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Post by Anders on Nov 19, 2010 7:57:29 GMT
So, which is the best functional fantasy production sword available these days, all things considered?
-Best in the sub 300 range?
-Best period?
Not really looking to buy anything, just asking for opinions out of sheer curiosity.
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Post by Pete S on Nov 19, 2010 8:39:16 GMT
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Post by Anders on Nov 19, 2010 13:23:08 GMT
I'm pretty sure that's not a production sword, though.
I didn't want to include custom/unique pieces because it kinda misses the point of the question. (That is, finding which sword is the best fantasy offering on the production market.) Anyone can have an awesome custom made if you have the funds for it, after all.
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Nov 19, 2010 13:42:49 GMT
Ooh... I've been absolutely drooling over the Silvia Ringare (and the Guardian Warder) for some time now, so if VA picks it up for their Valhalla Collection, I don't care what I have to do, I'm getting one! Anders: That's a good point, since just about any one of Brenno's works at Fable Blades could easily make the list. My choice for best sub-300$ sword would have to be the DSA Anduril. I've never handled it, but I've heard good things about it: www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... uril+Sword (unfortunately, the only review on SBG is rather outdated and all the pictures have been removed) Best ever would be the Valiant Armory Valhalla Collection Warder: www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... tion+Sword I'm dying to get my hands on this baby and I've heard nothing but good things about it (well, the only bad things I've heard are mainly personal gripes against it, such as the grip being too short for some and many not liking the nut pommel) Also, they're not functional, but I think these three deserve honorable mentions simply for looking so awesome: Prince Nuada's Sword from Hellboy II - The Golden Army  Kit Rae's Avoloch Mithrodin  Kit Rae's Mithrodin  |
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Post by Pete S on Nov 19, 2010 16:49:30 GMT
Oops, I guess the word "production" didn't register with my brain when I read it. :oops: My revised pick for best production fantasy sword period: Raven Armouy's Evolution Scimitar. www.raven-armoury.co.uk/splitscab.htm (It will cost you more than an Odinblade custom but they say thay are making 100 of them, so I think it qualifys as "production" ) |
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Nov 19, 2010 16:51:39 GMT
Pete... It's official. I hate you. That Scimitar is so gorgeous and drool worthy... It's the poster child of sword porn for me and ah! I just want one of those so bad now. :lol:
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Nov 19, 2010 21:01:06 GMT
Vincent- I've handled the DSA you mentioned. Unless you're a well muscled 180+lb man, I doubt you, or anyone else, would like it. Jason Woodard may swing the thing like a toothpick, but that's because he's a tank, lol. It's almost 6lbs, with a pretty far out POB.  I honestly believe I'd be MORE dangerous with a crowbar than with that thing. It's a looker, for sure, but a far cry from a 'sword'. That being said, I'm going to expand my answer to include a few extra catagories... Best sub-$100 Fantasy sword- Hanwei Dark Sentinel. For $90 this thing is an epic steal. I miss mine. :cry: As for the best sub-$300, I think it's a tie between Windlass' Raptor and the Gen2 Chaos sword, which while 4lbs itself, is MUCH more manageable as a functional weapon than the DSA. Best sub $500 is the VA Warder, no doubt about it.  Best fantasy production sword, period? Albion has a few; I'm not familiar with them, but I know they exist. Any of those.   Hope this helps, -Slayer |
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Nov 19, 2010 21:37:54 GMT
That's a shame. I've always been a fan of the Anduril design as it appeared in the movie; something about that extended pommel, I guess.
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Nov 19, 2010 21:54:34 GMT
I agree. I LOVE the sword's design. It looks epic. But I don't think it can be done accurately without making it infeasible as a true weapon. Sure, Odindude could cut the weight back a lb or so, I bet, and make it handle better, but it still wouldn't be as functional as many other swords of the same length. Those fittings have to be incredibly heavy, so to keep the POB on the blade, you can't have much distal taper, which means the whole htings is similarly heavy. :cry: Oh, well. It IS a cool looking blade, for sure!  -Slayer |
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Post by chuckinohio on Nov 19, 2010 22:40:42 GMT
That 6 pound weight you referenced is more than likely the weight of the DSA Ranger, not the Anduril.
My Anduril weighs exactly 5 pounds.
Slayer is right on the mark though with his assessment of the heft of the Anduril, it is definitely a two handed only proposition. While it is not completely unwieldy, and is absolutely devastating to cut with, you would not be able to employ it like say a H/T londsword unless you were built like Schwarzenegger back in the day. I am 6'1" weigh 220, and it is a workout for me to wield it.
Visually it is very appealing, the price is right, and it is fully functional, so I love it.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Nov 20, 2010 5:59:33 GMT
If VA made a version of the Silvia Ringare I would buy the HELL out of it... that and the Celtic Wolf are two of my all time favorite swords... certainly my favorites from Odinblades. I would likely agree with Slayer on the Gen 2 Chaos sword.... for the sub 300 fantasy swords its pretty damn awesome. Its a tank... I've attacked targets with mine I would not touch with most of my swords and its destroyed them unscathed. I had mine done up with a custom purple grip and scabbard, which adds to the awesome... the stock grip on it really is %$#$. Best fantasy product sword at any price? Hmmm.... I'd have to go with this: www.myarmoury.com/review_alb_atlantean.html
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Post by Anders on Nov 21, 2010 12:33:32 GMT
Good input, everyone.
Bonus Question: Are functional fantasy swords underrepresented on the production market? From what I've seen, at least, there seems to be remarkably few of them compared to the historical designs.
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Nov 21, 2010 20:48:04 GMT
In my opinion... DEFINITELY. I think that maybe a couple % of functional production swords are fantasy, if that. Most would be katana, of course, but even considering euros vs fantasy, there are far more euros. I can count how many good, functional fantasy swords are available on the production market in my head, and I'll probably only forget a couple. If I tried that with euros, I'd get to 100+ and start forgetting the rest. Think- Albion, A@A, Del Tin, VA, Windlass, Gen2, DSA, ATrim, Hanwei, Cold Steel... those are only the most common makers, and they all focus on functional euros. Albion has a few fantasy pieces, but not NEARLY as many as it's historically based models. VA has ONE fantasy sword, the Warder, and while it's one of the best, it's still only one model. Windlass undoubtedly has the most fantasy models on the production market, but 80% of them aren't worth buying, and even so, they have more historical euros than fantasy swords. Gen2 and DSA both have a few fantasy pieces, maybe 1/4 of their line, approximately. Hanwei has a couple as well, I'm sure, but out of all of its many models, I can only think of one fantasy sword, so that barely counts. As for Cold Steel, A@A, and Del Tin, they all make ONLY historical replicas, if I am correct. I don't know of any manufacturers who actually focus on the fantasy market, and as such, there's a rather large gap left in the production market, in my mind. And after a megalithic rant such as this paltry tirade, I feel as though I should end with some war-cry of epic proportions, so... humor me? Long Live the Age of Fantasy! RAWR! :lol: -Slayer |
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Post by Vincent Dolan on Nov 21, 2010 22:00:29 GMT
Slayer, that's definitely a paltry tirade (particularly compared to some of the ones I used to go on that took up several posts), but that's definitely an awesome war-cry.
As for the question of whether fantasy is underrepresented in the functional market, well, Slayer said it best, so the simple answer is just "undoubtedly so." Even more so when you consider that most of the "fantasy" swords produced by Gen2 and DSA could easily fall into the Euro category since they don't really look all that fantasy.
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Post by chuckinohio on Nov 23, 2010 14:38:22 GMT
I would so like to see John Lundemo do more collaborations with Valiant Armoury.
Eyal at Darksword says there are 20 some new models coming out soon, we can hold out hope there.
Hanwei needs to kick it up a notch in the Fantasy department, they could produce some spectacular pieces if they so wished.
While it is not Fantasy based, SOMEONE needs to do a production Swiss Saber, more Falchions, and MORE BETTER BAD AZZ LANGESMESSERS!!
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ChrisA
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Post by ChrisA on Nov 23, 2010 16:23:42 GMT
You would have to get in line behind me . I agree totally: those two swords are my favorite Odins. I even have the idea for a custom based on Celtic Wolf. But as far as current production fantasy swords I have 3 and I love them all: Windlass Raptor. My first "real" sword and I still love it. Looks great and handles very good. Hanwei Dark Sentinel. Came dull, as most Hanwei's do, but after a lot of work it is now a great cutter. I love the blade but I would like the grip to be about 6 inches shorter. For the price (sub-$100), this can't be beat. VA Warder. Amazing. I love this. Looks good, handles great, cuts even better. And hell yeah! I wish more fantasy swords were available. I just like my fantasy to be realistic and very functional. Nothing too gaudy and flashy. |
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Post by Enkidu on Nov 23, 2010 17:26:21 GMT
Thanks Pete, i dont know how come i never noticed the silvia ringare... wow.
As for an affordable usable production fantasy sword, i think that's something really missing in the market.
Sure there's the warder, a couple of DSA's and one or two others here and there, but i wouldnt mind having more choices in that category !
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Post by Anders on Nov 28, 2010 13:07:27 GMT
Just curious; how would just compare the Dark Sentinel to the Valhalla Warder?
Well, I think a bit of kistch is kinda part of the charm when it comes to fantasy swords - they are supposed to look a bit over-romanticized and larger then life. The impartant thing is that the maker doesn't prioritize aestetics before handling. You need to make a good sword first and foremost. Then if you can still fit some skulls and runes and talons in there, that's nice too.
(Besides, there are plenty of histocal swords that are ludicrously gaudy.)
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Post by 14thforsaken on Nov 29, 2010 3:53:47 GMT
My favorites would be the High Elven King Sword, the Windlass Raptor Sword and the Windlass Fantasy Barbarian Sword. As far as what type of fantasy swords seem under represented to me; swords from some of the epic book series other than Tolkien. For example the Malaazan Books of the Forgotten Series, Fred Saberhagen's The Books of the Swords and a broader representation of swords from the Wheel of Time series.
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Post by Deepbluedave on Nov 29, 2010 10:25:21 GMT
Heres a quick one "Slayer of Kings" Attachments:
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I honestly believe I'd be MORE dangerous with a crowbar than with that thing. It's a looker, for sure, but a far cry from a 'sword'.
Herron's Flight by Brendan of Fable Blades
