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Post by howler on Apr 23, 2018 23:25:50 GMT
It is obvious that you want to cut and you’ll probably be cutting, or attempting to cut, stuff that swords were never intended to cut. The end result will be another broken sword like your Paul Chen Katana. You might be better off rethinking and get something that’s up to the job and forget what you are experiencing with the video games. Machetes are relatively cheap and will take a beating. If you want something that looks more like a sword consider CS Cutlass Machete. Condor also makes cutlass machetes. In short a tool/weapon. For something classier look at what TFW (Traditional Filipino Weapons). Look at the traditional Philippine stuff and not their entry into European or oriental swords. I think that you’ll be much happier. Of course there are other vendors offering weapons/tools. And I have to mention Aranyik. Miles (the owner) puts a killer edge to that 5160, and a great prices.
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Post by zabazagobo on Apr 24, 2018 3:31:09 GMT
Welcome to the forum. Fun question, since I like swords that can take a good amount of use/abuse as well.
That being the criteria (along with good handling), my thoughts on the following would be...
1.) This looks like a very solid choice (along with the model 2 from Ronin), they've been put through their paces pretty thoroughly by several reviewers and they hold up to use great. If you haven't checked out Mat Jensen's review of the model 7 on youtube, I'd recommend watching it. His could easily take care of wood, trees, etc. and shrugged off damage admirably.
2.) Not sure I'd recommend this one. Heard a fair bit about these snapping and breaking (not as robust or securely constructed as others on this list like the Ronin), and less secure hilt assembly on top of a fairly 'meh' leather wrap that comes loose pretty quickly. Though they handle well, I'd personally skip this one as I like swords that can take a beating and stay intact. Not a fan of the aesthetic design either.
3.) I've read a number of reviews on the Cold Steel hand and a half as well as the Italian longsword over the years, and the general consensus is that if they're assembled correctly they're arguably the best handling you can find in the price point. I've been thinking of nabbing one myself recently, but the chances of subpar assembly are sort of deterring me from the endeavor. That being said, the Italian longsword consistently pops up as a sword that feels very fun in the hand.
4.) The battlecry line by Windlass is pretty solid from what I've seen. I'm thinking of nabbing the Bosworth sometime soon as I've been wanting to nab a lighter longsword with a longer handle for awhile. The agincourt looks solid, although I'm not the biggest fan of the pommels on these as they're a bit large (I prefer having more handle to grip myself, although it's personal preference). If you plan on using two hands, you may prefer a handle with more space to grip (and an arguably more ergonomic pommel)
5.) I like this one, although it's definitely not a hand and a half sword. As a longsword, it's a hefty but fun blade that will take whatever you throw at it (chopped up trees, branches, jugs, and whatever else with this one, took no chips or damage aside from light scratches, pretty impressed to be honest). Only downside is that it has the same uninspiring 'glued on' leather grip as other Hanweis that comes loose sooner or later. A fun sword for sure that I've gotten a lot of mileage out of.
So, from my personal taste (and tossing in a couple other options), considering backyard cutting and handling, my recommendations would go...
Windlass battlecry Bosworth (only since the handle is a little longer) > Ronin model 2/7 (best all around construction, durability, etc., just slightly shorter handles) > Hanwei Bastard (durable and fun, good blade and long grip) > Cold Steel (fun in the hand and good with the cut; hit or miss assembly) > Windlass battlecry agincourt (not a fan of the grip/pommel ratio, otherwise pretty nice) > Hanwei Tinker (it's lightness and cost is both a blessing and a curse).
Just depends what you want a sword to be. Everyone's tastes are different.
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Post by son on Apr 24, 2018 3:58:35 GMT
Thanks for breaking it down man. I think I've a better understanding thanks to you guys. Is that Geralt?! That's pretty awesome if it is. I suppose now the question is whether or not to get one of these cheapos or save up and get the Albion Crecy. What do you think? I mean I'd use it to cut stuff making sure not to damage the blade. Or get a cheapo and walk into the woods as a true psychopath.
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Post by son on Apr 24, 2018 4:12:14 GMT
I saw that Matt Jenson review last night. It was like a torture scene near the end there 😂
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Post by zabazagobo on Apr 24, 2018 4:29:24 GMT
Thanks for breaking it down man. I think I've a better understanding thanks to you guys. Is that Geralt?! That's pretty awesome if it is. I suppose now the question is whether or not to get one of these cheapos or save up and get the Albion Crecy. What do you think? I mean I'd use it to cut stuff making sure not to damage the blade. Or get a cheapo and walk into the woods as a true psychopath. What happens during high stakes gwent in Novigrad stays in Novigrad. I'm a fan of the approach of buying a cheaper first sword to figure out if you like the overall blade and handling dynamics and based on that save up for something higher end that's of a similar design. I know if I had bought more expensive katana off the first ideas of what I wanted in a katana (namely, on the longer and thicker side) I would have been disappointed (turns out I like them on the shorter and lighter side). Good call on the Crecy, it's always appealed to me. If you want to (somewhat) simulate that sword, you might check out Windlass' Homildon Hill as a substitute (the specs are in a similar ballpark, not exact but fairly close). I love mine, shortish handle (little over six inches not including the pommel) but the pommel has a very sleek shape that is very nice to grip. Great balance too, feels much lighter than it weighs. Has been my go-to sword for practicing the last several months.
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Post by WVfishguy on Apr 24, 2018 5:15:49 GMT
If you are a neophyte, you really should consider Windlass swords. They are inexpensive and good. I've got five. I trimmed a Mulberry tree a few years ago with them, cutting though some stout limbs, and they took the abuse in stride. It's trendy to bash Windlass because they are inexpensive, but for a first sword, that's a plus. If you buy an Albion and find you really don't care for sword collecting and cutting, you're out a lot of cash. But with a Windlass, you can buy a fine cutter for under $200 (Ulfbert viking sword among others). If you find swords to your liking, you can always buy more. Get on the 'net, find some reviews on Windlass, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
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Post by son on Apr 24, 2018 11:44:56 GMT
Good morning guys. Thanks again for the advice. I like the Windlass swords quite a bit, especially the energetic guy who makes the those videos. I really dig the black blades too. Won't the black finish come off eventually and with sharpening too, making the sword look like crap?
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Post by Faldarin on Apr 24, 2018 12:50:08 GMT
2.) Not sure I'd recommend this one. Heard a fair bit about these snapping and breaking (not as robust or securely constructed as others on this list like the Ronin), and less secure hilt assembly on top of a fairly 'meh' leather wrap that comes loose pretty quickly. Though they handle well, I'd personally skip this one as I like swords that can take a beating and stay intact. Not a fan of the aesthetic design either. To clarify on this point, I don't know that it was the Hanwei/Tinker bastard swords that had this issue. It was the longswords (blunt to be particular). There might have been other issues I'd heard of, but this was the only large-scale one that I had caught. I 100% agree with the leather wrap though. Redoing the grip is definitely first priority.
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Post by Faldarin on Apr 24, 2018 12:53:42 GMT
Good morning guys. Thanks again for the advice. I like the Windlass swords quite a bit, especially the energetic guy who makes the those videos. I really dig the black blades too. Won't the black finish come off eventually and with sharpening too, making the sword look like crap? If you use the black-finish blades for cutting, yeah, it will eventually start to come off. Sharpening, as well, will do it. It might just be how much you can take before you polish the rest of the black off, but... yeah, it might look 'like crap' until you polish it after some time of hard use. Someone else mentioned the Sword of Roven from Windlass... that's a very long and tough blade - that is another good choice. It might not be easy to find though, because I think it's discontinued now? Sometimes it's hard to tell with Windlass (with them just bringing back the XIV lately).
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Apr 24, 2018 13:20:10 GMT
I’ve got four Windlass swords and like them all and have no regrets with any. While a little bit on the hit and miss side they are good for starters. If for some reason you receive a bad one most reputable dealers will exchange. As for cutting power my German Bastard Sword will sever a pig’s leg. I’ve done it several times. It’s a powerful cutter but a bit slow and mine at 4.2 lb is heavier than most would like. I love it because of the weight, once in motion there seems to be no stopping it. Their Battlecry line seems to be a bit above their normal line. I have the Agincourt. Its balance and speed are great but on heavier targets not the best cutter but by no means impotent. The superior speed and handle is the trade off for greater cutting power with a POB of 2½”. Most unfortunately their XIV is out of production. The other is a rapier that you wouldn’t be interested in.
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christain
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It's the steel on the inside that counts.
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Post by christain on Apr 24, 2018 13:22:17 GMT
I'd also highly recommend the H/T bastard, of which I owned *briefly*. I now have the H/T longsword, and just love it. Light, fast, and easy on the pockets.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Apr 24, 2018 14:25:39 GMT
son Here’s some food for thought. I know that an Albion is arguably the cream of the crop and carries prestige. You strike me as a fellow who wants to use a sword for cutting. A sword when used will show the tell tale signs. The extent of these signs depends. Instead of discounting the lower end swords without any knowledge of such, enter with a not so expensive and prestigious sword, something that you can take out enjoy and learn with. And if you mess up it won’t be that great of a deal. A sword when used will show scratches and dull, at best. As for the dulling you can send it out to a professional for sharpening spend big bucks and doing without for a time. Or do it yourself. As for the later I don’t recommend learning on an Albion. You are also subjecting the blade to bending, chipping, and denting. I would recommend learning on a less expensive blade. And then buy your Albion and hang on the wall as a show piece, worrying about theft and rust. Just my 2¢.
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Post by son on Apr 24, 2018 15:04:30 GMT
Do the scabbards for the Battlecrys have a wooden core?
Will the cool black look wear off over time and with sharpening?
I get what you're saying Gandy. Raising $300 is tough as it is, that's why I figured I'll most likely be able to do this once for a long time so I wanted something that I can have for a long time and maybe pass down, or at least be placed upon my chest of my dead body as it burns by a flaming arrow shot by my son on a wooded raft upon calm waters 😛
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stormmaster
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I like viking/migration era swords
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Post by stormmaster on Apr 24, 2018 15:09:29 GMT
Do the scabbards for the Battlecrys have a wooden core? Will the cool black look wear off over time and with sharpening? no wood core I believe, yes the blackened look will come off with sharpening but I have heard it is durable so while it will come off over time it will take some harsh climate for it to do so swiftly
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Post by Faldarin on Apr 24, 2018 15:10:42 GMT
Do the scabbards for the Battlecrys have a wooden core? Will the cool black look wear off over time and with sharpening? Mentioned in my earlier comment - yeah, if you are cutting with it, the finish will wear off over time. They do kind of a stone-washed finish rather than a straight black though, so it looks less obvious as it wears than the flat blacks of say, the MAA Cold Steel line. The Battlecry line scabbards are leather with metal fittings, I believe. They are not wood-cored scabbards. Most Windlass scabbards are (unfortunately in my opinion) constructed this way, but it's better than nothing(tm).
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Post by son on Apr 24, 2018 15:14:29 GMT
OK thanks sword bros
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Post by son on Apr 24, 2018 16:52:23 GMT
Do the scabbards for the Battlecrys have a wooden core? Will the cool black look wear off over time and with sharpening? no wood core I believe, yes the blackened look will come off with sharpening but I have heard it is durable so while it will come off over time it will take some harsh climate for it to do so swiftly Nice Majin Boo face
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Apr 24, 2018 18:05:00 GMT
Do the scabbards for the Battlecrys have a wooden core? Will the cool black look wear off over time and with sharpening? I get what you're saying Gandy. Raising $300 is tough as it is, that's why I figured I'll most likely be able to do this once for a long time so I wanted something that I can have for a long time and maybe pass down, or at least be placed upon my chest of my dead body as it burns by a flaming arrow shot by my son on a wooded raft upon calm waters 😛 Battlecry sheaths do not have wood cores. However, they are not floppy cheapes and maintain their shape horizontally. That stone wash finish of course will wear in time. I find it far more durable than I was anticipating. It has made numerous cut and been through one sharpening and looks like the day I received it. It doesn’t have the first scratch which surprises me. I find the finish more eye pleasing than the photos led me to believe. One day it will show its age and use and I’ll follow Selohr and remove the finish. sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/53831/windlass-battlecry-acre-crusader-modification Unless you down right abuse the heck out of a Battlecry it will last you a life time.
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Post by howler on Apr 24, 2018 20:47:37 GMT
Do the scabbards for the Battlecrys have a wooden core? Will the cool black look wear off over time and with sharpening? I get what you're saying Gandy. Raising $300 is tough as it is, that's why I figured I'll most likely be able to do this once for a long time so I wanted something that I can have for a long time and maybe pass down, or at least be placed upon my chest of my dead body as it burns by a flaming arrow shot by my son on a wooded raft upon calm waters 😛 Windlass and Cold Steel (CS blades are sharpened, and probably better quality control as well as on sale).
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Post by Cosmoline on Apr 24, 2018 23:43:57 GMT
I'm really enjoying my HT Tinker bastard, and would recommend it any day over their "practical bastard" line. It's lean and light. The factory handle is meh, but can easily be upgraded. Great choice for cutting bottles.
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