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Post by Vyuun on May 16, 2013 23:37:05 GMT
Hey all! I'm a relatively casual collector who has bought a few swords and knives from ebay over the past few years. Nothing too amazing or high quality. Just your typical stainless steel Chinese reproductions. I signed up for this forum today because I could use some help/advice finding a nice falchion. I kind of fell in love with the one featured on the "falchion" wikipedia page and was hoping to find something like it. However, when I search for falchions on ebay, amazon, and similar sites, I get little to no results (compared to other sword types). Why are falchions so elusive? Are they more commonly called something else? Can anyone direct me to a site where I can find a decent, relatively inexpensive falchion? It doesn't have to be sharp or "combat ready", though it's preferred. I saw reviews for two different falchions on this website, but neither really appealed to me. Thanks in advance!
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Post by Vincent Dolan on May 17, 2013 1:07:32 GMT
Well, first off, welcome to SBG. Next: how much is "relatively inexpensive" for you? Del Tin offers several different styles of falchion for around 380-400$, though they're a bit hefty and lack a scabbard. They're also the only ones I can think of that aren't like the Norwich types that have been reviewed here: The 5131The 5132The 6153Also, I'm with you; the one on Wiki is rather fetching.
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Post by Vyuun on May 17, 2013 1:29:12 GMT
Thanks for the reply, Vincent.
Unfortunately, I think those are a bit out of my price range for casual collecting. The swords I buy are usually no more than $100. I think $150-$200 would be my limit, but I could be flexible if something REALLY caught my eye. I know that's extremely cheap for anything sturdy, but I can't justify paying $300+ for a something that will, realistically, sit on my shelf until I feel like showing it off again.
I do really like the design of the 5132 (love the small guard), but I would absolutely need a scabbard or sheath to keep it in.
Do you think there's anything suitable within that price range? Or is it completely unrealistic?
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Lunaman
Senior Forumite
Posts: 3,974
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Post by Lunaman on May 17, 2013 1:49:31 GMT
Pretty unrealistic. Only decent piece around that price is the Windlass Falchion, but it's of the narrower Norwich type. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp ... l+Falchion You don't need it to be battle ready or sharp? Are you sure you're on the right forum?
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Post by Vyuun on May 17, 2013 2:10:51 GMT
I figured. In that case, I'll keep an open mind about the price. Something more expensive wouldn't break the bank. I'm just trying to be frugal. I'm not really a fan of the narrower blade design. I'm more into the heftier blades. The 5132 is more along the lines of what I'm looking for. If it had a sheath, it'd be perfect (ignoring the price). And having it sharp would definitely be preferred. Any other suggestions, maybe around the $200-$250 range? Like I said, I can be a little flexible on price.
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Post by Vincent Dolan on May 17, 2013 2:18:43 GMT
The only thing in the sub-200$ range that I know of is the Windlass falchion reviewed on the main page, but you've already said it didn't speak to you. Hmm, well, if having a sharpened blade isn't super-important, you could look at stage combat. Wulflund in Germany makes a rather nice, simple falchion that should be right up your alley. According to XE, it's about 174$US, so it comes in under your limit (however, shipping & taxes could change that, just so you're aware). The downside is, no sheath. EDIT: There's also the Valiant Armoury Norwich Base Model. The blade is still somewhat narrow, but heftier than the Windlass; the downsides are its near-300$ price tag and whether or not it's in stock, since Sonny (owner & operator of VA) gets his blades in batches and they sell out quick.
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Post by Vyuun on May 17, 2013 2:34:19 GMT
Design-wise, the 5132 is still my best bet. If I could find something similar with a sheath/scabbard, I might be willing to bend on price. And if it's still expensive, maybe I'll splurge and make it the centerpiece of my collection. XD I just want to keep shopping around a bit more before I make any purchases.
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Post by William Swiger on May 17, 2013 3:39:58 GMT
Kult of Athena will sharpen the sword for a small fee. They offer a plain leather scabbard you can purchase. Crusader Monk could also make you a wood core scabbard for 225.00. You can buy the Crusader Monk scabbard when you purchase a sword from KOA as an option.
The Crusader Monk option is the lowest cost scabbard you can purchase with a wood core.
The cheapest option for a falchion with a wood core scabbard is VA but you do not like that particular model.
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Post by Vyuun on May 17, 2013 13:53:01 GMT
Hmm, do you have a link to the plain leather scabbard on Kult of Athena's site? The only custom scabbard I see is the one for $225. It looks REALLY nice, but adding that in would definitely put me over budget.
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Post by William Swiger on May 17, 2013 16:07:04 GMT
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Post by Vyuun on May 17, 2013 21:49:17 GMT
Gah, the more I look at that falchion and scabbard, the more I want it. I just need a good reason to spend that much money...
Also, related question: What is a "frog"? Is that the belt loop part attached to the scabbard?
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Post by Vyuun on May 18, 2013 2:41:37 GMT
Welp, I broke down and bought it. Got the DT5132B (sharpened) with the custom wood scabbard and straight sword frog. With shipping, it cost me about $655. I told myself that I would cut back on buying fast food for awhile to "pay for it", something I really needed to do anyway. This'll just give me motivation enough to follow through (I hope). I can't wait for it to arrive! Between the scabbard/frog and sharpening, it'll probably be a few weeks before I get it.
I consider this the first "real" sword I've ever bought. The others are just cheap knock-offs. If it's just going to be on display in the scabbard most of the time, are there any maintenance tricks I should be aware of?
Thanks for all of your help! Maybe I'll post a review/video of it when it comes in, if people care. I don't think I've seen any of this sword on here yet.
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