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Post by ofarfo on Sept 14, 2012 20:52:58 GMT
Can anyone give me a run down of some quality rapiers that are affordable. My collection to date consists of 3 Katanas, 2 filipino swords, butterfly swords, A Dan Dao, a Jian, and A Hand and a Half. I'm hoping to expand my collection into some renaissance inspired blades, but I do not have any real knowledge of the rapier. I know that it is best to have the weight sit deep in your palm with a very close POB, but other than that, I'm kind of at a loss. it would be great if the rapier was also capable of slashing, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys,
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Post by Dave Kelly on Sept 14, 2012 21:40:22 GMT
You didn't mention where you are buying from, or how much money you're willing to commit to this project. Rapiers started off as cut and thrust weapons that gradually became civilianized thrusting swords. In the late stage of the rapier the length of blade was falling back to something reasonable and weights were coming down to make them a bit more nimble. If you want a sharp there really aren't many choices in the economy range (under $300 ) Windlass probably has the best of these ( the Hanwei sharps are to light and foil like ) My favorite is their ersatz musketeer rapier. This cup hilt is legitimately a german design. You can buy the set from KoA for 300.00 ( includes the Main Gauche ) www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=500784&name=Musketeer+RapierGiven the nature of your other collectables you might actually get more mileage out of the Windlass Munich Guards cut and thruster (dagger comes seperately ). It's in the rapier style, but has a shorter, stouter cutting blade. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=501144&name=Munich+Cut+and+Thrust+Sword |
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Razor
Senior Forumite
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Post by Razor on Sept 15, 2012 21:36:12 GMT
What do you think about this one, Dave? Do you think it's better than the Windlass Musketeer rapier? www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... ilt+Rapier I have been eyeing it for awhile now. |
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Post by Dave Kelly on Sept 15, 2012 22:36:44 GMT
Haven't handled this one. The set runs $500.00. Nice Main Gauche. Rapier itself is pretty beefy.
Looking at the picture I worry about how well the grip is put together. May just be studio reflections, but the wire wrap looks loose.
Looks like faux fishskin.
Don't know anything about the designer so there is no clue as to maker for me.
Drawback on the Windlass is the nickel plating. ( As far as actually cutting with it...)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2012 0:25:34 GMT
Chat up Luke LaFontaine and David Baker about affiliations in designing the Cold Steel rennie things Baker is Hollywood Combat Center and I know he is responsible for some of the swords that came out in 2009--2010. The manufacturing pretty much no doubt about them coming from the Fred Chen/Dynasty Forge families of makers. These two guys are still around, so no reason why they couldn't be found to further pick their brains. www.hollywoodcombatcenter.com/Th ... /Home.html |
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Post by TheNewDavout on Sept 16, 2012 13:13:28 GMT
I've had the opportunity to handle one at Kult of Athena. I wasn't impressed. Maybe I've been spoiled by a darkwood trainer, but it just felt very sluggish for its length. Another thing to note...the edges are not sharp, only the point is, and as Tom Leoni has gone to great lengths to remind us, rapier cuts aren't point/tip cuts, so you do need the edge as well.
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Post by ofarfo on Sept 16, 2012 13:52:40 GMT
Thanks for the Kult of Athena options. I'm not looking to spend more than 300 dollars. I've found that either by searching deals you can find swords that should be more than that for less than 300 bucks. I'm not a very patient bargain hunter, but I am a little disappointed in cases where I've had to spend more than 300 dollars. Often I find that many of my blades sitting at the 200 dollar mark have equally as good construction and balancing, and way better cutting at the lower price point. As such I was hoping to get a blade in a totally different style than what I've been working through at this point for under 300. both of those original posts look like they're up my alley. I'll have to investigate them a little more, but thanks for the heads up. This is definitely a great jumping off point.
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Post by K. Vander Linde on Sept 17, 2012 19:08:16 GMT
I would recomend any rapier on WulfLund, you just have to watch for their prices to drop, one day a sword might be $317 and the next $275.
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Post by Bogus on Sept 23, 2012 5:36:15 GMT
I'm quite satisfied with my $225 Hanwei rapier/main gauche set, but Dave's right about them being very very light by contemporary standards. Looks like KOA doesn't sell them anymore...damn that factory fire.  If you're just wanting something Rennaissance-themed but not explicitly a rapier you might consider a cut-and-thrust sidesword, which is what 16th century Spanish rodeleros used. Looks like a shorter, stockier Italian rapier with the ability to do some damage. Hanwei makes a solid one, but there again it seems to have disappeared from discount retailers' shelves. $300 also gets you a low-end Darkwood sword, they're not sharp and I have no personal experience with the swords themselves but everyone I've heard from says they offer fantastic performance. And, seriously, it's a rapier...it's not like your're going to be cutting mats with it. The trouble with rapiers is it's a specialized market serviced by just a few manufacturers, and one of the big ones just effectively left the game, so you kind of have to take what you can get. |
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Post by Elheru Aran on Sept 23, 2012 23:16:13 GMT
The Hanwei sidesword is extremely light-bladed. It's a good thruster and a halfway decent cutter, but the balance is wayyyyy off for a proper sidesword. All that stainless steel in the guard and pommel just throw the whole thing off. I'm refitting my H/T bastard sword blade with the guard, still not sure what I'll do for pommel but I expect performance to be much more sidesword-ish...
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Post by TheNewDavout on Sept 24, 2012 12:48:46 GMT
www.marozzo.org/ ...check the section on test cutting, you'll see some rapiers cutting mats... Sorry to troll, just had to post this, as it changed how I see rapiers' cutting ablility.
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Post by Cold Napalm on Sept 28, 2012 6:57:30 GMT
For the cheap rapiers, I kinda like the windlass ones. Yes they have to be sharpened, but they do not suffer from the whippy blade syndrome of other long windlass swords...generally speaking. I have the pilsen rapier which Tom K sharpened and it's quite nice...other then the horrible grey leather. Not sure what they were thinking with that...but handles and stabs and cuts nice enough.
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Post by Bogus on Sept 30, 2012 4:56:57 GMT
Hah, no worries--the one that went all the way through is the one of theirs that I've been wanting for about a year. Good stuff.  |
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