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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2012 20:58:01 GMT
Hello,
I've always been fascinated by swords, and am finally taking the plunge into this brave new (for me) world. After doing some preliminary research i'm having trouble deciding on where to start.
Deciding on a sword: --I'm looking for a European swords, as they have always intrigued me. --I want the sword to be functional. Though the chances of me using it for it's intended purposes are as likely as a zombie apocalypse i like the warm fuzzy feeling that it's functionality gives me.
What I would use it for: --solo handling, backyard cutting. eventually I would get a similar training sword and practice on a lapel and if lucky get one of my friends into it as well for some light sparring.
Based on my research here are the swords that I'm considering: --VA practical longsword --Tinker longsword --Halwei Hand and Half sword
I've heard really nice things about the VA practical longsword, and it seems like a nice solid choice for a first sword. It fits well within my criteria--good for cutting (something that i would probably be trying to do a lot of in the beginning). It's also not too heavy thus should help with the actual handling of the sword as well. Seems like a good middle of the road choice. My only reservation is that i heard that the newer versions differ from the ones that i've read my reviews about.
The tinker long sword also seems like a great choice--i'm not too discouraged by having to sharpen it. I've heard great things about it's balance/handling, which would help me ease into sword handling. What i am discouraged about is the strength of it's point. After reading the destruction test on SBG my excitement drooped like it's point. For a sword that places more emphasis on the thrust--the point is not supposed to bend like a cheap fork (in my inexperienced opinion). I'm hoping that perhaps it was A) a bad example of the type or B) the thrust that bent it's point was not typical, and would have damaged the point on any sword.
--The reviews for Halwei Hand and Half sword have also been praiseworthy. I particularly liked the long term review by Jean-Pierre on SBG. I like the fact that it's easier to wield it one handed, but still allows for a 2 handed hold.
I'm looking for input on helping me decide. Also, would it be better to get a one handed sword as a first sword?
Thank you for the help, as well as all the resources that you guys already provided.
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Post by MOK on May 15, 2012 10:00:47 GMT
I'd start with a longsword. It's a complete weapons system in one piece, whereas a one-hander really calls for a shield or buckler as well, and most historical treatises that cover multiple weapons use the longsword as an educational foundation for everything else. It's also probably the easiest weapon to find instruction on.
As for choosing between those three... any of them is a fine sword. It's really a matter of which appeals to you the most.
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Post by lamebmx on May 15, 2012 10:19:12 GMT
I have the Hanwei Hand & Half and it feels pretty good. I do not have much experience with euro swords though. It is my only one actually. It is not sharpened so I do not know how the sharpened version would cut.
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Post by Lukas MG (chenessfan) on May 15, 2012 15:18:40 GMT
I have a H/T longsword blade and I abused the heck out of it, including forceful thrusts through tires (not through the side pieces, that'd be easy, no, through the with metal reinforced middle!). I am convinced Paul got a lemon. Other owners of this sword have abused it as well and just as with the rest of the H/T line, it's very durable for a historically accurate sword. No worries there, my friend! In fact, the H/T longsword sports a pretty darn stiff and thick blade, at the CoP it's still 4mm and close before the point 3mm. It's really on the VERY stiff end for a civilian dueling sword and I wouldn't hesitate to use it in armored combat. For example the Albion Brescia Spadona is MUCH more flexible, as are most longsword intended for civilian carry. As a result, the H/T doesn't cut as well as the thinner, more flexible blades but it's still decent enough in that regard.
Regarding the VA: I have one of the newer but not the newest generation blades. To be honest, I think it's horrible. By FAR the floppiest piece of steel I have ever seen. It more flexible than any Windlass longsword I have held and that says something. Very insubstantial blade. It couldn't even thrust through thin leather without bending double. I do however not know if this is still the case with the newest batch. Quite possible that they're much better.
By Hanwei Hand-and-half, do you mean the Albrecht II? That one's a good sword, wonderful blade but that pommel is so huge, I can't grip it worth a damn. Unfortunately, that completely killed the sword for me as you usually grasp the pommel with the off hand in German longsword and this wasn't possible. No idea who originally used that blade back in time, he must have had the hands of a Yeti.
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Post by Voltan on May 15, 2012 17:18:14 GMT
The H/T Longsword is a great blade--I cut with Razor's H/T at his last Norcal meet-up. After using my Hanwei Iberia hand & a half first, the H/T Longsword felt incredible! Much lighter, the balance was superb, and cut like a dream--Razor uses the Tom K belt sander sharpening method. www.sword-buyers-guide.com/sharpen-a-sword.htmlMy hand & a half is the older Iberia line from Hanwei, so I've not seen the Albrecht one you're interested in, but I can say you can't go wrong with the H/T Longsword. BTW, welcome to the forum!
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Post by Neil G. on May 15, 2012 18:16:29 GMT
As a practicioner of WMA I particularly enjoy the handling characteristics of the HT Longsword. I too sharpened mine using the TomK method and it cuts light-medium difficulty targets with relative ease (water bottles, pool noodles, beach mats etc.). I have even got a fair number of silent cuts using the Meisterhaue - Zwerch, Schiel, Krump etc. etc. against water bottles which is an awesome feeling, BTW.
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Post by willhart on May 15, 2012 20:39:51 GMT
So just a note, I have the HT Longsword. It's a great sword, but I spent around 4 hours sharpening it with a belt sander to get the bevel off. Sure it could cut a water bottle before, but now it has a aggressive convex edge to it. The only other way to sharpen it this fast is using a file to take that much metal off, because the sword is really hard. I've used both the VA Longsword and HT Tinker. If you're not worried about doing thrusts I would get the VA Longsword. This sword does not have a bevel at all and comes sharpened correctly. It's way easier to resharpen/touchup the blade in my opinion. But if you want a blade that you can spend a lot of time with getting the sharpness right the HT Longsword is awesome.
I think the VA Longsword is the better cutter as the sword is thinner.
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Post by MOK on May 15, 2012 22:07:00 GMT
It's also worth noting that it's a cut-oriented type of sword, and should be more flexible than more thrust-focused designs like the Tinker.
Well, grasping the pommel is purely optional, really - it's just a way to get more leverage when you need it. The "Warsword of Albrecht II" is light enough and balanced such that the grip on its own should be a long enough lever, generally speaking. But yeah, if you're used to gripping the pommel, this sword will probably be kinda awkward for you.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2012 1:40:24 GMT
Thank you everyone for your responses. Though i've decided to settle on the VA longsword from my original three, i've had another sword creep up on my radar--the HT Bastard sword with fuller.
From my choices you can probably see that i'm gravitating towards the cut, with secondary thrust as an option. The "practical" side of me tells me that if in the slightest of chances that i would have to really use the sword for it's intended purposes, the target would not be wearing full plate.
Between the VA longsword, and the HT bastard sword with fuller, what do you guys think would be a better choice?
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Post by Lukas MG (chenessfan) on May 21, 2012 7:52:44 GMT
Better choice for what? For pure, simple cutting on light targets, probably the VA due to its thinner blade. It's practically a long razor. Note that I'm only talking about the VA I own, which is not the latest generation. As soon as the target gets a bit more substantial, my VA would simply give in. It just doesn't have the mass and stiffness to withstand harder impact which is why I wouldn't want to be caught dead with it in real combat. Against bottles and milk jugs it's deadly but tatami, newspaper rolls or bamboo... no way I'd trust the blade to stand up to that. It might if you're a really good cutter but I just don't feel comfortable with it. Much less if I imagine it would have to withstand the stress of blade to blade combat. It flexes so easily my opponent could cut through my sword in hanging guard (I don't mean "through" the blade, I mean his blade would simply bend mine out of the way). Not mentioning it's complete lack of thrusting ability.
I think if the newest VA generation is like mine, it's the H/T all the way, unless all you want is cutting light targets. The H/T is a GREAT cutter by all accounts but still stiff and massive enough for thrusting as well as being reliable in combat. In my opinion, it's an obvious choice. In fact, if I were you, I'd have to decide between the H/T longsword and bastard and that's not an easy choice... totally depends on what you want for a sword. Light, short longsword usable for both armored and unarmored fighting or a lighting quick bastard sword that excels at versatility, being both easy and efficient with one and or two hands.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2012 9:38:37 GMT
Chenessfan thank you very much for your input, i did not realize that the difference between the old generation and the newer generations was so substantial. All the clips that i saw online were older, and i was hoping that despite the rumors of the new generation being more flimsy, they were overstated. I guess not. I'm glad that i did not impulsively buy the VA.
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Post by William Swiger on May 21, 2012 10:14:57 GMT
:lol:
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