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Michael Edelson
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 Posted: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 10:47 am Post subject: MRL German War Sword? |
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Hi,
I've been unsuccessfully trying to find information about this particular sword. Does anyone have this sword or had the opportunity to handle it?
I'm particularly concerned with the blade and how whippy it is. Hilt looseness I can fix, but not an overly whippy blade.
You can see the sword I mean here:
http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~5009...+Sword.htm
New York Historical Fencing Association
www.newyorklongsword.com
Byakkokan Dojo
http://newyorkbattodo.com/
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 11:02 am Post subject: Re: MRL German War Sword? |
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| Michael Edelson wrote: | Hi,
I've been unsuccessfully trying to find information about this particular sword. Does anyone have this sword or had the opportunity to handle it?
I'm particularly concerned with the blade and how whippy it is. Hilt looseness I can fix, but not an overly whippy blade.
You can see the sword I mean here:
http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~5009...+Sword.htm |
You might P.M. Bob Burns who is a member here as he has offered in the past to check stuff out at Kult of Athena for people here as he goes to the store often and he can also ask the owner to handle it and tell you what he thinks of it as far as blade stiffness is concerned.
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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Michael Edelson
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Jean Henri Chandler
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| Posted: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 11:37 am Post subject: Re: MRL German War Sword? |
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| Michael Edelson wrote: | Hi,
I've been unsuccessfully trying to find information about this particular sword. Does anyone have this sword or had the opportunity to handle it?
I'm particularly concerned with the blade and how whippy it is. Hilt looseness I can fix, but not an overly whippy blade.
You can see the sword I mean here:
http://www.kultofathena.com/product~item~5009...+Sword.htm |
If you do find out anything please post it here I'm interested in that one as well, I really like the way it looks.
J
Books and games on Medieval Europe Codex Integrum
Codex Guide to the Medieval Baltic Now available in print
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Andrew Fox
Location: S.F. Bay Area Joined: 25 Jan 2004
Posts: 50
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| Posted: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 11:52 am Post subject: |
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A friend of mine recently bought one of those and I had a chance to handle it. The blade is quite stiff and not whippy in the least. It actually seems like a much more attractive and well proportioned weapon in person than in photos. The thing I cared for least about it--although again it looks better in person than in photos--was the bare wooden grip. It's been a couple months since I saw it, but I should have a chance to handle it in the next week or two and will try to take some pictures, measurements, etc.
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Michael Edelson
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| Posted: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 11:57 am Post subject: |
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| Andrew Fox wrote: | | A friend of mine recently bought one of those and I had a chance to handle it. The blade is quite stiff and not whippy in the least. It actually seems like a much more attractive and well proportioned weapon in person than in photos. The thing I cared for least about it--although again it looks better in person than in photos--was the bare wooden grip. It's been a couple months since I saw it, but I should have a chance to handle it in the next week or two and will try to take some pictures, measurements, etc. |
Hi Andrew,
Was the blade thicker than other MRL swords you've seen? I ask because despite a slender blade, the sword weighs almost 3.5lbs. Is this weight in the blade or is the pommel just that massive?
New York Historical Fencing Association
www.newyorklongsword.com
Byakkokan Dojo
http://newyorkbattodo.com/
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Sean Flynt
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Andrew Fox
Location: S.F. Bay Area Joined: 25 Jan 2004
Posts: 50
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| Posted: Wed 21 Feb, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Michael Edelson wrote: | | Andrew Fox wrote: | | A friend of mine recently bought one of those and I had a chance to handle it. The blade is quite stiff and not whippy in the least. It actually seems like a much more attractive and well proportioned weapon in person than in photos. The thing I cared for least about it--although again it looks better in person than in photos--was the bare wooden grip. It's been a couple months since I saw it, but I should have a chance to handle it in the next week or two and will try to take some pictures, measurements, etc. |
Hi Andrew,
Was the blade thicker than other MRL swords you've seen? I ask because despite a slender blade, the sword weighs almost 3.5lbs. Is this weight in the blade or is the pommel just that massive? |
Michael,
Both the pommel and crossguard are pretty massive affairs, so no doubt that's where all the weight is. The blade's a pretty standard Windlass product, but, as I mentioned before, the sword I handled was not whippy.
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Lancelot Chan
Industry Professional
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Michael Edelson
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| Posted: Thu 22 Feb, 2007 9:38 am Post subject: |
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Well, all you guys that want to know more are in luck. 
I bought the thing and it will be here tommorrow. I'll write up a mini-review over the weekend.
New York Historical Fencing Association
www.newyorklongsword.com
Byakkokan Dojo
http://newyorkbattodo.com/
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Lancelot Chan
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Thu 22 Feb, 2007 9:58 am Post subject: |
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After the test cutting review, you're doing us another great service! 
| Michael Edelson wrote: | Well, all you guys that want to know more are in luck.
I bought the thing and it will be here tommorrow. I'll write up a mini-review over the weekend. |
Ancient Combat Association —http://www.acahk.org
Realistic Sparring Weapons — http://www.rsw.com.hk
Nightstalkers — http://www.nightstalkers.com.hk
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Jean Thibodeau
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| Posted: Thu 22 Feb, 2007 11:29 am Post subject: |
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| Michael Edelson wrote: | Well, all you guys that want to know more are in luck.
I bought the thing and it will be here tommorrow. I'll write up a mini-review over the weekend. |
Oh, consider writing an official review if you are going to go into any deep detail and write something long in any case.  
Might as well make it something that will be up front and easily available rather than it getting lost in the mists of old posts.
A short review right now would be O.K. if you reserve all the pics. statistics, and long text for the OFFICIAL review.
( Sorry, Chad, if I'm getting to this suggestion first.  )
You can easily give up your freedom. You have to fight hard to get it back!
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Chad Arnow
myArmoury Team
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| Posted: Thu 22 Feb, 2007 11:35 am Post subject: |
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| Jean Thibodeau wrote: |
( Sorry, Chad, if I'm getting to this suggestion first. ) |
Not first. We've already talked about it.
ChadA
http://chadarnow.com/
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Michael Edelson
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| Posted: Fri 23 Feb, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Chad Arnow wrote: | | Jean Thibodeau wrote: |
( Sorry, Chad, if I'm getting to this suggestion first. ) |
Not first. We've already talked about it. |
Sorry guys, I don't think I'll be doing one...I really don't like this sword and am probably going to send it back.
The blade is pretty good. Too flexible for the type, but not whippy. I'm happy with the blade...my problem is with the fittings. This sword actually weighs 3.75lbs, and it's all in the hilt. The crossguard is massively thick and the pommel is a mace head. The sword has a 1" COG and holding it is like holding a hilt without a sword. A sword with a blade like this should weigh 2.5lbs or less.
Here's a good impression of this sword: take a heavy war sword, like the Albion Svante. Remove the blade, and replace it with you kid's plastic toy sword blade. That's how this sword feels.
New York Historical Fencing Association
www.newyorklongsword.com
Byakkokan Dojo
http://newyorkbattodo.com/
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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| Posted: Fri 23 Feb, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Michael Edelson wrote: | | Sorry guys, I don't think I'll be doing one...I really don't like this sword and am probably going to send it back. |
There is nothing to say that all reviews must be good reviews. A critique of a product that misses the mark might just be more useful to the reader than the same 'ol glowing words we always get to read.
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Michael Edelson
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| Posted: Fri 23 Feb, 2007 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Nathan Robinson wrote: | | Michael Edelson wrote: | | Sorry guys, I don't think I'll be doing one...I really don't like this sword and am probably going to send it back. |
There is nothing to say that all reviews must be good reviews. A critique of a product that misses the mark might just be more useful to the reader than the same 'ol glowing words we always get to read. |
Hi Nathan,
I know, and I wouldn't mind giving such a review. The problem is that I don't want to keep this sword. At this point, it's about a 90% chance that it's going back in its box and to the post office on Monday morning. If for some reason I decide to keep it, I'll definitely do a review.
New York Historical Fencing Association
www.newyorklongsword.com
Byakkokan Dojo
http://newyorkbattodo.com/
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Nathan Robinson
myArmoury Admin
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| Posted: Fri 23 Feb, 2007 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Michael Edelson wrote: | | I know, and I wouldn't mind giving such a review. The problem is that I don't want to keep this sword. At this point, it's about a 90% chance that it's going back in its box and to the post office on Monday morning. If for some reason I decide to keep it, I'll definitely do a review. |
That makes a lot of sense. Let me say that I'm sorry you were not happy with your purchase. Hindsight being 20/20, I can completely see the characteristics you describe now looking at the photo. It looks like a very large hilt (particularly the pommel) compared to it's acutely-tapering blade. Thanks much for the report.
.:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:.
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Lancelot Chan
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Fri 23 Feb, 2007 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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I ordered one myself, along with the Windlass Shamshir and 15th Century longsword, all sharpened. The latter two were my customers' purchases, while the war sword was bought as teaching tools. I also find the 1 inch balance a bit surprising but some WMA practitioners in Spain seem to insist that it was the ideal balance point for them. They said they have handled antiques that exhibits the same handling characteristics. In the past when I discussed with them about their favored POB being too close, they in return thought the Albion, Arms and Armors swords were made with a POB too far.
So I guess if they've really handled antiques that have such a close POB, perhaps the War Sword isn't all off. But then would I want such a sword myself as my personal sword? Probably not.
:P
Ancient Combat Association —http://www.acahk.org
Realistic Sparring Weapons — http://www.rsw.com.hk
Nightstalkers — http://www.nightstalkers.com.hk
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Michael Edelson
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| Posted: Sat 24 Feb, 2007 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Lancelot Chan wrote: | I ordered one myself, along with the Windlass Shamshir and 15th Century longsword, all sharpened. The latter two were my customers' purchases, while the war sword was bought as teaching tools. I also find the 1 inch balance a bit surprising but some WMA practitioners in Spain seem to insist that it was the ideal balance point for them. They said they have handled antiques that exhibits the same handling characteristics. In the past when I discussed with them about their favored POB being too close, they in return thought the Albion, Arms and Armors swords were made with a POB too far.
So I guess if they've really handled antiques that have such a close POB, perhaps the War Sword isn't all off. But then would I want such a sword myself as my personal sword? Probably not.
:P |
It's not the point of balance being one inch that bothers me, it's how it's achieved and what that means in terms of the sword's dynamic balance.
Consider two swords I own...one a wooden waster with a zinc anode for a pommel with a COG 4.5" from the cross. The other an Albion Earl with the same COG. Although the COG is the same, the feel of the swords is very different. The waster's weight feels like it's in the pommel (which it is) and you're holding a swinging pendulum, whereas the Earl feels magnificent and powerful.
I'm not quite sure how the words "pivot point" are used these days, but to me, "pivot point" is a measure of dynamic balance of a sword. The pivot point, to me, is the point at which the sword feels like it wants to rotate around when it's held in both hands. The waster's pivot point is somewhere on the handle, whereas the Earls' is on the blade near the cross, where it should be. The waster's pivot point is wrong, and so is the one on the German War Sword.
The hilt is so massive and the blade so whimpy that the two feel completely mismatched. Not just in terms of handling and pivot points, but in aesthetics and overall feel.
In short, yuck.
And that is a real shame, because if not for the ludicrously oversized hilt components, this would be a very nice sword.
New York Historical Fencing Association
www.newyorklongsword.com
Byakkokan Dojo
http://newyorkbattodo.com/
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Brian Hook
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| Posted: Mon 26 Feb, 2007 10:54 am Post subject: |
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Handling the sword at Michael's house this weekend before practice, I have to agree. This sword is a stinker, The pommel is huge heavy and looks like Windless found a left over shippment of old bathroom doorknobs, The grip is uncomfortable and ugly, and the grey paint( think it was paint) on the pommel and cross are very modern looking. The balance on the sword is very off, so off I didn't run through Liechtenauer's guards with it has I do with most long swords I handle due to the fact I was afraid of damaging Michael's house due to the blade flying up. The only thing nice about the sword is blade which would make a nice project sword, but not at the price MRL is selling the sword for. This sword is a step in the wrong direction for MRL.
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This is a standard topic