Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Dec 14, 2016 14:24:08 GMT
This nice looking Reitschwert was introduced in the 1999 - 2000 Windlass catalogue, according to Dave Kelly, the former owner. Image courtesy of Dave Kelly. I saw it the first time a couple of years ago in a picture of his collection and wanted it ever after. When Dave had it up for sale I bought it directly. Why you may ask. Well, I prefer the older Windlass designs. Much bolder than the more bland output Windlass did these last couple of years. Though the Christ Imperator rapier as a recent design upholds much of the old Windlass flair, designs with a difference have become few and far between. Not that these designs are without fault. They fare for the most part not better than the regulars and suffer from the same taperless thin blades as the rest of them. Only the Munchen and the Christ Imperator and maybe a very few others stick their heads above the grass qua handling. So, for me the attraction lies foremost in the looks and I guess the somewhat better detailing and build than more recent merchandise. This thing is surely build as a rock. I call this sword a Reitschwert, a Riding sword. I guess it could be called a side sword too. Why not? It falls in that murky category of huge numbers of two or more ringed swords, with short or long grips, with shorter or longer blades, some narrow, some broader, etc, etc, that every so often cross the line into rapier territory. I envy the Italians who called a sword a sword. Everything was a Spada. End of story. We have to suffer from some 19th C. Anglo - North European pathological labeling neurosis. The only people who are worse in this respect are the Japanese who have a name for every small crinkle or wrinkle in the patterns on their blades. Which is fine by me, as long as I don't have to do it too. Handling. It handles much like many other generic Windlasses. Not very good and not very bad either, though handling is improved with one finger over the ricasso. That said, handling is awful without gauntlets. The grip is very slippery and though it is quite wide, it is quite flat too. There is not much to hold on to. The grip looks short, but I can assure you that there is ample room between guard and pommel. The spherical screw-on pommel does not bite the hand and It functions as a good stopper. In Cavalry mode, hammer gripped cutting and poking, it could be tiring. The balance makes it a sluggish mover. As to the looks I'd say it looks quite good. Windlass made a nice package from the slender blade and that nice hilt. Looking at the other Reitschwerter in Google images, it does play the part. If you were to find one of these for a low second hand price, I'd say, go for it. That nice hilt combined with a better blade of your choice could turn this mouse into a lion without much problems since this is a screw - on contraption. Some of the pictures that came up when I googled for ,, Reitschwert''. A 1930 forgery by the good old and well known Anton Konrad. The inspiration for the A&A Dresden? Gilded hilt. Anton Konrad again. As you can see, it is a very diverse universe. There is one brass hilted sword in there which looks a bit like this Windlass. I took only a few of the images available. The hit count was huge. Still, I think this gives a good insight into the breed. Notes. First a nice PDF: www.historische-waffenkunde.de/Downloads/Beispieldatei-Reitschwert-2010-G-3.pdfwww.alcheminc.com/reitschwert.htmlit.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reitschwertart-of-swords.tumblr.com/post/115065990087/riding-sword-reitschwert-date-1599-culturecommons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reitschwert_by_Wendelin_Boeheim.jpgwww.fricker-historische-waffen.de/verkaufsobjekte/blankwaffen/www.fricker-historische-waffen.de/verkaufsobjekte/blankwaffen/yag/c26/ItemList/submitFilter/blankwaffen/reitschwert-mit-astknauf-deutsch-um-1500-objekt-nr-1181www.youtube.com/results?search_query=side+swordzornhau.de/source/schwertexkursion/dinkelsbuehl2.htmwww.waffensammlung-beck.ch/waffe202.htmlwww.thearma.org/terms4.htmwebapps.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explorer/index.php?oid=18930www.classicalfencing.com/articles/martinez_review.phpskd-online-collection.skd.museum/de/contents/artexplorer?filter[OBJEKTART]=Griffwaffewww.museen.thueringen.de/Objekt/DE-MUS-875918/lido/dc00000015For a full review of the Windlass Two Ring Sword go here: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/49666/vintage-windlass-ring-swordFor a look at the construction go here: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/40975/sword-construction-data-base?page=4Cheers.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Dec 14, 2016 15:34:54 GMT
Nice photos.
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Post by tancred on Dec 14, 2016 17:40:41 GMT
Nice review, Uhlan. I, too, was tempted by this sword when I saw it come up a few weeks ago. Hope you like it. That is a really cool design, and I also think Windlass had some stunning and unique designs back in the day. Wish they'd either bring some of those models back, or get a little daring in their newer designs again.
The 6th picture you posted of reitschwerts--Windlass made one of those, too. Or something pretty darn close. I can't really recall all of the museums, but I've seen pictures of extremely similar swords in the collections of a few different museums. I did end up buying that one when it was in Windlass' catalog. The hilt is a little different, but the pommel and guard are pretty exact. I'd hate to think of it as a riding sword, as I think its just too heavy. The ring guard is murder on my hands without gloves. I think its better as an outright two-hander. Or, it would be if the hilt were just an inch longer. Despite its flaws, the sword looks wonderful.
Thanks for the review.
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Post by Verity on Dec 14, 2016 18:26:01 GMT
Right on! I have one of those. Old school Windlass. :)
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Uhlan
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Posts: 3,121
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Post by Uhlan on Dec 14, 2016 18:52:19 GMT
Nice review, Uhlan. I, too, was tempted by this sword when I saw it come up a few weeks ago. Hope you like it. That is a really cool design, and I also think Windlass had some stunning and unique designs back in the day. Wish they'd either bring some of those models back, or get a little daring in their newer designs again. The 6th picture you posted of reitschwerts--Windlass made one of those, too. Or something pretty darn close. I can't really recall all of the museums, but I've seen pictures of extremely similar swords in the collections of a few different museums. I did end up buying that one when it was in Windlass' catalog. The hilt is a little different, but the pommel and guard are pretty exact. I'd hate to think of it as a riding sword, as I think its just too heavy. The ring guard is murder on my hands without gloves. I think its better as an outright two-hander. Or, it would be if the hilt were just an inch longer. Despite its flaws, the sword looks wonderful. Thanks for the review. Could that be the Windlass Saxon hilt sword?
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Post by tancred on Dec 14, 2016 23:18:41 GMT
Nice review, Uhlan. I, too, was tempted by this sword when I saw it come up a few weeks ago. Hope you like it. That is a really cool design, and I also think Windlass had some stunning and unique designs back in the day. Wish they'd either bring some of those models back, or get a little daring in their newer designs again. The 6th picture you posted of reitschwerts--Windlass made one of those, too. Or something pretty darn close. I can't really recall all of the museums, but I've seen pictures of extremely similar swords in the collections of a few different museums. I did end up buying that one when it was in Windlass' catalog. The hilt is a little different, but the pommel and guard are pretty exact. I'd hate to think of it as a riding sword, as I think its just too heavy. The ring guard is murder on my hands without gloves. I think its better as an outright two-hander. Or, it would be if the hilt were just an inch longer. Despite its flaws, the sword looks wonderful. Thanks for the review. Could that be the Windlass Saxon hilt sword? I think they might have called it Southern German Sword with Double Ring Guard or something like that. Its not the best picture, but just a quick image search showed this one. i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn46/remlingp/dblringbroadreduced1.jpgAs you can see, the hilt is a bit different, but everything else looks pretty spot on. I wish I could remember the different museum sites I've seen it at. I do like it. I just wish the hilt was longer; would make it easier to use, I think.
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Post by Croccifixio on Dec 15, 2016 1:43:01 GMT
Very nice. Older Windlass models like this should really be relaunched into an increasingly stale lineup.
And on the categorizing fetish... I'll take a stab at it :) I am of the opinion that the Germanic people have a cultural personality of orderliness, efficiency, and a leaning towards scientific category. The amount of scientists, philosophers, and engineers seem to support that. Hence, they'd want to categorize everything to fit into types. The Anglo-Saxons share in that culture and hence we have the differences between rapier, sidesword, backsword, etc that for some other cultures might seem obssessive and inane.
Same goes for the Japanese. They stand out in this regard compared to other oriental asians. I almost gave up studying the different types of hada and the different swordsmith schools because the differences are often extremely nuanced! The fact that you require a committee meeting every year to go through unattributed swords speaks to that amazing (crazy?) dedication to category.
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Post by bfoo2 on Dec 25, 2016 6:14:49 GMT
Very nice. Older Windlass models like this should really be relaunched into an increasingly stale lineup. And on the categorizing fetish... I'll take a stab at it I am of the opinion that the Germanic people have a cultural personality of orderliness, efficiency, and a leaning towards scientific category. The amount of scientists, philosophers, and engineers seem to support that. Hence, they'd want to categorize everything to fit into types. The Anglo-Saxons share in that culture and hence we have the differences between rapier, sidesword, backsword, etc that for some other cultures might seem obssessive and inane. Same goes for the Japanese. They stand out in this regard compared to other oriental asians. I almost gave up studying the different types of hada and the different swordsmith schools because the differences are often extremely nuanced! The fact that you require a committee meeting every year to go through unattributed swords speaks to that amazing (crazy?) dedication to category. Yes, but the German way for conveying complexity is not the creation of new big words, but rather the appending of many small words For example, the British called them "tanks". The Germans: "Panzerkampfwagen" for "armoured-war-wagon". I wonder if there's a German word for cheap repro swords. "SchwererFehlenVerjüngenSabel"?
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Razor
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Post by Razor on Dec 26, 2016 0:49:55 GMT
Wasn't the one Dave had was a remake of the late 90's early 00's ones? I think I remember he found a site in Europe that said they would have Windlass make order models. If so they're not the real order models. I got one back in Aug 2001 and back then Windlass's blades were a lot stiffer. How stiff is the one you have? My wood grip looks a lot shorter too, yours looks to be longer, more of a hand 'n half grip. How long is the wood part of your handle? I don't know if it is the angle of the pic, but your pommel looks different too. My handle was slippery too so I wrapped leather around it.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Dec 26, 2016 1:39:41 GMT
Very nice. Older Windlass models like this should really be relaunched into an increasingly stale lineup. And on the categorizing fetish... I'll take a stab at it I am of the opinion that the Germanic people have a cultural personality of orderliness, efficiency, and a leaning towards scientific category. The amount of scientists, philosophers, and engineers seem to support that. Hence, they'd want to categorize everything to fit into types. The Anglo-Saxons share in that culture and hence we have the differences between rapier, sidesword, backsword, etc that for some other cultures might seem obssessive and inane. Same goes for the Japanese. They stand out in this regard compared to other oriental asians. I almost gave up studying the different types of hada and the different swordsmith schools because the differences are often extremely nuanced! The fact that you require a committee meeting every year to go through unattributed swords speaks to that amazing (crazy?) dedication to category. Yes, but the German way for conveying complexity is not the creation of new big words, but rather the appending of many small words For example, the British called them "tanks". The Germans: "Panzerkampfwagen" for "armoured-war-wagon". I wonder if there's a German word for cheap repro swords. "SchwererFehlenVerjüngenSabel"? Besides "Axt/axe" it would be: "SchwererNichtVerjüngungsSäbelNachbau", you've got 95% considering the umlauts, congrats!!! "DonauDampfSchifffahrtsGesellschaftsKapitänsWitwenVereinigungsKassenbuchFührerin" rulez!
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Dec 26, 2016 7:42:00 GMT
Razor: That Euro site is Iron Gate Armoury of Finland: rautaportti.fi/?language=enThe length of the wood is 74mm or 2.9". The blade is quite stiff. I have followed Iron Gate for a long time now and to my knowledge they never had a remake of this model for sale. They once asked me to inquire as to the wishes of members wanting a remake though. You can find that discussion here: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/40820 . They had Windlass made them a batch of Rheinfelden swords ( sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/41845/irongate-armoury-rheinfelden-back ) and since 2015 (?) they have the Pappenheimer rapier. Just now I see they have the old Windlass NR 2 Schiavona too. My Reitschwert has the ,, India '' stamp on the ricasso. You can see it in one of the pictures. That is the old stamp, or one of the old stamps since you will find ,, Made in India '' too. The most recent stamp is ,, Windlass Made in India '' and this last one they use for a couple of years already.
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Razor
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Post by Razor on Dec 26, 2016 18:54:10 GMT
Razor: That Euro site is Iron Gate Armoury of Finland: rautaportti.fi/?language=enThe length of the wood is 74mm or 2.9". The blade is quite stiff. I have followed Iron Gate for a long time now and to my knowledge they never had a remake of this model for sale. They once asked me to inquire as to the wishes of members wanting a remake though. You can find that discussion here: sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/40820 . They had Windlass made them a batch of Rheinfelden swords ( sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/41845/irongate-armoury-rheinfelden-back ) and since 2015 (?) they have the Pappenheimer rapier. Just now I see they have the old Windlass NR 2 Schiavona too. My Reitschwert has the ,, India '' stamp on the ricasso. You can see it in one of the pictures. That is the old stamp, or one of the old stamps since you will find ,, Made in India '' too. The most recent stamp is ,, Windlass Made in India '' and this last one they use for a couple of years already. Thanks that's the thread I was trying to find, because I didn't remember exactly what swords they were offering. Looks like they never did the brass hilt sword. It must be the angle of the picture because wood part of the handle is about the same length of my old brass hilt side sword. The pic also makes the pommel more ball shape than mine. Is yours ball shape or does it look more like mine?
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Uhlan
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Post by Uhlan on Jan 3, 2017 6:37:01 GMT
Sorry for the late reply. The pommel looks just like yours.
Cheers.
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