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Post by WokkyPoptart on Feb 27, 2011 0:50:32 GMT
Here's the long and short: A friend and I both bought unsharpened H/T swords (a longsword and a bastard) for practice. While fighting with another practitioner, both of our swords broke at the welded threaded tang (this wasn't until months after the purchase and constant maintenance, so they did hold up for a while) who was using Hanwei's Practical Bastard Sword. We both decided that we're obviously being a bit too rough to be using pommel-nut weapons, since he has a Hanwei Practical Hand and a Half that's close to five years old and still going strong. Anyways, we are both in the market for new blades and he's looking at a few different models. We already know Generation 2 makes good swords (a friend has an Agincourt), but he's also looking at ones made by Gladius that are labeled as "Stage Combat." We've never heard of them so I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with Gladius and how are they. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... +Jerusalem www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... ourt+Sword Meanwhile I'm looking at buying the Hanwei Practical Langmesser which, since it's made by the same people as the Hanwei Practical Bastard and Hand and a Half, I'm assuming is pretty much going to be fine. If this isn't the case, I'd also like to hear any responses or input for other suggestions (other than the ATrim I-Beam, I'm already aware of it). While I'm still thinking about it, how is Darksword Armory for blade on blade combat? I've heard that they're built like friggen tanks and handle pretty well, so I'm curious how sharp or dull their false is really is. Is it comparable to Hanwei's or closer to Windlasses? Thanks
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Post by Major, Cory J on Feb 27, 2011 1:07:49 GMT
I have owned a DSA Black Knight and a DSA Knight Sword as well as handling a DSA Gothic sword, and unfortunatly I haven't handled the others so this may be biased. They come with a 3mm thick edge so they are EXTREMELY durable for blade on blade contact, as that is what they make them for. If you were concerned about their "weight" issue (I like the weight of them others do not) they have just modified 2 of their blades to be lighter. The Archers Sword: 2lbs 9oz www.darksword-armory.com/1313N-A ... Sword.html Henry V Sword: 2lbs 2oz www.darksword-armory.com/1325-He ... Sword.html They also have peened construction on most of their swords now (only a few fantasy ones are still screw on pommel if I remember correctly).
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ghost
Member
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Post by ghost on Feb 27, 2011 1:42:55 GMT
DSAs come very dull. They have an edge that's close to 1mm thick blunt so it's perfect for stage combat. (That means even duller than Windlass) DSAs heat treat is spot on...I've never heard of a DSA failing. (i've been using my DSA black knight to stab concrete ) I remember someone bending the tang slightly on a DSA Ranger,. but this was from definite abuse btw have you checked the BKS stage combat weapons? They have lifetime warranties
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Feb 27, 2011 1:51:34 GMT
This discussion was had a few times on the old forum, and every example I can recall came to the same conclusion; DSA's are BAD for sparring! They're okay for stage combat, with rehearsed moves, but for sparring they are absolutely lethal. A thin edge (1mm, vs the Hanwei Practical H&H's 2mm+), a reletively stiff blade, and an extremely acute tip all make for serious injuries just waiting to happen... I had a recent DSA Crecy (peened), and the edge got so thin the it was actually pretty sharp near the tip. Not enough to cut paper, or anything, but CERTAINLY enough to cut flesh. Personally, I would say that DSA's are WORSE than Windlass' for sparring, as the Windlass dull edge has been more uniform in my experience, and the blades are more flexible than DSA's. That being said, both are bad for hitting other people... I hope this helps! -Slayer
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ghost
Member
Posts: 1,330
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Post by ghost on Feb 27, 2011 2:02:14 GMT
The DSAs transfer some serious force. Even with armor and padding, its gonna go right through. Bone breaking force. Whoever you spar with...their blades probably gonna break. Sparring? or stage combat re-enactment? I assumed you were looking at stage combat. If it's sparring...I'd stay away from the BKS blades as well. VA Atrim 305 blunt trainer may be what you want. www.valiant-armoury.com/performance.php
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Post by WokkyPoptart on Feb 27, 2011 20:21:08 GMT
I figured DSA's were no good for sparring because of the 1mm false edge. Now I'm getting conflicting inputs though. Is it 1mm or 3mm? Looking at this review: www.sword-buyers-guide.com/DSA-Norman.htmlIt seems as though it's about the same thickness as what we use, but I don't think I'll end up going this route for a reenactment blade. Thanks a ton for all your help! Essentially we're fighting full-on with upper body protection (helmet, chest, arms, gauntlets with chain under all of it). Stabbing is primarily disallowed for safety reasons and we don't hit at the legs for the same reason. That being the case, has anyone heard anything, good or bad, about Gladius forge? Two of their swords are listed in my first link and I'm still curious as to how they'd hold up, especially since Hanwei's practical line seems to be becoming the standard that we're going to go off of.
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Post by Cold Napalm on Feb 27, 2011 20:36:34 GMT
DSA use to have a 2-3 mm edge which was great for stage combat. Even with the thicker edge, thy were always too heavy and stiff and pointy tipped for safe sparring. Their new thinner edge makes it even not that great for stage combat and absolutely lethal for sparring. For sparring, if you can't afford the albions or A&A, I really do like the hanwei practicals. At some point I really want to get the VA I-beam to try out as that seems pretty sturdy and if the threading breaks, I can just shorten the grip and peen everything anyways . Anyways if you guys have had good luck with the hanwei practicals , why not get more? They are in-expensive and it sounds like you guys like them already. Why roll the dice when you have a sure thing already.
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Post by WokkyPoptart on Feb 27, 2011 23:52:27 GMT
The guy whose teaching us is really big on making the blade "yours." While this doesn't necessarily mean "you can't use the same blade as another person in the group," he wants everyone to get something they both like and will appreciate for forever. I already found the one I want (Hanwei Practical Langmesser), but I need to find out when it actually will go into production. The other friend who broke his HT Bastard was doing some browsing and found the Gladius forge's Sword of Jerusalem and Agincourt and showed interest. Though now that I look at them again I see that they're both threaded pommel and not peened so I'll have to tell him they're no good.
Albion and A&A are both out of the question. They're way out of our price ranges, haha. Also good luck on the I-Beam. I'm curious as to how those handle.
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Razor
Senior Forumite
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Post by Razor on Feb 28, 2011 0:44:49 GMT
Go with the I-beam. I think that is the best bet. The I-beam can hold up against other swords like Albion and A&A. H/T trainers swords are good when against other H/T trainers. Other training swords can eat up the H/T fast. I have read somewhere that H/T are comeing out with new training blades the will be able to go againts Albion and A&A. Gen2 makes a trainer and it is peend with 4.4mm edge. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... tice+Sword
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Post by WokkyPoptart on Mar 2, 2011 21:42:22 GMT
The I-Beam is threaded though, and given that the H/T's both broke at the threading, I don't think I'm going to go that route ever again for the training I do.
Concerning the Gen2 trainer, would the blade be able to hold up? I know they made the base thicker than the rest of the blade and I'm worried that because of that drastic decline in blade width it would be more prone to breaking.
If that's not the case though I'll definitely let my friend know about it. I've already committed to Hanwei's Langmesser and peening the remains of my longsword.
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Post by Cold Napalm on Mar 2, 2011 22:14:41 GMT
Just a note...if you have the early h/t training blades, the threading was welded on improperly and so was prone to breaking. The new ones along with the VA I-beam have the threading cut from the tang so they should be much less prone to breaking.
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Post by WokkyPoptart on Mar 2, 2011 22:22:18 GMT
I bought mine some time in early September of last year when it went on sale (I found the deal August 24 here, actually). It's good to know that they've improved that aspect of it at least. Hopefully my and my friend's purchase were of the inferior models though I doubt it given how recent the purchase was.
However, it doesn't change that my teacher is now spooked by threaded tangs, so he's disallowed us from using weaponry with it.
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