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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 11:29:09 GMT
My son and I plan to hole up during the winter with "Fighting With The German Longsword" by Christian Henry Tobler and a couple of wasters, and come spring I'd like to take a longsword and show some terrified water bottles my new found skill and ease with the blade. I know there are a lot of options when it comes to a longsword but I've really got my eye on the Windlass 15th Century Longsword. (Frankly, I just like it's looks) I've read the review here and it says the blade is a mite whippy, so I'm prepared to deal with that. Does anyone have anything really extremely negative to say about this sword? One note, I was originally going to go with the VA Atrim longsword which I understand would be a much higher quality sword but the grip on that is only seven inches and while that might be a two handed grip for some folks that's barely hand and a half for me, and I want a solid two hand grip longsword. I considered the Hanwei Tinker Great Sword Of War and that's still a possible fall back but I want something weighted and built to handle like a longsword. Other opinions gladly welcomed, my budget is around 300 give or take and this won't be for another three or four months (She Who Keeps The Books gives me a hundred a month for the Sword Fund), less is of course better.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 12:53:30 GMT
If you want a "longsword not a great sword", why not the tinker/hanwei longsword then?
I don't know much about that windlass model.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 13:03:01 GMT
If you want a "longsword not a great sword", why not the tinker/hanwei longsword then? I don't know much about that windlass model. Good question. Although it is pretty steep pricewise. I Just flat forgot about it, it was out of stock at some few places I looked and I let it slip from my mind. I wonder though if it's enough better to spend a hundred more dollars on it? If anyone has tried both and can weigh in I'd be interested. Thank you Ancalagon, for bringing that up I appreciate it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 13:14:33 GMT
Thinker = Good.
Windlass = Hit or miss.
M.
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Post by Eaglehawk on Dec 11, 2009 15:37:53 GMT
Valiant Armory is coming out with an Atrim War Sword. You might want to wait for that before you make your decision. They also have a Bastard sword coming, but I believe the grip will be seven inches which you have stated is too small for you.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 16:23:24 GMT
go with the Windlass 15th c. (love the one I have - pay no attention to the "whippiness" poo) or the V-A AT304s....just my vote.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 16:46:21 GMT
The H/T Longsword has a 9" grip and a total length of 47" (35" blade) and weighs in at 2 oz. under 3lbs; it IS worth the extra $100 as this sword is head and shoulders above most Windlass offerings. Windlass swords generally exhibit a good amount of flex once the blades get over 30" or so...flex is good, very good for a cutting blade but if you're looking for thrusting capability then you'd need something a bit more rigid.
Don't get me wrong, I've got a number of Windlasses in my collection; a couple diamonds in the rough and the rest just so-so...if I could do it all over again, I probably would only own a Windlass or two, the rest being the mid to higher-end production swords you see today.
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Post by brotherbanzai on Dec 11, 2009 20:18:54 GMT
Hey slackitude, billiam and I always disagree on this one I too have the windlass 15th century. I practice German long sword and find that particular sword to be inadequate. It should be fine for cutting some bottles but in my opinion is not a good sword for German long sword. The grip is only 7 1/4" long. I can't really use it to do the various techniques unless I grip the pommel with my rear hand. Some masters advise against that and on a sword with a screw on pommel it is a definite no-no. The blade on mine is less than 3/16" thick at the base which is too thin for a longsword and means it is quite flexible at the strong where it should be stiff. It could be fine for throwing some Meisterhau around in the air but not very good for winding and binding, which is the essence of German long sword. To do the techniques with both hands on the grip you'll likely want a sword that has a good 8 1/2 inched of grip. You have far better leverage when you can grip the sword with some space between your hands. If you really want the windlass, I'll gladly sell you mine. It's nice to look at but that's about all it has going for it from my point of view.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2009 20:52:30 GMT
if your strictly looking for a sparring longsword then do go with something other than the Windlass....but it's not out of possiblities.....as seen here. Check out the guy in the tan pants and what he is using against higher end swords. I corresponded with him before I bought mine and he said after lengthing the grip a bit with sopring washers and rounding the edges / point...it's held its own against the "big boys"..
I really like my AT301b for a training tool......
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2009 3:06:07 GMT
Hmmm...Thank you, everyone who's offered up an opinion. I didn't know the Windlass grip was that short. I don't like the idea of having to lengthen the grip, I'm still a newbie and other than maybe a little touching up on the edge I'd like the sword to come ready to go out of the box. I also didn't know that whippiness was a particular problem with German longsword. Now I'm leaning more towards the HT Longsword. I wish I could just agree with everyone who took the time and trouble to post here, but I have to make a decision. It's still months away but I'm a little OCD about having my ducks in a row as far ahead of time as possible.
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Post by keltic on Dec 12, 2009 4:32:28 GMT
my lord the tinker long sword is a wonderful begging to med level longsword ,light ,vry wielding, and move vry well though italian.german guards. the great thing is that u can change blades from sharp to dull in minutes. iv been studing under davenriche european martial arts school for about 2 years tis a great sword to start out with hope this helps keltic
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Dec 12, 2009 4:43:18 GMT
I were making the decision you are trying to make I would go for a H/T Longsword. hands down, no questions asked. it has the grip length, the stiffness, the handling and is by all accounts a wonderful sword. I'm also confident of my ability to sharpen so I'd not worry about the edge that some people complain about. but that's just me. I own a VA AT304 longsword and I love it. but I would like a longer grip for doing some of those moves in the fechtbuchs. for backyard cutting only the at304 is hard to beat but if you want something that works well for German longsword traditions the H/T is by far the best fit in our price range. I've even hear experienced longswordsmen say they like their H/T blunt trainers better than Albion or A&A equivelants. the thing to remember her is that the H/T models are made to handle the same in both blunt and sharp versions so you can practice and spar with a sword the feels identicle to the sword you cut with.
these swords were made with training in mind. that is worth a lot, I think
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2009 7:13:13 GMT
I were making the decision you are trying to make I would go for a H/T Longsword. hands down, no questions asked. it has the grip length, the stiffness, the handling and is by all accounts a wonderful sword. I'm also confident of my ability to sharpen so I'd not worry about the edge that some people complain about. but that's just me. Even though I haven't used it yet I just today got my belt sander from Harbor Freight so I feel a (probably misplaced) confidence in my ability to sharpen a blade. I know I need to practice with it but I hear the learning curve isn't too terribly steep and your videos seem like they'll be a big help.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2009 11:56:56 GMT
In the end, the decision is totally yours on what you choose to go with. It's the old thing of what is good for one may not be good for another.
Personally, I don't care for the Tinkers I've tried. We were able to use the longsword prototype's a while before Tinker gave his final go over because at the time, one of our guilde members (he still is,just not active) was / is the Marketing Director for CAS. The prototype's were better that the production models, except for the overly square-ish grip. The production blunts we'vefound the edge's to be too high maintainance. Why have a trainer that in 6 months of regular use, you have to replace the blade, or do major filing of the divits after every practice. The sharp H/T are good for cutting and yes the grip is longer than the Windlass, but for some, it may be too long. People have complained about the pommel being too large and the grip too short Hanwei practical h&h, but you adapt.
there has been discussion about blunt trainers and how they react with other trainers not of the same model, and I've seen folks say ..."to match trainer swords for your longsword studies", which is silly to me. The people that actually used these types of weapons for battle or judicial duels didn't walk out on the field and say..'I can't fight him,,,,he doesn't have the same make sword". You learn to use what you have to it's fullest as best you can.
the whole flex / whippiness issue has been gone over a lot....to each his own desires.
Sorry for rambling on........this may be my last post for a while.
again may what ever you get serve you well for your intentions.
cheers,
Bill
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2009 13:04:07 GMT
It you want a good sparring blunt then hanwei's hand and a half practicals are really good swords that slide and bind extremely well and won't cost you the earth.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2009 16:10:24 GMT
Just to be clear here - are you looking for something to spar, or to cut? Blunts are mandatory for sparring*, and not a bad idea for drilling either?
Ancalagon
*ok, you *could* spar with a sharp, but well, it's your funeral.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2009 4:19:01 GMT
Definitely not sparring with a sharp blade so no worries there. I'm actually not sparring at all. My son and I are both completely untrained and we're going to use wasters to study the moves from "Fighting With The German Longsword" We're not pretending we can become proficient in this way we just hope to get a better understanding of the mechanics of how we should be moving with the sword to improve our cutting, which is what we'll be doing with the sword. (And also, I suppose, some drilling of the cutting motions) We may be motivated by this to purchase training blunts and seek out competent training but as of right now we just want to cut with a little more grace and authority. There are doubtless better ways to go about this but this one fits our budget and our situation and (I believe) is reasonably safe, though I stand ready to be corrected on that. So, as of right now, we're just two back yard cutters who'd like to improve our game a bit and need something to do while the snow is on the ground.
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Dec 13, 2009 4:55:51 GMT
sounds like a great way to spend the winter to me. I have improved both my sparring/fighting and my cutting skills by studying the traditional historic sword schools and fechtbuchs and I'm sure you will find you gain from it as well. even if you don't end up doing some techniques right you will still learn and improve from it.
I'd say the Hanwei Tinker is probably the best all around longsword in our price range, while the at304 is going to be just as good or better for strictly cutting but will be more difficult to use for some techniques out of the German schools because it realy isn't built for them while the H/T is built with them in mind.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2009 5:26:18 GMT
Well, I talked it over with my son and my wife, (she's involved in this now, too) gave it a lot of thought and finally decided that in three or four months, barring the introduction of some new sword into the mix, a Hanwei Tinker longsword will be on it's way to our house to live. Thanks to everyone for your input. Now I just have to figure out who's basket hilted broadsword I'm going with...
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2009 6:55:39 GMT
MRL is offering the Sword of Roven at closeout for $199. E Bay Hutchinson's has it for a couple of dollars less. I urge anybody to purchase this sword. It was previously labelled the Long Sword. This is a good sword. I am not a big fan of this sword. The handling isn´t exactly crisp...the cutting ability isn´t very good...and the pommel is threaded. It´s not a BAD sword...but unless it was in the sub 150 range (like say it was a MRL deal of the day), I would choose other swords over this one.
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