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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2008 20:58:36 GMT
ive heard conflicting claims that this was purely a venetian weapon or that it was first doveloped by the sclavoi (croatians in the service of venice)
which is the real origin of this sword?
and also is the del tin schiavona superior to the windlass version?
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Post by hotspur on May 18, 2008 21:37:05 GMT
There is some pretty good evidence they are more an evolution of Germanic type baskethilts. They are certainly not unique to the Venitian connection, or Croatia. If you want the straight poop, head on over to www.myarmoury.com and run some searches. There are a couple of very useful threads concerning them, as well as an online gallery of many examples. Nathan Robinson is probably one of the foremost scholars of the particular genre known as schiavona. The few MRL swords I have ever found comparable to Del Tins, were Del Tin Blades hilted by MRL. There have been a couple of Windlass schiavona, some have liked both, some one or the other, some neither. There is also a Cold Steel horseman's sword that has one of these baskets but the sword itself is a bit anachronistic. Reviewed here, I believe. Cheers Hotspur; you might find reviews of these over at mArmoury as well
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2008 3:04:03 GMT
FWIW i have the Windlass blackened schiavona. Sadly, it's all show, no go. It is basically an elegant looking crowbar.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2008 12:17:47 GMT
One thing that differs Schiavona from Germanic baskethilts is cat head pommel and it is specific for Croatia, and Croatian mercenaries in Venice made it popular there. General look of the sword is typical for central Europe and Croatians probably copied design from Germanic nations and added a bit of generic flavor with a pommel typical for Croatia.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2008 22:12:07 GMT
Windlass sometimes modifies their designs - the newer batches of schiavonas might have better handling characteristics than the old ones. I know for a fact that the blades of some long-running Windlass sword models have been changed recently (as in during the last year or so). But, as always, if at all possible, try before you buy. What "newer batches" are you referring to? Windlass discontinued that model a year or two ago.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2008 11:10:12 GMT
I've got one of the last Type 2 Schiavona's from Windlass and it's an OK sword...nothing to really write home about. It's surely looker now that I antiqued the hilt & blade. Schiavona's were used by Slavic mercenarie's hired by the Doge (Govenor) of Venice as royal body guards basicly. Cheers, Bill ps (this is my first offical post on the site)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2008 14:28:55 GMT
...Schiavona's were used by Slavic mercenarie's hired by the Doge (Govenor) of Venice as royal body guards basicly.... And most of town militias on Croatian coast and throughout most of Croatia... It is an excellent sword for a poor militia soldier who can't afford gauntlets, so the sword basket protects his hand... These swords were made in great quantities for arming the militias against the Turkish invasion... p.s. Welcome to the forum...
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Jun 28, 2008 9:21:27 GMT
Would love to see a review on the Schiavona Bill. It's one thing we're missing here at SBG. Welcome.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2008 10:20:21 GMT
Would love to see a review on the Schiavona Bill. It's one thing we're missing here at SBG. Welcome. Paul has already hit me up for a couple reviews and it's on the list. One in the works, so I'll make the Schiavona next...yes? BTW...thanks for the welcome. Auf Wiedersehen,
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2008 3:22:44 GMT
Interesting. What year range are we talking about?
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Post by hotspur on Jul 2, 2008 5:28:33 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2008 12:25:31 GMT
I think the earliest would be second half of 16th century. For the latest, it would probably be used even in 18th century, it's impossible to say poor soldiers didn't used old but good schiavonas even later...
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