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Post by 28shadow on May 13, 2018 20:28:39 GMT
Are any of the current line of Rapiers from Windlass worth buying? I owned their older nickel plated swept hilt which had a floppy noodle for a blade and would preferthose without a floppy blade noodle if possible.
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thedarksider
Member
I'm really starting to run out of room for my Collection.
Posts: 227
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Post by thedarksider on May 13, 2018 20:45:18 GMT
I've heard that the Brandenburg and the Christus Imperat are meant to be pretty great for the money.
Here's a link to a review:
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Post by Faldarin on May 13, 2018 21:19:14 GMT
I seem to remember Aikidoka having luck with the Musketeer Rapier from Windlass... I'm pretty sure it was one of their more expensive models though.
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Post by 28shadow on May 13, 2018 21:34:50 GMT
I seem to remember Aikidoka having luck with the Musketeer Rapier from Windlass... I'm pretty sure it was one of their more expensive models though. That's the one he cut tatami mats with I believe. Very impressed by that, though I think he said it was rather flexible.
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Post by Dave Kelly on May 13, 2018 22:48:24 GMT
Are any of the current line of Rapiers from Windlass worth buying? I owned their older nickel plated swept hilt which had a floppy noodle for a blade and would preferthose without a floppy blade noodle if possible. The Christus Imperat is the very best of the current line in all aspects. The Musketeers is robust and heavy handed. The original cup hilt model, without the plate was better, in that respect. I haven't had experience with the Brandenburg.
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on May 13, 2018 23:12:50 GMT
I have the Pilsen and find the blade stiff and it handles nicely. I have size 8 hands and find that is about the max size for this rapier and the only real negative.
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Post by jrock on May 14, 2018 2:14:13 GMT
I have the Brandenburg. It's pretty stiff. Hilt is nicely done too. My only complaint is with the scabbard. It does its job but isn't fitted and loose.
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Post by Afoo on May 14, 2018 2:56:11 GMT
I have the pilsen, and thats pretty good
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on May 14, 2018 3:47:36 GMT
My Florentine is nice eye-candy but the blade is very light and flexible (floppy noodle), oh, just found out it's discontinued. My Hanwei Taza is much better.
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Post by 28shadow on May 14, 2018 3:57:34 GMT
Have been considering the Brandenburg and Pilsen. I like the pilsen as it reminds me of a sidesword/transitional piece a bit more. I do have small hands, so the quillon block may be an issue if it's VERY blocky.
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pgandy
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Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on May 14, 2018 12:41:35 GMT
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Post by bluetrain on May 14, 2018 13:26:33 GMT
I just read the review of the Pilsen rapier, which I thought was a good review. But I have a question about rapiers and similar swords generally.
With some exceptions, most rapiers seem to have very complicated but fairly open guards. To me, they don't seem like they would offer sufficient hand protection for a thrusting sword, assuming the opponent also has such a sword. They almost offer no more hand protection than a smallsword. The exceptions (there are always exceptions) are rapiers with cup hilt and those with what are described as shell guards, as on the musketeer rapier mentioned here already. But none offer the hand protection of the later 19th century British army swords. Is this because those using rapiers invariably wore gauntlets or at least heavy gloves?
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Post by 28shadow on May 14, 2018 13:37:25 GMT
I just read the review of the Pilsen rapier, which I thought was a good review. But I have a question about rapiers and similar swords generally. With some exceptions, most rapiers seem to have very complicated but fairly open guards. To me, they don't seem like they would offer sufficient hand protection for a thrusting sword, assuming the opponent also has such a sword. They almost offer no more hand protection than a smallsword. The exceptions (there are always exceptions) are rapiers with cup hilt and those with what are described as shell guards, as on the musketeer rapier mentioned here already. But none offer the hand protection of the later 19th century British army swords. Is this because those using rapiers invariably wore gauntlets or at least heavy gloves? My own sparring experience with rapiers is that swept hilts provide really good protection against cuts, as the force is transferred across several of the bars and arms, meaning no one spot takes all the pressure. There are tons of designs that close the ports so that the opponents point doesn't reach in.
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pgandy
Moderator
Senior Forumite
Posts: 10,296
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Post by pgandy on May 14, 2018 14:43:20 GMT
I have a slight preference towards a cup hilt, but only slightly and certainly not enough to base a decision on alone. As for small sword vs rapier: Historically rapiers had longer blades than on today’s repos, 42” wouldn’t be out of line and some were longer. I think about 30” would be a good approximation on small swords blades and the antiques may run slightly shorter and could be longer. Everything being equal the small swordsman would probably get run through before he could effectively engage a rapier.
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Post by Afoo on May 14, 2018 15:12:03 GMT
I just read the review of the Pilsen rapier, which I thought was a good review. But I have a question about rapiers and similar swords generally. With some exceptions, most rapiers seem to have very complicated but fairly open guards. To me, they don't seem like they would offer sufficient hand protection for a thrusting sword, assuming the opponent also has such a sword. They almost offer no more hand protection than a smallsword. The exceptions (there are always exceptions) are rapiers with cup hilt and those with what are described as shell guards, as on the musketeer rapier mentioned here already. But none offer the hand protection of the later 19th century British army swords. Is this because those using rapiers invariably wore gauntlets or at least heavy gloves? Part of it as well could be that some rapiers like the Pilsen would be oriented more towards civilian usage - with its slender, shortish blade. As such, hand protection comes second to style 8-) Compare that to the Christus Imperat rapier from Windlass - that one seems to have a more military style blade, and the guard is beefed up to match. Getting through that would be a struggle.
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Post by howler on May 14, 2018 18:56:59 GMT
I have a slight preference towards a cup hilt, but only slightly and certainly not enough to base a decision on alone. As for small sword vs rapier: Historically rapiers had longer blades than on today’s repos, 42” wouldn’t be out of line and some were longer. I think about 30” would be a good approximation on small swords blades and the antiques may run slightly shorter and could be longer. Everything being equal the small swordsman would probably get run through before he could effectively engage a rapier. Your so right in that a large heavy rapier is simply another animal by comparison to a historic small sword. You may be talking about a one pound sword vs a three pound sword with a foot longer blade.
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Post by MOK on May 14, 2018 19:43:29 GMT
I just read the review of the Pilsen rapier, which I thought was a good review. But I have a question about rapiers and similar swords generally. With some exceptions, most rapiers seem to have very complicated but fairly open guards. To me, they don't seem like they would offer sufficient hand protection for a thrusting sword, assuming the opponent also has such a sword. They almost offer no more hand protection than a smallsword. The exceptions (there are always exceptions) are rapiers with cup hilt and those with what are described as shell guards, as on the musketeer rapier mentioned here already. But none offer the hand protection of the later 19th century British army swords. Is this because those using rapiers invariably wore gauntlets or at least heavy gloves? It's more about how rapier fencing works. It's primarily a game of angles, and in this game you want to keep the blades crossed so that the opponent can't strike you without opposition, and crossed in a specific way that gives you a mechanical advantage in the bind so you can strike with minimal opposition. Generally speaking, sniping at the opponent's hand with your point is a good way to lose that game (unless you see a convenient opening for it... unless it's a trap ).
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on May 14, 2018 19:52:40 GMT
... and there were left hand parrying daggers ...
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Post by MOK on May 14, 2018 20:07:04 GMT
...and bucklers and cloaks, yeah.
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Post by bluetrain on May 14, 2018 20:52:10 GMT
Ah! It all comes together.
One more question: would men on horseback have used rapiers? Seems likely.
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