an ethical question: cutting with vintage saber
Feb 12, 2012 17:25:43 GMT
Post by Kilted Cossack on Feb 12, 2012 17:25:43 GMT
Gentlemen and ladies:
I am currently somewhat on the horns of an ethical dilemma. As expressed in the title of this post, I am considering searching out a vintage saber to use for some light cutting----almost certainly plastic bottles--and turn to the collective wisdom for input, advice and counseling.
I have concluded that my primary field of interest as regards swords does in fact fall firmly within this sub-forum's ambit, to wit, Renaissance and military swords. With some particularity, I'm interested in 16th century and later cut and thrust swords, on the one hand, and sabers, on the other. It is an unfortunate fact that in the target SBG market, reproductions of these swords are pretty rare on the ground. To the best of my information and belief after reasonable inquiry, there are two, or perhaps three, manufacturers of reproduction sabers at a modest price. Those are Windlass Steelcrafts, Weaponedge, and/or Cold Steel. (It is also my belief that Cold Steel sources their European swords to either Windlass or Weaponedge or both.)
I am, as a general rule, inclined to let vintage items enjoy an honorable rest. I have seen, in my time, pallets-full of modified bolt action rifles---Krags and Mausers and Enfields that had been cut down for use, modified hither and yon. And as the fellow said about real estate, "They aren't making any more of them." I would hate to mess up a nice vintage piece by whacking plastic bottles with it.
On the other hand . . . . (And with me, there's almost always "another hand.") On the other hand, when I read closely it becomes apparent to me that there are no sabers on the market at present which are "for real and true" sabers. In reading reviews of Weaponedge products, a consistent theme emerges that they lack the harmonics of the originals. In my own limited experience with Windlass blades, the American Revolutionary War saber had a well made, and well tempered blade, but it was made from thinner stock than the originals it mimicked, and the grip seemed to be shorter than on an original. It was a good cutter, but a bad facsimile of an original.
I know, I think, what I am interested in, and that is a light cavalry saber which is fencible, with a blade around thirty inches, and an appropriate guard. So far as I can tell, to get a modern made iteration of such a blade almost requires going with a custom maker.
I figure that, with a little attentive shopping, and perhaps some assistance from members with more saber knowledge, I could put my hands on a fairly solid 19th century cavalry saber, with scabbard, for $400-500, of no particular historical provenance, perhaps from a Latin American country or one of the less militant European countries, and use it for light cutting.
I solicit your opinions and commentary. You get a voice, but not a vote!
I am currently somewhat on the horns of an ethical dilemma. As expressed in the title of this post, I am considering searching out a vintage saber to use for some light cutting----almost certainly plastic bottles--and turn to the collective wisdom for input, advice and counseling.
I have concluded that my primary field of interest as regards swords does in fact fall firmly within this sub-forum's ambit, to wit, Renaissance and military swords. With some particularity, I'm interested in 16th century and later cut and thrust swords, on the one hand, and sabers, on the other. It is an unfortunate fact that in the target SBG market, reproductions of these swords are pretty rare on the ground. To the best of my information and belief after reasonable inquiry, there are two, or perhaps three, manufacturers of reproduction sabers at a modest price. Those are Windlass Steelcrafts, Weaponedge, and/or Cold Steel. (It is also my belief that Cold Steel sources their European swords to either Windlass or Weaponedge or both.)
I am, as a general rule, inclined to let vintage items enjoy an honorable rest. I have seen, in my time, pallets-full of modified bolt action rifles---Krags and Mausers and Enfields that had been cut down for use, modified hither and yon. And as the fellow said about real estate, "They aren't making any more of them." I would hate to mess up a nice vintage piece by whacking plastic bottles with it.
On the other hand . . . . (And with me, there's almost always "another hand.") On the other hand, when I read closely it becomes apparent to me that there are no sabers on the market at present which are "for real and true" sabers. In reading reviews of Weaponedge products, a consistent theme emerges that they lack the harmonics of the originals. In my own limited experience with Windlass blades, the American Revolutionary War saber had a well made, and well tempered blade, but it was made from thinner stock than the originals it mimicked, and the grip seemed to be shorter than on an original. It was a good cutter, but a bad facsimile of an original.
I know, I think, what I am interested in, and that is a light cavalry saber which is fencible, with a blade around thirty inches, and an appropriate guard. So far as I can tell, to get a modern made iteration of such a blade almost requires going with a custom maker.
I figure that, with a little attentive shopping, and perhaps some assistance from members with more saber knowledge, I could put my hands on a fairly solid 19th century cavalry saber, with scabbard, for $400-500, of no particular historical provenance, perhaps from a Latin American country or one of the less militant European countries, and use it for light cutting.
I solicit your opinions and commentary. You get a voice, but not a vote!
:roll: 
