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Post by skelingaton on Dec 21, 2014 16:07:02 GMT
Greetings, I've been looking into getting a good medieval style sword lately and was wanting to get some recommendations. I'm looking for something that is both functional and durable as good quality swords are something I can appreciate. I'm also looking for something that is one handed and well balanced. I have already looked around a bit and it seems there are quite a few makers and sites out there. The medieval knight sword and arming sword from the darksword armory did catch my eye as I really liked the aesthetics of them but I've heard mixed things about the company and how their sharpening service isn't the best. I realize that their prices might be a little high too but I am willing to pay around the $300 - $500 range if the sword is good enough. So if there is anyone out there who has handled a few single handed medival type swords out there and could give me some recommendations or advice I would certainly appreciate it.
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Post by LG Martial Arts on Dec 21, 2014 16:48:48 GMT
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Post by Bryan Heff on Dec 21, 2014 20:08:40 GMT
Albion SL Knightly (I think just under 500 clams)...never owned one but have other squire lines and many people have posted about how nice this sword is.
H/T Medieval also gets lots of love..I have the H/T Norman and recommend it highly
Darksword has many fans and then those who are not...best do your own research on this one. They have a large lineup so lots to choose from.
Del Tin makes a lot of single handers in that price range...I like their offering quite a bit but they are going to be heavier on AVG than H/Ts and most likely not sport as good an edge as they are built as blunts and sharpened after the fact...but they do well in the historical looks department if that is important to you.
VA gets a lot of love in this range but I don't own any so cannot comment further than that.
Some usual follow up question to your question are "What do you plan on doing with the sword?...do yo want a scabbard included?....how important is historical accuracy to you? Those answers should narrow things and get you more accurate recommendations on what you may be after.
Good luck.
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Post by Lonely Wolf Forge on Dec 21, 2014 20:26:32 GMT
i Second the Albion Squire Knightly if you can afford the Albion id deff go with that one, IMO it's going to have better fit and finish, and a better edge than the other options. If you have sharpening skills then the hanwei tinker Early medieval sword or norman would be nice budget options.
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Post by skelingaton on Dec 22, 2014 2:30:32 GMT
As far as use goes it will pretty much just be used for practice so I don't plan on putting the blade through rough usage. Historical accuracy isn't too important to me but I usually prefer more realistic or historical designs compared to fantasy swords. I would definitely like a scabbard included with the sword though.
As far as the Hanwei Tinker sword goes it seems like it comes sharpened. Is the edge they put on it not very good which is why I would need to sharpen it? Also, I was wondering it the Albion Squire Knightly came with a scabbard and what type of steel it was made of? The Albion Squire and Hanwei Tinker Early Medieval Sword both look like nice options though. Thanks for the replies so far.
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TomK
Member
Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,377
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Post by TomK on Dec 23, 2014 3:23:18 GMT
Albion squire line will not come with a scabbard but it is far and away the best thing in that price range.
Hanwei Tinker Norman or Early Medieval Single Hand Sword (EMSHS) are the next best swords in quality of handling and performance. They will lack some of the pretty stuff other sees might have but they have it where it counts. They come with a scabbard too
Ronin Katana has just released a medieval line that looks promising but I've seen no reviews and not handled one so I can't say if it is good or not.
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The Sword of the Morning
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Post by The Sword of the Morning on Dec 23, 2014 4:14:17 GMT
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Post by sonofarwyn on Dec 23, 2014 16:16:12 GMT
I second the VA recommendation. For the price range you are quoting, you cannot beat VA. You get an excellent sword, and an OUTSTANDING scabbard, which would run you easily as much by itself elsewhere. Hard to beat Sonny for the complete package.
If your not worried about a scabbard, than the Albion Knight is an excellent choice. The rest of the Squire line swords are very good deals. The vikings offered at Viking Shield are a great buy for the dollar.
For a few dollars less, the Hanwei's are a decent choice. Fit and finish is decent, scabbards are functional, and the swords are a decent value for the money. They show up in auction from time to time, which is a great way to pick one up, and they can be had very reasonably, like sub-$300.
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Post by Arthur Dayne on Dec 23, 2014 18:39:46 GMT
Most definitely :)
As of now I would say:
1. Beater Swords/Sub $300 Entry level practice/amusement: Hanwei Tinker Line and Windlass offerings. I am a big fan of the HT Blunts because they are like sub $250 and very safe high quality gear for sparring or just a melee bashing spree. And if you are just going to have stress free bashing, it's pointless to spend too much of a sword you're gonna beat to hell. $100-$300
2. Mid-level Sword packages for cutting/performance/appreciation of quality and beauty: Just get a Valiant Armoury/Custom Sword Shoppe package and you're good to go, great sword, fittings and awesome quality top grain leather scabbard/belts, not the junk bonded leather crap. I mainly have the Signature Swords but have a Limited Edition War Sword coming in the mail which is supposedly a big step up from the Sig Line. I was also told that Lutel made a great sword package too with good fit/finish and leather scabbards so I may try them eventually in 2015. Price Range: $350-$650 (range may go up since Sonny is offering higher quality packages such as the Limited Edition ones and perhaps more in the future).
3. High-End Art and Perfection (or close to it)- Albion Sword, Perfect blade geometry with Albion, flawless fit and finish... is what I've seen so far, the attention to detail for their swords is incredible but at a significant price of $875-$3400. I am going to get me an Albion Knight or Regent eventually too. Albion Swords are just the sword by itself unless you pay for a scabbard to go with it $350-$800. I also heard good things about Arms & Armour and have my eye on some of their swords too...
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Post by sonofarwyn on Dec 23, 2014 19:11:29 GMT
North of the price range mentioned, I agree with Arthur, Albion and A&A are top notch. I own swords from both, and no regrets.
The only down side to both A&A and Albion is availability, they are both hard to get a hold of quickly. If you order from them, you will wait, but you will get what you want. Albion wait times seem to be the shorter of the two right now.
Best bet with A&A is to see whats in stock or on their muster page. Muster is great, you get a nice sword for a very nice price.
Another place to look are the pre-owned sword listing at Kult of Athena. There are some good deals to be had there as well.
Finally, if you dont mind watching the classifieds, you may want to watch for Atrim swords as they come up. Usually a very good purchase, and you can occasionally score a great deal.
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Post by skelingaton on Dec 23, 2014 20:35:31 GMT
Its unfortunate that the Albion swords don't come with a scabbard. VA doesn't seem to have a great selection for one handers but their Atrim Practical Arming Sword did catch my eye. Does anyone have any experience with this sword? And for the assembly option what exactly would the difference be between it being hot peened and put together with a hex nut (I assume this has to do with how the pommel is attached). Also, it seems like they have a lot of color options but don't really have any samples of the colors. Should I just contact them asking if they can provide color samples?
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Post by Bryan Heff on Dec 23, 2014 20:44:42 GMT
Peened means the end of the tang is hammered down over the end of the pommel. Its the traditional method for most sword types...especially medieval styles. When done correctly along with a keyed pommel and glued grip it is an extremely strong method. IF the guard is not glued to the tang (like Del Tins) they can loosen a bit since the grip is compressed by the pommel. Usually some whacks with a ball peen hammer on the peen will tighten it back up. Albions don't usually have this issue since there method is not compressed.
Hex nut is basically a threaded tang with a nut fitting that is tightened with an allen wrench/hex key where the nut is embedded in the pommel. These can loosen over time and need a quick retighten. Some people use loctite to end that issue. Also, some people like the hex nut so they can take the sword apart.
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Post by Alex.Moranz on Dec 24, 2014 1:31:49 GMT
I have owned all three of the big names mentioned here and Arthur Dayne is spot on with what he said. Most people here got into swords years ago and bought many cheap swords before going up in quality, and most usually come to the point where they only purchase Albions, A&A, and customs. There is good reason for this, as they are true collectors and real swords are what they collect and appreciate so they pay the money. Then there are others who like swords but it is not their biggest hobby or they do not or cannot spend the big money and go for the cheaper in price swords. We are very blessed with the sword market right now and even the cheaper swords are fantastic pieces for the most part.
So here is my advice that I wish I could have given myself when I first started buying swords.
1) Patience- I know the strong desire to own a sword as soon as possible. But if you wait and find one you really like you'll be better off in the long run.
2) Start off with a cheaper sword. There are a few reasons for this as it allows you to kind of refine your tastes so to speak. When I first started I wanted a single hander as well, but later found out after handling several that I prefer hand a half and two handers more. Still enjoy single handers but if I could only own one sword it would be a bastard. Another reason is you can usually find a buyer of said sword if you decide it's not for you.
3) Listen to what some of the more experienced collects have to say. There are many extremely knowledgeable sword collectors/practitioners who offer their advice freely on this site. SBG is truly a great resource for sword collectors, you can find almost anything here if you only look.
So my parting words are this. H/T and VA are both excellent choices. They handle beautifully and are made very well. Another plus is they can be resold here in the classifieds very easily. They retain their value very well and people are always willing to buy them. That should tell you something about them. Albion's are in a league of their own and once you hold one you will understand why. Worth the money they charge and in some cases worth even more. If I were in your shoes I would start by purchasing a H/T that suites your fancy and work with that for awhile. They are a blast to own and make great project swords that can keep you busy while you save up for your next purchase. If you decide that you need more swords you can always sell the H/T and use that to fund the next purchase or keep it as most people do because they are awesome swords.
Just my opinion though, I hope it helps.
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Scott
Member
Posts: 1,680
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Post by Scott on Dec 24, 2014 2:17:59 GMT
If you want to see the colour choices for VA, take a look at their facebook page. It's got a picture showing the different options.
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Post by skelingaton on Dec 24, 2014 17:24:48 GMT
After putting a lot of thought into it I think I'm going to go with the VA Arming Sword. It is quite a bit cheaper compared to other swords I was considering and the maker seems like they're held in high regard. I haven't handled many two handed swords aside from katanas but even with them I find myself wanting to use them one handed so I think I would prefer a one handed sword for the time being. I'm not sure if I'll get into collecting many more swords but I know there are many out there I would still like to own. After I figure out what colors I'd like for the scabbard and handle (I'm thinking antique blue) I'll hopefully be placing the order for it by the end of the year. Thanks again for all the informative posts everyone. After I receive the sword I may come back and do a review for it.
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Post by Afoo on Jan 4, 2015 3:08:57 GMT
Hello. A bit late, but the Henry V from Hanwei and the Windlass Oakeshott XIV seem to be reasonable buys based off of the reviews.
I personally have not handled any of them. I only post this because I was in a similar position to you not too long ago. I mainly live in the world of military sabres (I used to do fencing). However, I have always wanted to give medieval swords a try, and the relatively affordable price points of Windlass and the Hanwei (around $200 from Kult of Athena) made them hard to resist.
I am getting a second hand Hanwei Henry V from a fellow SBG member. If you are interested, I can let you know how it turns out. On that note, if you are patient, something good might come up on the SBG forums classified. You can always post a wanted request as well and perhaps someone may have something that interests you. I am a relative newcomer and have only bought a few things from the SBG forums, but they have all gone without a hitch
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Post by skelingaton on Jan 4, 2015 20:51:02 GMT
I've already ordered a sword from VA so I might try out Windlass or HT another time. The classified section does seem like a good place to find swords so I can see myself getting something from there in the future too.
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