Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2009 4:10:55 GMT
I've looked through some past threads and the general consensus is that the G2 falcata is most people's favorite. Ideally I'd like to a get a beater like the cold steel kopis machete (which was discontinued unfortunately, but windlass might have something like that) and also a nice display piece of high carbon steel that holds a nice edge. Has anyone seen these: www.aceros-de-hispania.com/gb/infer.asp?ac=5&trabajo=listar&pa=romanas&sg=romanas? They appear to be of stainless steel so I suppose they won't hold a nice edge but they sure do look nice. Maybe they are Toledo? I'm also eying the valiantco.com one:
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2009 12:39:47 GMT
The best balanced falcata I have ever handled is the Del Tin one. And I am quite sure it is as durable as Gen2 or even more. But it is also a bit more expensive. Look here: www.kultofathena.com/swords-ancient.htm
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2009 17:22:53 GMT
Why oh why oh WHY do the best versions of this sword type keep getting discontinued?? I have Windlass's Horsehead Falcata (the one with the hardwood handle) And I almost missed out on because I hesitated to order it from the MRL catalog until too late, but I caught it a couple of years ago on eBay.
Yet it's one of the best swords I've ever handled, period, including high-end production and custom pieces--and Windlass had them at about $175! But ... dropped it?? And I know of countless people who thought CS's Kopis machete was one of their best offerings ever. What are these companies using as management strategy? Geez.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2009 22:18:57 GMT
I'd recommend Himalayan Imports. Their Falcata (and everything they sell) are all one-offs pretty much. You could get a Falcata for less then $300 from them and it would be differentially hardened and made in Nepal. I own about 7 pieces from them and they are all great tools. www.himalayan-imports.com They don't have falcatas listed on their main page, but you can email Yangdu ( the owner) and she can put an order through to the shop and have the Kamis make one. edit: here's a pic of one of their Falcata:
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 8, 2009 1:11:24 GMT
I definitely recommend the Del Tin Falcata... it may be a bit more expensive than some of the other makes, but it's worth it. It's well-balanced and has a "flow" to it, it you know whut I mean... I've heard good things about the Valiant Kopis (pictured above). The blade is fairly short (15 1/2 inch, or so?) but apparently it cuts well enough! lemal -- you have one of those old Windlass Horsehead falcatas??? :jealous grrrr... I've been looking for one for a while... this falcata was not only nice-looking, but pretty accurate, historically -- including the "full tang" construction (The DT, as good as it is, uses a standard tang peened at the "bottom" of the grip, which isn't correct. It's solid, and it works, but it's just not accurate. The current Windlass, Deepeekas, Gen 2's, etc. are all constructed the same way, I think). Oh well, I've said it of MRL before, but they seem to prefer to avoid historical accuracy in their ancient-era swords, which is probably why they dumped it....
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 10, 2009 22:33:13 GMT
BE jealous, dwilson. Be very, VERY jealous. (Hey, if you want to enjoy some good schadenfreunde, I'm still kicking myself for not buying TWO when they were in the catalog ...)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 12, 2009 10:54:06 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Brendan Olszowy on May 12, 2009 11:00:04 GMT
Yeah how nuts is that? Unreal stuff...
|
|
|
Post by kidcasanova on May 13, 2009 3:24:34 GMT
I apologize to Sean in advance, but....Sooooooo hot, want to touch the pommel!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 3:16:23 GMT
I just received a "Falcon Alexander" from Scorpion Bows: It is, for all intents and purposes, a Kopis (they don't call it that, but that's what it is). I'm in the process of putting together a more formal evaluation, but so far, I'd say it's one tough mother. And it's accurate. It's the most historically accurate Kopis on the market, IMHO (not that it's saying much, since the Kopis market is rather sparse).
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 13:11:34 GMT
Yeah how nuts is that? Unreal stuff... Seconded; that was a nasty little bit of work there.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2009 6:37:00 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2009 4:55:13 GMT
I just received a "Falcon Alexander" from Scorpion Bows: It is, for all intents and purposes, a Kopis (they don't call it that, but that's what it is). I'm in the process of putting together a more formal evaluation, but so far, I'd say it's one tough mother. And it's accurate. It's the most historically accurate Kopis on the market, IMHO (not that it's saying much, since the Kopis market is rather sparse). I noticed that the blade was made of 1/4" thick stock. Was it topheavy at all, or did it have a "distal taper" that gave it better balance? Could you thrust and parry well with it, or was it better suited for just slashing and chopping?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2009 1:22:31 GMT
I noticed that the blade was made of 1/4" thick stock. Was it topheavy at all, or did it have a "distal taper" that gave it better balance? Could you thrust and parry well with it, or was it better suited for just slashing and chopping? Here's my more formal review of the sword: /index.cgi?board=ancientswords&action=display&thread=10833
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2009 1:55:24 GMT
Ah, here she is ... the Horsehead Falcata. My "wabisabi" simple beauty. Yet another of the designs Windlass--in its self-destructive wisdom--discontinued. (Yet that I would stack against any piece, production or custom.) Just in case anyone never got a chance to see one when it was in the catalog. Doesn't cost thousands of dollars. Doesn't need to.
|
|
Marc Ridgeway
Member
Retired Global Moderator
"The best cost less when you buy it the first time." - Papabear
Posts: 3,122
|
Post by Marc Ridgeway on Jul 25, 2009 2:33:39 GMT
Speaking of horsehead falcata heres a custom number by Jesus... the difference is easy to apperciate, for me anyway. Few stack up to this ... IMHO
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2009 2:40:25 GMT
Oh, aesthetically, there's no question I agree with you! I followed the earlier link to that one and drooled over it until caving in to the temptation to save a picture if I can't have the real thing. But cutting ability? Handling? Durability? If the "Princess" there were ever taken from her palace into the field I'd dare it to outperform my baby. (Some Girls Next Door really are more than a match for the supermodel.)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2009 6:08:30 GMT
Lemal: that is made by Jesus Hernandez mate, I think it would perform exceptionally well. Which baby are you talking about the falx?
What I don't get is why the hell everyone wants to clay temper everything?!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2009 14:26:56 GMT
Oh, no, just my Windlass HH Falcata! And of course I believe Jesus's falcata would function well, without a doubt. If I could justify the expense, I'd love to buy one.
I am saying this: it's justified extra price is for the craftsmanship that goes into its beauty. But I doubt highly it handles any better than the Windlass, and I'd put big money down that the Windlass will cut anything Jesus's will, and anything capable of breaking the Windlass would do the same to his.
It reminds me of this cool, brilliant biotech polymath I do a lot of work for in companies he founds--his true love is performance cars, and he makes competition dragsters and precision makes parts and designs for other kinds of racers. One of his prized cars is a specialized Audi with a Lamborghini V12 engine. Another is one of the first cars he built, a muscle car, who's getting a new custom engine courtesy of his son, and engine that trounced everything at the Mopar Dyno Challenge.
He drives around the Audi, but he'd never give it up for the muscle car--and would be the first to tell you that, despite costing a fraction of the Audi (though he did get it on auction for about 2/3 price) there's really nothing practical one could do with the first that couldn't be matched with the latter. (Well, maybe drive cross-country with less risk of hemorrhoids. The Audi IS hella comfortable!)
Sometimes "better" is nothing more than prettier. And, I callede it my "wabisabi" beauty for a definite reason; sometimes there is untold spirituality found in the very functional but weathered and "unpretty."
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2009 1:07:05 GMT
FWIW, I emailed this vendor about the availability and price of this item some time ago and never received a response.
|
|