|
Post by Polarclaw on Apr 28, 2011 5:33:56 GMT
I guess this is the best place to put this. Mods feel free to move this to a better place. So I'm partial to chinese swords in almost every way, but when I get to thinking about when I would actually use a sword, it makes me think a little. The only time I could imagine using a sword would be if the SHTF. Total chaos, no more social order. I would either bunker up in my house or pack up and head for the hills. But I would want protection. Okay, I'll get to the point already.
I know how to survive in the wilderness, I go camping and hiking and one thing that is vital, is having proper, solid, reliable tools. If you know there's rain coming and you need to put up a shelter, and your axe/saw decides to bust on you, you're going to have a bad day. So I'm here applying that mentality to my form of self defence. Do you want you sword's handle to get all screwy on you when you have raiders attacking you, or you run into a bear/cougar/boar? I don't think so.
You guys/ladies, know swords one hundred times better than I do. I am here, asking you what you think, in your most educated opinions what would be the utmost reliable sword/blade. I know I'll probably get machete a lot, but please specify, I don't want a sempriniesque machete either. I understand everyone has biases, but try and stay impartial in your suggestions of sword/blade types.
Just so you know, I'm expecting this blade to cut(and kill) my target cleanly, cut through branches/brush, not bend out of shape if I happen to deflect an attack from another armed attacker, be able to resist blade damage (to an extent of course) and have handle stability/integrity even after heavy impacts.
thank you brothers.
|
|
|
Post by Vincent Dolan on Apr 28, 2011 5:58:44 GMT
My vote, right off the bat, would be the Condor Bush Cutlass. I don't have one (I want one, though), but after seeing Skallagrim's video on it (below), I'm fairly convinced it would suit your purposes. It didn't break or really take any damage even after an accidental cut partway through a solid wood table.
|
|
|
Post by randomnobody on Apr 28, 2011 6:15:10 GMT
I keep forgetting about those Condors, but I want one.
My first thought in reading your thread, especially at your mention of Chinese swords, was a good, stout, da dao. Unfortunately I can't remember which one was the top rated so I'll let somebody else chime in there. Heck, I'm not even sure if "da dao" is the right...word? Anywho.
I can't think of many machetes that would make a good sword...or many swords that would make a good machete...but I'd wager the Condor makes a nice midway. Other than that, I'm out of ideas. Others are better at machete than me, though; I've always been the axe + knife kind.
|
|
|
Post by Vincent Dolan on Apr 28, 2011 6:27:15 GMT
Dadao is about as right as you can get; it means "large knife" and can stand for any two-handed single-edged weapon (Chinese, that is). I've seen plenty use it to refer to what most in the West call a Guandao/Quandao/Kwandao. We normally think of a dadao as the short (37" or so overall) two-handed sword that has a near 1:1 blade ratio. As to which is the top rated, there's only a few production ones out there (that I know of): one by Cold Steel, one by Kris Cutlery, and two by Hanwei. Of those, the Hanwei Military Dadao is the cheapest, so I'd personally be more willing to use it as a machete; that way, if it got ruined, it wouldn't be the end of the world (price wise).
|
|
Paul
Member
Senior Forumite
Posts: 1,771
|
Post by Paul on Apr 28, 2011 6:39:26 GMT
Interesting topic, not unlike the world from the Book of Eli? Or maybe a world like I Am Legend or dare I say it Dawn of the Dead? Or the classic Steel Dawn.
Are you talking best sword for this job at a price point, <$500 or <$1,000 or anything goes?
Im guessing the QUALITY is going to be of most importance as it could be in daily use for years and have to go up against other swords. So a top quality all rounder is called for.
Paul
|
|
|
Post by Polarclaw on Apr 28, 2011 15:52:03 GMT
Yes as Vince said, Dadao is a proper term, but "Big Knife" covers a variety or swords in the chinese style. I am certain that they are solid, but as Paul pointed out, money is not an issue. Although I am poor (a student) at the moment my life would be depending on this blade. I would be using it for years. I would imagine that it would go through some heavy stress at points. I honestly don't trust the Hanwei forge. I'll see a few nice blades coming out of there but I simply wouldn't bet my life on them.
I trust the strength of Jin-Shi's construction, I simply don't know, and I don't think any respectable sword smith would take me seriously if I would ask them these same questions. I think that Paul is on the right track. Quality is of utmost importance.
|
|
|
Post by Elheru Aran on Apr 28, 2011 17:12:56 GMT
Quality is important, I'll grant you that, but I think I would value overall strength of construction and a good strong steel more. If you have a durable weapon, you can always resharpen it or work out nicks, and if you use it to the point where it's impossible to sharpen, what were you doing not keeping it up?
A dadao would be useful, I think, as would a messer or a bush-cutlass or a dha... there's really a good few different options out there of crossing bush-craft and fighting. Look at most Filipino weapons, for example-- almost all of them are multi-taskers.
Not sure why you don't trust Hanwei. They were spotty in the start of their career, but in the past few years they seem to have improved considerably and the majority of people who buy from them are happy enough with what they get.
|
|
|
Post by Vincent Dolan on Apr 28, 2011 17:33:41 GMT
I agree with Jeff; Hanwei was a little spottier a few years back (at least on their lower end swords according to reviews), but they've come quite a long way. People practically rave about the H/Ts, the Raptors, and the Bamboo Mat.
As for other styles, like Jeff said, there's a messer, but the only semi-production one out there is the Albion Soldat; as for dha, there's the Hanwei Banshee, which I believe is quite a reliable weapon (I've seen it used to hack through wood with no problems), several reviews I've seen are quite fond of it. And speaking of Filipino, in particular there's the golok, which is pretty much everything you're looking for, though it might be a bit short for you (largest I've seen has a blade of about 17").
|
|
Sam H
Member
Posts: 1,099
|
Post by Sam H on Apr 28, 2011 18:00:28 GMT
I'd get a glaive or any variation thereof - in other words, glaive, halberd, naginata etc...
I'm a big fan of pole-arms. They give you good reach and leverage and with the proper training can be VERY effective in combat. Good against two legged and four legged attackers. Its not exactly a sword but pole-arms typically have very strong robust blades and they'll range from 12" on up to near 30" in some extreme cases. I prefer a weapon with a blade around 18 to 22 inches atop a 6 - 7 ft staff. Shorter blade means stouter blade - 18" is plenty long enough to make a fatal thrust and/or cut to a human body. Its also long enough to make a fatal thrust into most animals' bodies too. The 6 or 7 ft staff gives you ample reach while still maintaining a good level of control for cuts as well as thrusts. Out to 10ft overall length is pretty controllable yet for cuts and slashes. Anything longer than that is pretty much a thrusting weapon as you won't have a ton of control for slashes and cuts.
Now if we MUST only have a sword I'd go with a Hanwei Tac Katana. The katana is the form I know best and am most comfortable with in the way of swords. It'll also be more robust and capable of handling more abuse than your average katana. Oh yeah I also happen to like Hanwei's offerings in katana. Many good things have been said about the Hanwei/Tinker Euro swords too. I agree though that aside from aesthetics (which I think the Hanwei Chinese swords look great!) the Chinese offerings from Hanwei leave a lot to be desired in the way of functionality.
|
|
|
Post by Polarclaw on Apr 28, 2011 18:28:11 GMT
Yes, if you're going with comfort. I am by far more comfortable with the use of Chinese weaponry. But I have been thinking about filipino weapons and to be honest I have only seen such rigorous testing being inflicted upon the banshee sword. It's the only one that I would trust as much. I suppose I have found the ideal shape that would work for me. traditionalfilipinoweapons.com/WarGolok.htmlI don't know anything about this weapon smith. Anyone know what's the most well rounded steel? (good balance between solidity and flexibility)
|
|
|
Post by Vincent Dolan on Apr 28, 2011 18:38:23 GMT
There's a few reviews of TFW swords on the old site, but as to the steel, I couldn't tell ya.
|
|
|
Post by randomnobody on Apr 28, 2011 21:04:08 GMT
I always forget about the Dha and those other southeast Asian et cetera blades. Goloks would be good for smaller options, definitely, but I've seen some neat long blades, too. There are a number of things put out by Valiant Co. ( www.valiantco.com ) that I'd think suitable for this role, but I'd say avoid their "damascus" stuff. I have only one knife from them, the "damascus" Bosnian, and while it's a great knife, the steel is pretty soft. Takes a great edge, but doesn't hold it very well. Their goloks get great reviews from the survival/camping crowd. TFW I hear great things about, too.
|
|
|
Post by Lukas MG (chenessfan) on Apr 28, 2011 21:30:11 GMT
Since money apparently isn't an issue, I'd suggest a custom tactical sword. Your design, your preference and if you pick a good maker it'll outlast you.
|
|
Sam H
Member
Posts: 1,099
|
Post by Sam H on Apr 28, 2011 21:42:29 GMT
So long as your design is good too. The best swordsmith in the world can't make a bad design good unless he/she is allowed to alter it dramatically to make it good.
|
|
|
Post by Lukas MG (chenessfan) on Apr 28, 2011 21:45:28 GMT
Most swordmakers won't make a design they know is no good anyway so I reckon any serious maker would discuss a design with you until he believes it to be usable.
|
|
|
Post by randomnobody on Apr 28, 2011 21:53:37 GMT
Didn't somebody try this once? Submitted what they thought would be the best overall, survival-tactical-bushwhack sword design to a semi-known smith, only to have the design rearranged constantly throughout the process, turning into something nothing like the original sword, and essentially useless?
I think it was based off a gladius. ...Originally.
|
|
|
Post by Polarclaw on Apr 29, 2011 18:15:37 GMT
So I'm pretty satisfied with the War Golok because of its flat end and its versatility. I am pretty confident that it is good steel as well. Anyone have some judgment on spring steel? I know it's about heat treatment but with that aside, if the heat treatment is incredible no matter what, is spring steel something you could go camping/hunting with? Could it stand up to heavy abuse?
|
|
|
Post by randomnobody on Apr 29, 2011 18:19:35 GMT
Depends on the "spring steel." Most "spring steel" is good stuff, properly done into a sword. Numerous quality swords nowadays are made of "spring steel" like Hanwei's Raptors, and their Tinker line. I'm not sure, though, which "spring steel" we're looking at here. 9260, 5160, even some of the 10--'s can be called "spring steel" so it all comes down to whether the forge knows what they're doing, and if we're still talking about TFW, they have quite the reputation for knowing what they're doing, so I figure all is well.
|
|
|
Post by Polarclaw on Apr 30, 2011 2:07:59 GMT
Yes TFW say they use 5160.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 17:26:41 GMT
I don't own any of these myself but If money isn't an issue and your after the strongest sword then i would suggest looking at busse, swamprat ,and scrapyard knives. Busse makes a gladius and a wakizashi style sword called the ak47 and swamprat makes the rodent waki and scrapyard knives make a wakizashi style sword called the scrapizashi they all have a reputation for making some of the toughest production knives available. Out of the 3 scrapyard is the only one still producing there sword but if you want one of the busse or swamprats then you will have to get it second hand.
As for machetes condor makes some nice stuff and later this year they will be releasing there thai enep machete it looks like it might be a good chopper.
|
|