa Barbara
Joined: 16 Jun 2014
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PostPosted: Wed 30 Mar, 2016 9:16 pm    Post subject: New MRL-Windlass Series "BATTLECRY"         Reply with quote

I've been looking at the new line of swords just released at Museum Replicas. I'm not a big fan of "antiqued" finishes, but the stats look good, and the hand and a half might make a good back yard cutter/ starter sword.
Any other impressions?
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Travis Canaday




Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Joined: 24 Oct 2005

Posts: 147

PostPosted: Wed 30 Mar, 2016 9:55 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I assume you are referring to these:

http://www.museumreplicas.com/m-115-battlecry-by-windlass.aspx

When you say the "hand and half" sword, I'm not sure if you mean the Bosworth Longsword or the Agincourt War Sword. They all look completely non-historical, the Viking sword being the worst (just awful). But for the price it could be a fun back yard toy. It looks like the pommels are peened, which is nice. The blades could always be sanded and the hilts rewrapped if you wanted to take the time.

My advice would be to save up and get something you will be proud to own. Why spend $256 for a goofy ahistorical piece, when you could save up $484.50 and get something from Valiant Armoury like this:

http://www.valiant-armoury.com/index.php?rout...duct_id=57

That being just one example of possible options for just a bit more money. Of course you will have to wait for it, but than you'll end up with something to treasure.

Happy hunting!

Travis
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Joshua Waters




Location: South Carolina
Joined: 15 Dec 2013

Posts: 38

PostPosted: Wed 30 Mar, 2016 10:04 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Their stats look pretty reasonable, but about the same as any other Windlass swords. They do have a larger price tag though. To me, it seems the Battlecry line is like Windlass's version of Cold Steel's Man-At-Arms series. The Acre sword is almost cosmetically and statistically identical to the MRL Classic Medieval Sword, and the only notable difference is the Acre is blackened and slightly more heavy.
Though, the Agincourt hand-and-a-half is one of the better looking swords of that series.

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Nathan Robinson
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PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 1:00 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

The entire line looks just absolutely terrible.
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Mike Ruhala




Location: Stuart, Florida
Joined: 24 Jul 2011

Posts: 335

PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 9:59 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Agreed. For the price you'd be much better off getting a Hanwei Tinker line Norman or Viking.
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Mark Griffin




Location: The Welsh Marches, in the hills above Newtown, Powys.
Joined: 28 Dec 2006

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PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 11:44 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

If only people put as much effort into researching, designing and making these things as they do writing the pseudo-curatorial guff they print along side them they might get a better result.
Currently working on projects ranging from Elizabethan pageants to a WW1 Tank, Victorian fairgrounds 1066 events and more. Oh and we joust loads!.. We run over 250 events for English Heritage each year plus many others for Historic Royal Palaces, Historic Scotland, the National Trust and more. If you live in the UK and are interested in working for us just drop us a line with a cv.
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Daniel Sullivan




Location: California
Joined: 02 Apr 2004
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PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 1:36 pm    Post subject: New MRL Windlass series ...         Reply with quote

Appears to me that their marketing research people, If they exist, are making use of a Ouija Board. Nathan is being very kind ....

Cheers,
Dan
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Robert Morgan




Location: Sunny SoCal
Joined: 10 Sep 2012

Posts: 90

PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 1:45 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I must admit, the Agincourt looks good to me aesthetically. By that I mean the sword's design, not the blackened finish. That, I cannot abide. It looks as if Windlass is trying to up its game with this line, and if so they are to be applauded. However, I'd really prefer they focused on improving their current product line instead of starting up a gimmicky product line.

I'll likely be passing. I'm really lusting after the Valiant Templar Longsword and perhaps their falchion, both of which are known quantities quality-wise and come with decent to nice sheaths. Were Windlass to seriously mark the Battlecry line down, then perhaps I'd take a chance on one, but for what the price points are now for a horribly blackened, overly antiqued sword, well I'll pass.

Bob
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Joe Fults




Location: Midwest
Joined: 02 Sep 2003

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PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 2:45 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Worked for Cold Steel right? So why not Windlass? I think the things look crappy and I think its a lazy effort. I'm sure they will try to sell them as tough and tougher guy weapons. The Clements promotional videos are another barrel of fun.
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Collin D




Location: Upper Peninsula, MI
Joined: 23 Jun 2013

Posts: 25

PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 3:21 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I'm a fan of their Medieval Falchion and I'd love to see a Conyers-style from them to do a little customization, so I was excited to see a new falchion there, and I like the look of the pommel (the shape of course, not finish)... close, but no cigar. I also really do have to wonder what they could possibly have been thinking with the grips on the seax and Viking sword.
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James Gibson




Location: Mobile Alabama
Joined: 24 Jan 2016

Posts: 7

PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 5:21 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

It looks like the Cold steel for a reason. Windlass bought out cold steel. They are essentially the same company. Some Windlass swords look okay but I think that most of their larger blades are too thin. I tend to steer clear.
Occam's razor was a bastard sword
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Jonathan Blair




Location: Hanover, PA
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PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 5:27 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Joe Fults wrote:
The Clements promotional videos are another barrel of fun.

They are good for a laugh!

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." - The Lord Jesus Christ, from The Gospel According to Saint Matthew, chapter x, verse 34, Authorized Version of 1611
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Glen A Cleeton




Location: Nipmuc USA
Joined: 21 Aug 2003

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PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 6:29 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

James Gibson wrote:
It looks like the Cold steel for a reason. Windlass bought out cold steel. They are essentially the same company. Some Windlass swords look okay but I think that most of their larger blades are too thin. I tend to steer clear.


We know that Windlass has been a supplier of goods to Cold Steel but I have read nothing of Windlass buying out Cold Steel and Lynn Thompson. Do you have any Information and source for Windlass buying Cold Steel? They have been collaborative for some time.

Cheers

GC
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J.D. Crawford




Location: Toronto
Joined: 25 Dec 2006

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PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 6:56 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Are these blades supposed to be overbuilt compared to the usual Windlass products?

The 'medieval Acre Crusader Broadsword' appears to be a heavier, blackened version of their Classic Medieval Sword, with a different grip. The Classic Medieval is a good sword for the price. I would rather get the original sword and upgrade the grip (that is, if I hadn't already bought and sold one years ago).
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Craig Peters




PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 7:22 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I just watched a couple of the videos, the one about the Bosworth and the one about the Acre. It’s telling that most of Mr. Clement’s presentation is focused upon long swords in general, or single-handed swords in general, rather than his impressions about the handling and quality of the individual swords. The Acre’s main selling point seems to be that the sword will have the same edge as those shown in the video. There seems to be even fewer specific selling points for the Bosworth. I wonder how many of the enthusiastic Windlass viewers noticed this?
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Richard Miller




Location: Santa Barbara
Joined: 16 Jun 2014
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Posts: 88

PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 10:03 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Travis Canaday wrote:
I assume you are referring to these:

http://www.museumreplicas.com/m-115-battlecry-by-windlass.aspx

When you say the "hand and half" sword, I'm not sure if you mean the Bosworth Longsword or the Agincourt War Sword. They all look completely non-historical, the Viking sword being the worst (just awful). But for the price it could be a fun back yard toy. It looks like the pommels are peened, which is nice. The blades could always be sanded and the hilts rewrapped if you wanted to take the time.

My advice would be to save up and get something you will be proud to own. Why spend $256 for a goofy ahistorical piece, when you could save up $484.50 and get something from Valiant Armoury like this:

http://www.valiant-armoury.com/index.php?rout...duct_id=57

That being just one example of possible options for just a bit more money. Of course you will have to wait for it, but than you'll end up with something to treasure.

Happy hunting!


Actually, I have some pretty fine swords already. I have an Albion Constable and couldn't be more thrilled with it. The majority of my collection isn't near that caliber of sword, but I own a couple Valiant Armoury pieces (the Brighton and the standard longsword) and anyone can see that the new MRL line is nowhere near a high quality sword!

I was thinking that the Agincourt might not be a bad starting sword for some bottle cutting, but nothing for a serious cutter.

Also, I hadn't heard anything about MRL and Cold Steel merging or buy-outs. I live very near Cold Steel's main office in Ventura, CA and our local newspaper covers locally based business' really well. I would think something would've been mentioned, but who knows?
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Mario M.




Location: Croatia
Joined: 31 Mar 2016

Posts: 107

PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 10:07 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I do not understand, why are they blackened so?

Is there any reasoning for this or are they just doing it for the "tactical" look?

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Richard Miller




Location: Santa Barbara
Joined: 16 Jun 2014
Likes: 26 pages

Posts: 88

PostPosted: Thu 31 Mar, 2016 10:26 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Mario M. wrote:
I do not understand, why are they blackened so?

Is there any reasoning for this or are they just doing it for the "tactical" look?


I don't think that they're going for the "Tactical Look" with this series. Looks to me as if they're going for the "antiqued" look and finished them as such.

Hanwei has antiqued finishes on a few of their models : Claymore, Lowlander and one of their Bastard models.

I like the antiqued finish on "beaters", though. I don't worry about scuffing up the shine because a few scuffs and scratches make even more like an oldie. The antiqued stuff is also more rust resistant, but I still keep them oiled.
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Christopher Gregg




Location: Louisville, KY
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
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Posts: 675

PostPosted: Fri 01 Apr, 2016 12:15 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Collin D wrote:
I also really do have to wonder what they could possibly have been thinking with the grips on the seax and Viking sword.


Perhaps they are trying to copy the look of certain Sabersmith swords I have seen being sold at various Renaissance Faires. Take a look - they're ridiculously overbuilt and fantastical-looking, just like these Battlecry Viking pieces.

link

Christopher Gregg

'S Rioghal Mo Dhream!
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Travis Canaday




Location: Overland Park, Kansas
Joined: 24 Oct 2005

Posts: 147

PostPosted: Fri 01 Apr, 2016 12:51 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Richard Miller wrote:

Actually, I have some pretty fine swords already. I have an Albion Constable and couldn't be more thrilled with it. The majority of my collection isn't near that caliber of sword, but I own a couple Valiant Armoury pieces (the Brighton and the standard longsword) and anyone can see that the new MRL line is nowhere near a high quality sword!


Well than you know what's up. When you asked about a good starter sword I assumed you were just getting in to the sword world.

Travis
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