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Post by Anuan on Mar 4, 2011 10:56:27 GMT
Well, I've recently been picked for a...quite highpaying (if unpleasant) job. My first paycheck is going to be about $AU1500. Need I mention that I intend to celebrate my first paycheck with a little...shininess?  So here's the deal. Let's assume AUD 900 budget...Pre-postage, I guess. I'm happy to get either get one eff-off-awesome sword, or a few pretty-damn-good swords. I need functionality, I want a good sharpening service available from the site, and I'd very much like something of a style I don't have yet. So that'd be something Japanese, a jian or -very- nice dao, something Celtic and/or leaf-bladey, or something very Viking. Ooh, or a nice functional rapier or similar renaissance style blade. I've got a rapier already, but it's Deepeeka and, while decent, I'm not -entirely- comfortable swinging it around. Or a good later-style longsword. Any other, more unusual suggestions are also more than welcome, including functional-fantasy style stuff. This is a couple weeks off, so I've plenty of time to actually make a decision, but I'd really, really like suggestions and some recommendations. So shoot, guys. Gimme something to make decisions between, to occupy my time while I wait for the money to actually spend it on this. |
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SeanF
Member
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Post by SeanF on Mar 4, 2011 12:38:54 GMT
With $900 I'm sure people are going to be making a lot better suggestions, but when you mentioned AU$ the first thing I thought of was the G-1000 Katana www.sword-buyers-guide.com/titanium-swords.html. My main hangup is the shipping, so if I was in AU I would be snapping it up. |
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Post by Anuan on Mar 4, 2011 14:13:24 GMT
As much as I like that, and as much as I support GlobalGear because it's one of the few Australian retailers, they A) don't have any indication of whether or not items are actually in stock (I've heard from their customer-service they'll be getting a new site eventually that will do this, but I've seen no evidence yet) and B) their customer service is pretty terrible. I won't go into many details, but I will say that they have a disproportionate but convenient number of emails that "apparently didn't go through." amongst other problems. Though the easy 10% discount does make up for a little bit.
I do like the G-1000, though, so it's something to consider. I occasionally switch to thinking it looks and sounds gimmicky, though, so I'm not sure I'd want it permanently.
Thanks for the suggestion though, I don't want to come off as sounding ungrateful or bitter or anything ^^;;
Edit: I'd like to mention that the person that actually owns GlobalGear (and, I think but am not sure, designs/comissions the G-series swords) seems like a pretty cool guy, and the company in general seems pretty cool. There appears to only be one customer service representative, though, and dealing with them is usually...kinda frustrating :?
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Post by Enkidu on Mar 4, 2011 18:41:30 GMT
A custom sword by Bren of Fable blade ?
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Post by Elheru Aran on Mar 4, 2011 23:23:04 GMT
I would go with what Enkidu suggested, Brenno is IIRC in New Zealand? They may be capable of whipping you guys every year in rugby (  ) but Brenno makes great swords and I'm sure he could do you a beautiful custom for 900AUD. Also I may be totally off on this but I half think Stromlo Swords is in Australia too? I could be totally wrong about that, though. You can get any number of Hanwei/Tinkers through them. Could also contact Sonny at Valiant Armoury/Custom Sword Shoppe and see if he can ship to Australia... his Signature Edition and Elites are beautiful! |
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Post by Anuan on Mar 5, 2011 0:03:19 GMT
Brenno is, to my knowledge, based in Western Australia. Somewhere near the capitol, no less. The 'wrong side' of Australia, but better than NZ  Also, it's not every year! D: Just...most... I definitely contemplated FableBlades, but looking at the few available prices I figured 900AU wouldn't run me a sword sizewise that I'd really like other than a tactical. If I was going to go custom, I've kinda been toying with the idea of a rose-themed rapier, the intricacies of which would probably run me quite abobe the 900 dollar mark. If Brenno pops in here and contradicts me, I may just do that Actually, on rapiers, are there any really good ones out there that don't have a wire grip? I don't like having to maintain the wrap, which either gets left alone and thereby becomes rusty and ugly, or is oiled and is therefore oily and unpleasant in my hand. I'll check out Stromlo Swords, and maybe contact Sonny. Thanks, EA. (...should I call you Elheru, or Aran? D: ) As ever, you're a fountain of helpfulness. Are there any particular swords you'd suggest, maybe within those lines or from elsewhere? Edit: Are there perhaps two Stromlo Swords? I found one that's in Australia, but only seems to carry more modern, militaria swords. Not a H/T to be found. |
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Post by Elheru Aran on Mar 5, 2011 14:42:46 GMT
There may very well be two Stromlo's, I have no idea if they're related. I would pm "Stromlo Swords USA" here on the board and check with him. You can call me El, Elly, Heru, Daisy, whatever you like, I don't care... my actual name's Jeff btw. Hanwei makes a bone-handled rapier, but it really shouldn't be too difficult to make a new grip for most all of their swords-- they've almost all got screw-on pommels, so it's just a matter of taking that off, drawing an outline around the tang, chiseling that out, cutting the grip slabs out, gluing them, carving to shape, and wrapping them. Arms and Armour are more or less 'the' rapier source for most people, but they're US based iirc so there's shipping. Darkwood Armoury also does rapiers, but they've got a longer wait time. If you're interested in rapiers I would definitely contact Dave Kelly here, he seems to be the go-to person for them. I'm sure Brenno could do you anything you'd like. It may come out a little more minimalist than you may want if you're trying hard to stay 900-under, but if you save up a month or two I'm sure you'll have enough to cover whatever. I think a rapier would be new for him, but if he's like me, he probably would enjoy the challenge of making that hilt. Zach Luna, our very own 'Lunaman' has a number of designs up on Brenno's website actually, and one of them is a rose-themed rapier, IIRC... Hope that helps. I'm a fountain of information because I waste too much time on the Internet, not necessarily because I'm an expert or anything, so... |
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Post by Anuan on Mar 6, 2011 9:50:27 GMT
I believe Lunaman's drawing was of a rose-themed jian. Which is actually what made me think of a rose-themed rapier. I'd totally go the jian, but I believe it was designed/suggested by another forumite and I'd feel pretty bad if I got it before he could. I'm gonna have to shoot around some PMs here... ...Thanks, Daisy Edit: About the Hanwei Bonehilted Rapier, how good is it? Well-tempered, sharp? You said a screw-off pommel, and that sets my warning bells a-ringin' a little bit. |
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Post by Elheru Aran on Mar 6, 2011 20:34:34 GMT
Jian, that's right. Not a rapier. Go figure. I was thinking of his "Montoya"... Most Hanwei rapiers are fine as far as I know. They won't be the greatest as far as period accuracy goes, but that's Hanwei for you. Their main appeal is they look good. I think there's a review of one on the old site... yep, right here, and says it's on the main site too. sbgswordforum.proboards.com/inde ... e=1#128398 Threaded pommels aren't an issue with rapiers, as those are strictly thrusting-only weapons for the greatest part. You *can* cut with them, but they really don't have the geometry for it as far as I know. If you want a rapier-like weapon that you can cut with, the Hanwei Side Sword is a decent buy. The hollow plastic grip is the only real downside, otherwise it's a beautiful sword and I like mine a lot. |
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Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on Mar 6, 2011 23:44:18 GMT
Brenno would be the FIRST person i contacted. his stuff is crazy good
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Post by chrisperoni on Mar 7, 2011 0:09:04 GMT
Stromo just moved back to Aus from USA  |
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Post by Anuan on Mar 7, 2011 0:42:48 GMT
Thanks a lot guys I contacted Stromlo. Website -is- his, apparently, but it's not yet showing his euro stuff. I've often looked at that Hanwei side-sword, before I knew about the hollow plastic grip. Is it easy to replace? I'm friends with a guy in town who does a lot of woodwork and I could probably get a nice hardwood grip for it. And I'd readily agree that Brenno's stuff is completely amazing Also, apparently the Spanish styles of rapier fencing put a lot more focus on the cut than other countries. At least, I've heard this in a few places, and that's certainly how Prima Spada School of Fence, a historical-fencing-school here in Queensland, teaches it. Random factoids, hurrah! |
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
VIP Reviewer
Retired Moderator
No matter where you go, there you are.
Posts: 8,828
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Mar 7, 2011 0:51:35 GMT
I love Rapiers... and have been frustrated that its hard to find a good one without paying an arm and a leg... I've had Hanwei and Windlass rapiers... and while they look ok they are not very durable. I know have an A&A German Rapier and love it. I don't like the threaded pommels either... especially on rapiers where the pommel is not a sphere-ish shape. Because when it gets out of alignment and you have to re-tighten it, it is never flush and even again. Most of the Hanwei rapiers have the hollow plastic grips... which I really hate. Only the bone handled and the Renaissance wood handled ones do not as far as I know. Replacing the grip is fairly easy, tho, if you or a friend have some woodworking skill. Fellow Forumite Maz did so on a Solingen Rapier I sold him. Maybe Brenno might be able to do a simple, sturdy rapier with a Rose theme in the price-range your looking at... never hurts to ask. |
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Post by Elheru Aran on Mar 7, 2011 2:00:37 GMT
One nice thing about Hanweis are all the bare blades they sell. Gives you a lot of customization potential. I don't see why one couldn't just buy one of their rapier bare blades and have someone knock up a proper hilt for it... could even peen the hilt if you're willing to lose about 1" or so of length. If you want something heftier, you could go for their bastard sword, which would make a decent sidesword-type blade too. Just a coupla options...
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Post by Anuan on Mar 7, 2011 2:47:44 GMT
Thanks Sean. I certainly don't want something flimsy. I'd possibly go A&A if I wanted to wait That -is- a very good point, Aran. Do they sell the blade from their sidesword bare? I do like the slender look, and I'm leaning possibly towards a renaissance/proto-renaissance style blade after all this discussion, but I do prefer something slim and with some decent cutting ability over the almost twiggishness of the rapier. Which I do -like-, just...not as much. Gonna shoot Brenno an email now, I think... Continuing on the 'slender' idea, does anybody have any recomendations as far as Jian go? I've always really, really liked the look and versatility of them. |
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Post by Elheru Aran on Mar 7, 2011 2:59:03 GMT
Bare sidesword blade... uhhh... *checks KoA* looks like a negatory on that point. They carry pretty much all the Hanwei line as far as I know. The sidesword by itself is only $134ish USD though, which honestly isn't a bad price. The main distinction between a rapier and the sidesword is that the side is somewhat shorter and fullered. As such using something like a H/T bastard might work better, although that would definitely be heavier and much less rapier-like. It's honestly hard to find a thin blade that's neither rapier-like or sword-like, and the sidesword does fall into that category... but there's not many out there like it.
So if I were you and I liked that blade enough, I might just go for it. Hold on to the fittings or sell them though, they're pretty well done for Hanwei pieces, at least the guard is. Definitely not pieces to throw out, because I imagine you could find buyers with an eye toward Frankenswording here...
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Post by Elheru Aran on Mar 7, 2011 3:04:16 GMT
Aw, dang, forgot this! You mentioned jian? Kris Cutlery apparently makes a quite nice one that's been reviewed by mrvei, it's still pretty current in the review section. Nice looks to it. If I was into jian, I might go for that very one.
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Post by Anuan on Mar 7, 2011 3:36:36 GMT
Ooohhhh that's niiiiiiiiice. A little plain, perhaps, but it's sub-300 and still niiiiiiiice. ...Drooldrooldrool Your point about Frankenswording is good and something to keep in mind. I could very well, in a little while, order the Hanwei and either get a complete custom hilt, or I could just switch out the grip...I -do- like the guard. A lot. And you're right, it's really hard to find sidesword style blades around, and it's really unfortunate, because I'm a big fan of having both elegance and versatility. O'course, like most people sometimes I just want to take a big ol' Type XIIIa and hack things to pieces, but... >.> |
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) but Brenno makes great swords and I'm sure he could do you a beautiful custom for 900AUD. 
Also, it's not every year! D: Just...most...
