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Post by TheNewDavout on Nov 7, 2011 4:20:59 GMT
Does anyone have experience with this manufacturer? www.alcheminc.com/They look like they might have some decent blunt rapiers at entry level prices, just wondered if anyone on here owns one. |
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Post by John P on Nov 9, 2011 0:56:42 GMT
I just ordered 2 sword from them a week ago. When I get them I'll put them through their paces and post a review.
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Post by TheNewDavout on Nov 9, 2011 3:03:30 GMT
Thanks, I'll be very curious to see how they pan out, I was thinking about getting a practice blade for cut & thrust from them, then getting a sharp blade from triedandtruearmory.com/zc/ that could be interchanged into the hilt, probably a type XIX, going for a nice early renaissance feel. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2012 3:15:22 GMT
I have three of their blades:
- the Fiore longsword,
- a threaded tang curved schlager
- and a Safeflex dagger.
I've had the dagger the longest. It's holding up well, but it's a bit flexible unless you parry with the edge. Catch a blade with the flat of the foible, and it will probably blow through.
The schlager is also holding up well. I have it set up as a two-handed kriegsmesser. Hardly a nick on the blade, even though I do a lot of cuts with it. I think it may be out of production, though. It's not on their page. It's a threaded tang, but not one of the stamped Safeflex blades.
The longsword has the flat tang and pinned pommel. It's durable - holding up against everything from Albions to Hanwei/Tinkers at a longsword seminar with no more than surface scratches. The only drawback is it's hard to tighten when it loosens up.
Their rapier guards are a bit heavy to my tastes, but they seem rugged enough. To my eyes, they look obviously modern, or maybe some sort of Steampunk/waterjet hybrid.
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Post by John P on Jan 25, 2012 17:08:47 GMT
Still waiting on my swords. I have been assured that I have not been forgotten.
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Post by John P on Feb 16, 2012 5:32:07 GMT
Still waiting on my swords. Told that it will be any day now
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Post by Dave Kelly on Feb 16, 2012 10:29:35 GMT
 :shock: :oops: This is goin on FOUR months? I thought this was an AMERICAN company? Hmmmmmm....
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Post by John P on Feb 17, 2012 2:29:53 GMT
A guy in our group for his Albion Liechtenauer faster. My club is waiting on 4 total swords form Alchem.
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Feb 17, 2012 3:19:24 GMT
Every so often I'll head over to Alchem, but somehow their complex hilts look off to me, and I know I've read, a couple of times, in a couple of different places, about their delivery issues. I surely hate that it is so.
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Post by John P on Feb 22, 2012 22:10:57 GMT
I still haven't got my swords but a guy in my club received his Joachim Meyer rapiers. They seem wall made and have a good flexibly but not floppy like the Hanwei 43 rapier" Provided they hold up well I may have them make me a set of transitional rapiers for Agrippa's system www.worksofrichardmarsden.com/Meyer%20Collage.png |
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Post by Dave Kelly on Feb 22, 2012 22:26:48 GMT
Hang in ther John. Know the exasperation. Sitting on my hands waiting for a WEI M1853 Brit Cav to finally appear :roll:  |
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Post by John P on Feb 26, 2012 6:02:04 GMT
Took the new rapiers out today and did some sparing trying to stay in Meyers system. After a little while the quilions where pity bent up. I bent them back to true at well as I could by hand. Most rapier work doesn't have near as much cutting so the swords should hold up better for most folks. It is still discouraging to as far as the longevity of the sword goes.  playing around we posed like one of the old plates  |
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Post by Dave Kelly on Feb 26, 2012 13:23:06 GMT
Hey John. The swords are a bit of a disappointment if they are warping that quickly. I don't know the literature of the period. Watching your vid I kinda blinked at the "rapier" designation. Sure looks like a cut and thrust exercise to me. "Rapier" meaning just "sword". ( I like it! My kinda sword play.  ) |
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Feb 26, 2012 14:54:36 GMT
Hey, that was some good stuff. I like the three man rotation system, it seemed to make for fast play and good exchanges. How were the blades holding up? I'm disappointed in the quillons bending.
Do you have a link to a general discussion of Meyers' techniques?
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Post by John P on Feb 26, 2012 16:43:42 GMT
Thanks for the kind worlds. The blades held up well with almost nothing more than a few scuffs Joachim Meyer is early or even transitions rapier almost a 70 years before latter masters like Alfieri or Fabris. It is a much more cutting system and seems to use cuts to create openings and gain blade opposition. There isn't an easily available book out right now but the web has been surprisingly helpful. Here is the forum we are discussing it in. hemaalliance.com/discussion/view ... =20&t=1529 Hopefully next week will bring my I:33 swords. I am a little worried that they won't hold up since they have the same quilions and sword and buckler work can be rough. |
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Post by John P on Mar 6, 2012 15:32:03 GMT
The i33 swords should be shipped today or Wednesday.
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Post by John P on Mar 15, 2012 2:21:45 GMT
a week later and still no sword
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Post by Kilted Cossack on Mar 15, 2012 13:56:57 GMT
It's beginning to sound as if they are not filling their market niche entirely satisfactorily.
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Post by John P on Mar 15, 2012 15:54:28 GMT
When it hits the 6 month mark in 2 weeks I am going to press for a refund. I understand that it can take time as a small business but don't give an estate of 4 weeks. If he raised his prices I would have pay 50% more. I had several sets of swords that I and my club where going to order but I'll go through James the Just now.
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Post by John P on Mar 23, 2012 20:54:08 GMT
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:shock: :oops: 
)
