Greg
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Post by Greg on Dec 28, 2010 7:10:04 GMT
So, I've given in to my long time desire of buying another sword. I've been watching people preform with the AT1557 for the past year and have fallen in love with that sword. But at the same time, I've seen swords like the H/T EMSHSHS and her big sister Longsword.
So, should I go with multiple swords, that I'd have to put some work into, but at the end of it I'd have multiple decent swords complete with scabbards.
Or go with the one good one?
Edit: Oh, I forgot to add in the prospect of sending off one of my Moat blanks to have it professionally finished. It would probably be the "Lady V" blank from Albion, and I wouldn't want anything special done, just a simple hilt, maybe a scabbard.
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Dec 28, 2010 7:22:26 GMT
Depends where you are in your collecting. Are you in the giddy phase of "I just want more and more and more!" or do you want to settle into a few solid pieces with a mentality more like "buy right, or you'll buy it twice"?
With your skills as a cutter and sharpener/customizer I don't think this is a question of whether or not you'll end up with "good swords" as you'll bring out the best of all of these blades, and they're all wonderful. Where are your priorities then--bang for your buck or trying out the big guns?
I'd go with the 1557, but that's what I DID do, ya know? I'm biased.
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Post by RicWilly on Dec 28, 2010 7:30:06 GMT
I'd say every collection needs at least one authentic Atrim. If that's the 1557 for you, then I'd go with that.
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Dec 28, 2010 7:35:35 GMT
Well, the reason that I'm leaning towards the 1557 is largely due to peer review. I'm basically looking for an Atrim arming sword that excels in cutting. I really haven't noticed any other model standing out the way the 1557 does.
When I first got into functional swords, I didn't want to get the best thing on the market because I was afraid that my ignorance and lack of skill would cause harm to my blade. I was right. My VA Longsword was my first.
She put up with my learning how to sharpen a blade, where at one point I was about to give up and send it off to be sharpened. But I stuck with it and learned how to bring out a razors edge from no edge at all. She also took a lot of bends, which taught me how to fix them.
Then I tried out the single hander area and loved it. I had always thought I'd love the bastard sword more, but that wasn't what my bio-mechanics told me. After the single, I got a proper two hander, a saber and a katana. So aside from the renaissance type sword (rapier, side swords, etc etc) and some other smaller cultures of swords, (Chinese, Middle Eastern) I've got a pretty decent grasp on the type of sword I'm looking for, and I think I'm just ready for a better version.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Dec 28, 2010 7:38:32 GMT
It seems a shame to me to have an Albion Lady V blade laying around and NOT have it made into a sword. I would do that.
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TomK
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Post by TomK on Dec 28, 2010 7:43:18 GMT
Luna makes a good point, but I'm going to urge you to move towards the quality over quantity side of the argument even if you aren't there yet in your collecting.
the 1557 is a really fast and light sword. it will be about as light as your 303 (you have one of the light models right?) at just a tad over 2 pounds but it is a lot more compact and stiff feeling than the 303. the 303 feels delicate in hand but the 1557 feels sturdy and agile. I think you should get the 1557 or better yet find a XII.1, or a Xa.3 or any of Gus' recent Xa models. you have been cutting with such light single handers I wonder how you would take to a more powerful single handed sword. then again the 1557 cuts powerfully it just doesn't feel like it should.
I say go 1557
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Dec 28, 2010 7:54:17 GMT
I think it would also push me to use up some of this poplar that I bought months ago and build a good scabbard for it. Hehehe, just like one of us sword-heads to buy a 450 dollar sword so that we will use the 5 dollars of wood we have. And yeah, I could get a scabbard with it, but I'll be honest, I'm not paying 75% of the cost of the sword on a scabbard. I'll be the first to admit thatChristian does beautiful work, and that what he does is not easy. But I'm a sword junkie, not a furniture junkie.  Oh, and yeah, having the Lady V just sitting around has been bugging me, but there are some issues with it. If she really were a lady, she'd be the stereotypical "gorgeous woman with scars" type. There were some overgrinds that I tried to fix, but couldn't quite do it right, and she took a small set during tempering... because of the overgrind. But... I accepted her as my responsibility, and I'll be the one to dress her up nice to take out. In the mean time she'll just have to sit there all oiled up and naked.  |
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Dec 28, 2010 7:57:21 GMT
You should send her to me, Greg. That's my kind of lady.
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Dec 28, 2010 8:03:39 GMT
Hahaha! But then I'd betray her trust!
Now that I've made up my mind, I'm looking through all the options. The biggest hang up I'm having is on the grip style. I don't know if I should go with the standard field grip or upgrade the the castillion. I've never handled anything other then the field grip, but the castillion looks really comfortable. I'm also unsure of the color. I would be perfectly happy with just black and that way she'd blend right in to the rest of my collection... aside from that bastard child GSOW. Then again, I wouldn't mind a medium brown either.
I plan on making a eastern/western scabbard. Lacquered wood with a riser in it so that I can slide it into my belt and not 'need' a suspension system.
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Dec 28, 2010 8:20:02 GMT
Heh.  I like the sound of that scabbard idea, can't wait to see how it turns out. I'd go with the Castillion. I didn't really fall in love with the 1557 I have until I started using gloves--the field grip just felt too thin in my bare hands, and my hands aren't even very large. I'm working on getting a more ergonomic grip for it right now.  As for color---I don't know about your tastes, but I'm trying to have as few black grips in my collection as possible. Makes it REALLY clear where the star performers are: ideally everywhere! (soon) |
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Dec 28, 2010 8:28:17 GMT
Yeah, I talked myself out of the black grip, and I've put together my order.
1557
Beveled edge disc pommel (H1)
The slightly curved flared edge guard (6-B)
Medium Chestnut Castillion Grip
And I threw in the 25 dollar chape (but no scabbard)
I hope I don't confuse him with just the chape, and I really hope he doesn't take offense.
Now I'm just letting the order sit for another 5 mins waiting for a good reason to come up not to click "checkout"
Update:
Well, a good reason to not click "checkout" never did show up. Yay!
New Update:
Gah, the post-purchase jitters has struck again. I'm reviewing the stats of the 1557 and it's a little shorter then I remember, but at the same time, I have wanted to venture in to something that was a little more in the "short sword" area. Bah, in the time that it has taken me to type this paragraph, my fears are put to ease. If I like it, great, if not, it shouldn't be to hard to pass along to someone else. I just hope that I haven't started a monthly trend of buying mid-priced swords.
(One of the reasons I'm buying this is because I decided to end my health insurance. I've been paying close to 500 bucks a month for the past year and a half and I've only used it to save a total of 100 bucks total on some medicine. So yeah, 9000 dollars pissed away kinda makes me want to have something fun.)
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TomK
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Post by TomK on Dec 28, 2010 9:25:07 GMT
Oh Greg, glad to hear you are getting your new girl some nice clothing if only just a shirt and shoes (grip and chape) I have a castillion grip on mine:  it works really well for this sword. I wouldn't like a regular field grip on her. |
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Dec 28, 2010 16:54:47 GMT
It's so....pretty.........
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Greg
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Post by Greg on Dec 28, 2010 16:59:56 GMT
I've tried making that style of grip for my 303, but all efforts so far have failed. =(
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TomK
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Post by TomK on Dec 28, 2010 22:17:21 GMT
it is harder than it looks, I have tried too with only very limited success
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Dec 28, 2010 22:26:44 GMT
I want the pretty vines...
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Post by johnapsega on Dec 29, 2010 4:57:20 GMT
I think that someone should put her in the "most beautiful swords' thread that is going on this is simply magnificent. |
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TomK
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Post by TomK on Dec 29, 2010 5:07:13 GMT
thank you John, I just might, she is quite a looker, but the thing is I have seen swords that are prettier so I didn't before. she is certainly my prettiest and dances well enough to always be the bell of the ball.
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Post by johnapsega on Dec 29, 2010 5:39:00 GMT
how did you get the designs on the guard and pommel Tom?
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Lunaman
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Post by Lunaman on Dec 29, 2010 5:45:35 GMT
They are etched--Christian Fletcher did them.
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