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Post by spearman on Feb 7, 2015 3:32:54 GMT
In addition to the KC spatha, it looks like the KC gladius has also been discontinued. I do not understand why they would discontinue a sword that was so popular. And I thought Windlass was bad about discontinuing swords. I do not care for the Windlass models. They seem to have some construction issues judging from the opinions of owners. It looks like the best current options are the Gen2, and the latest generation VA Pratorian Mainz style.
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Sean (Shadowhowler)
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Post by Sean (Shadowhowler) on Feb 7, 2015 4:10:41 GMT
Damn shame... the KC gladius is my personal favorite sword of its type under 500 bucks.
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Post by RicWilly on Feb 7, 2015 5:13:04 GMT
That TFW Gladius looks good.
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Feb 7, 2015 6:44:49 GMT
Think it is the same thing, as the KC was.
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Post by RicWilly on Feb 7, 2015 7:41:35 GMT
Think it is the same thing, as the KC was. i think it's possible it came from the same forge. TFW's stuff looks a lot like KC's old stuff and both from the Philippines. Fittings are different. |
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Post by spearman on Feb 7, 2015 19:41:31 GMT
Think it is the same thing, as the KC was. i think it's possible it came from the same forge. TFW's stuff looks a lot like KC's old stuff and both from the Philippines. Fittings are different. I just looked at the TFW gladius on their website. It looks very good! I love the way they did the hilt with contrasting colors of wood. The grip looks round. Think I remember the KC had a more square grip. Would a round grip tend to turn in the hand during use? |
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Feb 7, 2015 20:05:08 GMT
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Post by spearman on Feb 7, 2015 20:06:39 GMT
Think it is the same thing, as the KC was. i think it's possible it came from the same forge. TFW's stuff looks a lot like KC's old stuff and both from the Philippines. Fittings are different. Then the TFW should have a nice blade. I have looked at Ric's KC gladius review a number of times. It made me want to get one, but I wanted the KC spatha even more. I wanted to have the spatha rehilted using a Ballenderry style Irish short sword hilt to have something more representative of a Sub-Roman British sub-spatha. I was too late on the spatha. It disappeared so quick, but I could still get the TFW. I heard that KC moved their blade production to China. If so, that would explain some of their swords went away. |
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Feb 7, 2015 20:11:04 GMT
Yes, a sword with a round grip will tend to turn in your hand.
On this, the grip is meant to be shorter than your hand, so the oval pommel and guard will be against/partly in your hand, and that will help.
Haven't seen any original gladius grips that were circular-section. Oval (seems usually for wood), flattened hexagonal (bone with finger grooves), octagonal (flattened diamond with the corners removed, bone). Oddly, I saw a picture of a spatha grip that was oval section, but flattened the opposite way to usual - fatter from side-to-side, and narrower front-to-back.
Corners will help stop twisting, so rectangular, hex, oct, are all more secure against twisting. I think that a fairly rounded oval is OK; maybe a 10% difference is enough, e.g., 30mm thick, 33mm wide, to pull some numbers out of the air (just over 33mm by just under 34mm is not enough). Won't matter as much when thrusting.
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Post by spearman on Feb 7, 2015 20:40:39 GMT
Wow! That is a stunning gladius! Thanks for posting the link. I did not know about that one. I like the way he flattened the sides of the pommel and guard. That should result in a hilt that does not get in the way during a cut. That hilt and the Mainz blade should make it a real sweet cutter. The woods would also be very stable, unlike tropical woods which can crack. I wonder if it comes with the sword stand, and if he still makes gladii? It would just need a scabbard. |
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Feb 7, 2015 20:46:58 GMT
I understand Fallen still has that one for sale and if you ask him im pretty sure he could come up with a heavy leather scabbard for you.
I got a Dirk of him last month that im really pleased with, construction is solid as a rock. It came with a heavy leather sheath that is really quite good.
I've actually been considering it myself.
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Post by spearman on Feb 7, 2015 21:10:03 GMT
Yes, a sword with a round grip will tend to turn in your hand. On this, the grip is meant to be shorter than your hand, so the oval pommel and guard will be against/partly in your hand, and that will help. Haven't seen any original gladius grips that were circular-section. Oval (seems usually for wood), flattened hexagonal (bone with finger grooves), octagonal (flattened diamond with the corners removed, bone). Oddly, I saw a picture of a spatha grip that was oval section, but flattened the opposite way to usual - fatter from side-to-side, and narrower front-to-back. Corners will help stop twisting, so rectangular, hex, oct, are all more secure against twisting. I think that a fairly rounded oval is OK; maybe a 10% difference is enough, e.g., 30mm thick, 33mm wide, to pull some numbers out of the air (just over 33mm by just under 34mm is not enough). Won't matter as much when thrusting. Timo, Thanks for the info on historic gladius grips! |
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Post by spearman on Feb 7, 2015 23:13:21 GMT
I understand Fallen still has that one for sale and if you ask him im pretty sure he could come up with a heavy leather scabbard for you. I got a Dirk of him last month that im really pleased with, construction is solid as a rock. It came with a heavy leather sheath that is really quite good. I've actually been considering it myself. Thanks Paul. I am actually suffering from some indecision as what to get for my first sword. I also want a Del Tin DT2070 Migration, a Viking sword, and a side sword or 16 Century English basket hilt. |
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Feb 8, 2015 6:16:28 GMT
Yes I can still make gladius, the stand can go with it, or we can make another one. Right now I have 4 gladius in stock one it a tactical style. I or I should say the wife can make a scabbard for it. She's been wanting to try a wood leather covered scabbard. If you want a custom made one contact me by PM.
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Post by spearman on Feb 9, 2015 23:29:10 GMT
Yes I can still make gladius, the stand can go with it, or we can make another one. Right now I have 4 gladius in stock one it a tactical style. I or I should say the wife can make a scabbard for it. She's been wanting to try a wood leather covered scabbard. If you want a custom made one contact me by PM. Thanks Fallen! I do want a gladius, but it is further down my list. First will be a Germanic sword of some type, followed by an early period axe and seax. Last will be a gladius or semi-spatha. You would now be the the #1 maker on my list for a Roman sword. Like your design even more than an Albion. I may like an axe from you even before a gladius. |
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Feb 10, 2015 5:21:00 GMT
You do know I make seax too, just don't like to blow my own horn.
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Post by spearman on Feb 11, 2015 1:15:26 GMT
Fallen,
Do you have a website? Tried to find it but could not.
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Paul
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Post by Paul on Feb 11, 2015 1:34:22 GMT
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Post by L Driggers (fallen) on Feb 11, 2015 8:49:16 GMT
No I don't have a website, I live way out in the country only have dail up internet. Can't maintain a website with it. Can't afford satellite internet right now. Also keeping a website updated is a lot of work. Don't have the time to do it, would rather be making things.
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Post by spearman on Feb 13, 2015 4:41:07 GMT
No I don't have a website, I live way out in the country only have dail up internet. Can't maintain a website with it. Can't afford satellite internet right now. Also keeping a website updated is a lot of work. Don't have the time to do it, would rather be making things. Very understandable. Have you made a Francisca, a Frankish throwing axe? |
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