Caboose's Small Collection
Jan 22, 2015 1:22:53 GMT
Post by Caboose on Jan 22, 2015 1:22:53 GMT
Figured I'd put up a thread to show off my tiny collection.
Group shots:
From newest to oldest:
VA Norman (with Hedemark scabbard)
Got this during one of VA's sales a few months back. This is the updated version with a 32.5 inch long blade (2 inches longer than the original). PoB is just below 7 inches. This feels like the heaviest by far in my collection, although my Steward is a few ounces heavier.
This one is a real shield smasher, it's not very quick and it has a lot of presence, but it cuts well assuming I can get my edge alignment right.
VA Customized Tinker Bastard
I ordered an H/T Bastard blade and sent it off to Sonny at VA to build me a semi-custom. I asked for the Malatesta pommel, Knights Templar crossguard, and a grip + new scabbard in blue. The blues look really washed out in some of the pictures, but it's just the crappy indoor lighting. The picture above is the best representation of what it really looks like. I believe the Malatesta pommel is lighter than the stock pommel, because the PoB is around 5 inches, while I believe the stock H/T's PoB is around 4". The edge it came with was complete garbage, so I used this as an opportunity to learn hand sharpening. While the new edge is far from perfect, it is much much better than before.
Albion Steward
My first and only high end sword (although I hope to change that soon, hoping to find a used, more pokey one). Has a Crusader Monk scabbard. It's very fast and feels lighter than it really is. Cuts very well, and thrusts better than you might expect. Easy to use one handed, but recovery is a bit slow.
Cold Steel Italian Longsword
I picked this as my first sword because for some reason I really really wanted a curved crossguard, and also I happened to be at a store that sold Cold Steel swords (and only Cold Steel), so I was able to pick it up and look at it in person.
I actually still really like this sword. It has a very nice balance, is very quick and it cuts reasonably well. The handle is very long, which I quite like. The grip is stitched very neatly, and while you can feel the seam, it is not uncomfortable. The grip is also quite a bit wider than any of my other swords, though I would not say that is a bad thing. When switching from another sword, it takes a couple seconds to adjust to wider grip, but after that I do not notice it at all. I would say its 2 biggest negatives are the nut pommel (although I have had no issues with mine), and its stiffness. I believe Cold Steel made compromises in the blades thickness to reach a desired weight/balance. While the sword is not at all whippy, it is definitely not nearly stiff enough to be a proper XVa.
Group shots:
From newest to oldest:
VA Norman (with Hedemark scabbard)
Got this during one of VA's sales a few months back. This is the updated version with a 32.5 inch long blade (2 inches longer than the original). PoB is just below 7 inches. This feels like the heaviest by far in my collection, although my Steward is a few ounces heavier.
This one is a real shield smasher, it's not very quick and it has a lot of presence, but it cuts well assuming I can get my edge alignment right.
VA Customized Tinker Bastard
I ordered an H/T Bastard blade and sent it off to Sonny at VA to build me a semi-custom. I asked for the Malatesta pommel, Knights Templar crossguard, and a grip + new scabbard in blue. The blues look really washed out in some of the pictures, but it's just the crappy indoor lighting. The picture above is the best representation of what it really looks like. I believe the Malatesta pommel is lighter than the stock pommel, because the PoB is around 5 inches, while I believe the stock H/T's PoB is around 4". The edge it came with was complete garbage, so I used this as an opportunity to learn hand sharpening. While the new edge is far from perfect, it is much much better than before.
Albion Steward
My first and only high end sword (although I hope to change that soon, hoping to find a used, more pokey one). Has a Crusader Monk scabbard. It's very fast and feels lighter than it really is. Cuts very well, and thrusts better than you might expect. Easy to use one handed, but recovery is a bit slow.
Cold Steel Italian Longsword
I picked this as my first sword because for some reason I really really wanted a curved crossguard, and also I happened to be at a store that sold Cold Steel swords (and only Cold Steel), so I was able to pick it up and look at it in person.
I actually still really like this sword. It has a very nice balance, is very quick and it cuts reasonably well. The handle is very long, which I quite like. The grip is stitched very neatly, and while you can feel the seam, it is not uncomfortable. The grip is also quite a bit wider than any of my other swords, though I would not say that is a bad thing. When switching from another sword, it takes a couple seconds to adjust to wider grip, but after that I do not notice it at all. I would say its 2 biggest negatives are the nut pommel (although I have had no issues with mine), and its stiffness. I believe Cold Steel made compromises in the blades thickness to reach a desired weight/balance. While the sword is not at all whippy, it is definitely not nearly stiff enough to be a proper XVa.
