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Post by Afoo on Dec 30, 2014 0:04:19 GMT
Hello. I am looking at the Universal Swords ANXI light cav. sabre from KoA (http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=USS125&name=Napoleonic+AN+XI+Light+Cavalry+Saber), and I was wondering if anyone had any advice. I know that there are quite a few reviews on some of Weapon Edge's other French offerings form the period ( here, here and here), though none corresponding to this exact model. The 1802 light cav sabre as reviewed by Dave Kelly looks similar, but has a different guard. Given Universal's habit of using similar blades for multiple swords, is it possible that the ANXI has the same blade? I know that the WEI repro will not handle nearly was well as the original, but I would like to know where it lies on the good, bad, and ugly scale. Ultimately, I am curious as to how the viciously curved light cav sabres such as this one and the 1796 British LC feel in the hand compared to the straighter sabres from later on (ie: the swiss 1867 and British 1885) - Alex
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Dec 30, 2014 0:28:36 GMT
Comparing the British P1890 and P1796LC swords, the 1796 is a light agile slicer, while the 1890 is a much heavier (1.12kg vs about 900g for a typical trooper's 1796, though only a tiny bit longer) cut-and-thrust sword. I don't particularly like the 1890 - it's functional and adequate, but a bit of a pig. A 1796, OTOH, makes one want to slice things up. (Originals, that is. I haven't held a replica 1796 that feels good in the same way as originals. The Weapon Edge replica is close to the weight of an 1890.)
The 1796 is not so curved and heavy to feel funky when rotating it about its length; more curved and heavier can feel funny. (This is for a rotation about an axis running along the sword. For a straight sword, the sword and your hand would stay in the same place, while you twist your wrist to rotate hand and sword. A straight sword with a compact guard rotates about this axis very easily; strongly curved blades, heavy baskets, and very long guards put a lot of mass away from the axis of rotation, and this rotation is more sluggish.)
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Post by Afoo on Dec 30, 2014 0:57:00 GMT
Interesting - especially since the tip of the blade on a 1796 lies a fair bit away from the line of the hand. Does the fact that the center of mass is slightly behind the hand have any effect on the cut?
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Dec 30, 2014 5:22:55 GMT
What affects the cut a lot is that the point on the blade where you want to hit the opponent (at about the termination of the fuller) is behind the line of the hand. This means that the blade stays aligned nicely during a cut (think of castors or similar wheels - self-aligning!). Even if you hit with the angle off a bit, this will tend to correct your hit. Centre of mass behind the line of the hand means that your blade alignment is probably going to be OK, even if you're not paying attention, since it means that the blade tends to follow the hand (again, self-aligning).
I haven't cut with my antique, but have with other sabres of similar blade shape. Nice design. As noted above, blade-alignment friendly, and encourages slicing draw cuts.
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jan 2, 2015 9:58:24 GMT
Some examples of Napoleonic sabres with 21/2 to 3 inch drops. First is the Br 1796 light. This is a Birmingham export for US militia use. 32 in blade, and 1.9 lbs Second is an empire costumne/Universal Fr 1790 Hussar Officer sabre in the Hungarian mode. 32 in blade, poor taper and 2.4 lbs Third is a German 1788 pattern. Notice the whole blade is fullered without a stabbing tip. 33 inch blade, 2.2 lbs Last is the Fr AN XI light cav sabre. 35 inch blade, half basket guard, 2.3 lbs. energetic taper and balance. As far as any of the commercial representations of the AN XI: I've never purchased nor handled any of them. Visually none of them are right in dimensions. Blade mass is wrong in thickness and in taper. The Cold Steel would probably be the most entertaining to cut with. All of them have ahistorical forward blade weight. Stats and pics I'd give all of them a 3:5 rating. It's downhill from there. These are all cavalry swords. All western cavalry fencing doctrine preached the thrust as the best form of engagement; consequently the majority of cavalry swords are 34-36 inches long. Eastern nations who promoted highly curved sabres as often as not employed the lance for shock attacks. ( Still the thrust idea.)
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Post by Afoo on Jan 3, 2015 3:20:31 GMT
Darn. Thanks for making me crave an AN XI even more... Though the lack of historical accuracy does abate that a little. I always had the impression that Empire Costume's offerings fared okay in terms of taper, especially considering their price range. Speaking of the devil, they also happen to have a real light cav saber available for sale, though much too expensive for me >.>. It is quite a beautiful thing though...
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Post by Dave Kelly on Jan 3, 2015 10:19:56 GMT
Sorry, the AN XI just happens to be one of those "make your bones" sabres for collectors, likened in popularity to the Ames M1840 original "ole wristbreaker". You have to pay to get into the club. Fortunately, in this snakepit trade, none of the replicas so far are anywhere near as good as the original.
Regarding Empire Costumne; their original and still primary provider for edged weapons is Universal Sword. It's only been in the last 3 years or so that EC has branched out to Czech swordmakers to contract more accurate representations. The new generation swords are significantly more expensive.
The global cost of raw materials, shipping and customs is up so everything has been climbing. Should the oil market stabilize at something less than the inflated bubble that has existed for the last 14 years, it may have the effect of settling down some of the business penalties that has forced everything else to go up.
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Post by Afoo on Jan 3, 2015 18:54:00 GMT
Good to know. Perhaps one day I will get my hands on one That would explain the huge price difference between their various offerings, though given the cost of shipping from across the pond, everything of theirs is relatively expensive. The low Canadian dollar isn't helping either. After so many years of being near par, the current exchange rate of 0.85 really puts a damper on things.
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Post by Afoo on Jan 13, 2015 5:41:04 GMT
I gave in and got a CS ANXI. It looked too nice to pass up. The shape of the blade reminds me of the Prussian sabre you sent me not too long ago. Will let you know how it fares. Unfortunately, I do not have a historical one to compare it to...unless someone lends one to me
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Post by S. Thomas on Jan 14, 2015 9:34:37 GMT
I have the WEI AN XI. Short grip, handles well, though. Nicely manoeuvrable with the "thumb along the backstrap" grip; you`ll find a small, shallow indent to seat your thumb into/ on. Haven`t had the heart to sharpen it. I suspect strongly that it`s 1055 steel. File marks around the corners and between the hilt bars where the buffing wheel couldn`t fit. WEI brass is not lacquered like Windlass brass. Will develop a nice patina, if you neglect to polish it. This is the only WEI... No... I have two heavy cavalry swords, one, or both of which you`ll see in Dave Kelly`s review pages, if you search diligently; cuirassier enlisted and officer`s model, Napoleonics. G`night.
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Post by Afoo on Jan 15, 2015 3:24:15 GMT
I assume the WEI is the same as the CS one - both look very similar in the KoA pics. The CS one has a threaded pommel though, which I prefer. Since its a CS marketed product, I would assume its 1055 steel, and likely same for the WEI.
Either way, glad to hear that the AN XI is decent - thank you very much for the info
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