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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2008 3:23:28 GMT
So I am heading out to MRL's showroom to return the rapier I reviewed. Just don't have the finances now that we have another dog that we adopted.
Is there anything that people would like a first impression on? If so, I can try and take a look at it for them.
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Post by ShooterMike on Feb 9, 2008 11:21:50 GMT
Thanks for the heads up, Oswyn. I'd really like to hear your impressions of the new Schloss Erbach sword, catalog #501058. How thick is it at the guard? How much distal taper does it seem to have? How rigid is the blade? How much, if any, hollow grinding is evident? How well executed are the hilt pieces? How does it handle? Overall impressions regarding looks?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2008 16:08:37 GMT
Sure, will try and take a look. I should be going either today or tomorrow.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2008 22:25:59 GMT
Here are the reviews asked for.
Schloss Erbach: This sword is sweet. The PoB is about 3.5-4" from the hilt, and it just comes alive in your hands. Easily able to be wielded one handed, from a weight perspective, though with two, it flowed from one guard to the next. Great work on the etching for the pommel and guard. It has a decent amount of taper, though not as much of a thruster as others, more of a "big sword" overall. I would classify the blade as "springy" instead of "whippy". There was a decent amount of flex, along with a bit of wobbling when struck on the pommel (about 1" overall). Great looking sword.
Crecy War Sword: The sword is REALLY whippy. Like 2-3" of shaking at the point when struck on the pommel with the heel of my hand. Didn't really impress me much.
New Warhammer: It was decent. The wood was not quite a hardwood, but would stand up to having a few bumps and bruises. Wicked looking top spike. There was a bit of a gap right under the head between the forks coming down and the handle itself. There are a couple of others which also looked decent. There is the English War Hammer at 85, and the German War Hammer, for 69. Both looked pretty good, with the English one having a leather grip, but the German War Hammer looking like it had a better handle. The handle apparently does not go into the head at all, making it relatively easy to unscrew the wood, and put a now handle on. Did not see how easy it would be to remove the pommel.
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Post by ShooterMike on Feb 16, 2008 18:30:34 GMT
Many thanks, oswyn.
Looks like if I get around to buying another sword from MRL it will be the Schloss Erbach. I was hesitant about it, but nothing like having an unbiased third party opinion. That really helps.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2008 19:03:38 GMT
Thanks Oswyn. The warhammer sounds okay, but a bit much $$. The German one I heard had a cast head and the hammer broke when someone used it. The Schloss Erbach sword sounds like a very good deal though.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2008 0:53:41 GMT
The only hesitation would be using the sword against a Heavy impact cutting target. I would classify this one as a light-medium target cutter only. There was some springy-ness, but wasn't "whippy".
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2008 12:57:34 GMT
It's shame that Windlass doesn't produce thicker blades for their bigger swords. And smaller ones should also be thicker at the base but with more distal taper...
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Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2008 17:35:32 GMT
I wish they did something to their single-handed swords. Every one I handled had a balance point over 6-7" from the hilt, and sometimes further. So unless they did something radical to them, or the handle/pommel area, I wouldnt want the blade any beefier.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 2:08:11 GMT
Perhaps if they didn't temper 'em down so soft (mid to upper mid 40's RC, is what I've heard)?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 22:01:50 GMT
That's well within the range of historical pieces. It's just that we customers have come to expect a certain level of hardness. We don't like having to restraighten blades. Oswyn, you should hace checked out their XIV Arming sword. Balance is around 4".
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 22:33:55 GMT
Yeah, but that don't work for a 12th century persona. The guy in the shop and I were lamenting the lack of good balance and non-crosses for High Medieval swords. If anyone knows of one, Windlass or other, that doesn't break the bank, let me know.
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Post by rammstein on Feb 18, 2008 22:35:31 GMT
What do you mean by "non-crosses"?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 23:01:44 GMT
Plain and undecorated without crosses. Most of them I have seen from this era are "Templar" this and "Crusader" that, and there are crosses on the pommels, guards, etc. Sorry, thought one thing, and wrote anther. Meant "good balance and without crosses".
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Post by rammstein on Feb 18, 2008 23:09:20 GMT
I'm going to try to help you out if I can What do you mean by crusade era sword? 1096 was a little different than 1187 which was even more different than 1291.
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Post by rammstein on Feb 18, 2008 23:15:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 18, 2008 23:30:11 GMT
Yeah, looked at all of those. The Naumberg has a PoB about 6-7" from the guard, and if I were to shave down the guard and part of the hilt to make it more correct, it would go even further. Never really loved the HUGE tea-cozy pommel of the Practical Norman, IMO it would look worlds better with a brazil nut pommel. The Sword of Reynald is just wierd looking to me. Especially the square pommel with the overall brassy look. The blade and guard are decent though. I appreciate your help, and there is really no rush, as I dont have the fundage right now, what with a new dog (had him 2 weeks) and my fiancee about to get a $250 rapier.
One of my buddies offered to put a blank through his milling machine, and I could go to work on a custom blade. The only real hesitations I have are lack of access to a belt grinder at this time (live in an apartment for another 3 months), and uncertainty about my skill at grinding out a decent guard that is attachable. And I have no idea how to make sure the balance is even remotely where I would want it to be at the end.
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Post by rammstein on Feb 18, 2008 23:56:23 GMT
The PoB on the Naumberg is the best part
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2008 13:48:11 GMT
Really, I had high hopes for that sword, until I actually handled it. With all of the grinding and stock removal I would do, with taking off the riser on the guard, and giving a slope to the flats of the pommel, it would have been ridiculously off-balanced. Other than that, it looks great.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 19, 2008 14:51:23 GMT
Did you looks at the Windlass Classic medieval? Brian said it was one of the best Windlass blades he'd seen, not whippy or too heavy. He also reccomended redoing the grip, since the original one didn't allow you to control the sword very well. If you order from AOV, you can get the customized version, or you can do it yourself. Barring that, you could always wait for the Castile!
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