Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2018 4:42:55 GMT
The m1840 was selected to replace the m1833, which had been patterned on the British swords, which were actually a bit lighter. When the "1860" appeared (there was actually no m1860 designation) it was meant by the ordnance board to be a lighter sword and there were never any contracts designated as an m1860. So, the m1840 was not regarded as light by the time the "1860" came along. Ames got the first contract for the "light" and that is how the letter of intent reads. The m1840 was designed after the three bar French 1822, which in turn was the French light cavalry sword but the ambiguity might be that the US dragoons got the m1840 and the French dragoons were using a straight pallasch (the shorter of their line cavalry straight jobs). That doesn't stop the nickname of a wristbreaker, which is fabled to be a period term. I like my generic ok but handling of swords is always a bit relative and subjective anyway. I like how my 1854 dragon handles as well.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2018 5:20:27 GMT
Katana:I still have my Hanwei 4th generation practical, purchased in 2003. It has been cut with by dozens of people and I still like it. A little heavier/wider bladed than the next generation. Not having handled a great many others, my best work might be with the one I have handled the most. Viking Sword: Similarly, I have been kind of a one shot Johnny as far as modern swords go. I loved both first generation blades in my Hanwei Godfred fittings. I broke one blade. It was handier to me than my friend's Albion Squire Line viking but not as handy to me as a Hanwei/Tinker viking. Sold the Godfred. Arming Sword: What constitutes an arming sword? My A&A Black Prince might be considered a longsword by some, or my one off Edward III in Urbino fittings. I handled them both as arming swords and bastards. The Edbino XVIIIc (or is that Urbward?) a better cutter and all around punisher in one hand. Longsword: Ambiguity time again. What do many consider a longsword or greatsword? I'll stick with my Del Tin 5157 but would love an Albion Talhoffer if I was more active. My A&A GBS is handy enough for me but my ATrim XIIIa and XIIa swords long and lighter. The eight inch grip ATrim 1319 (kind of like the later XIIa.4) might be considered a longsword and a better cutter than the Del Tin. Rapier/Sidesword: Espada Ropera, currently my one off Del Tin 5160 Saber/Swords/Cutlass: Really? I still like my magic spadroons but the choices in my horde endless. What is this word handling. Handle this Others: See sabres, swords and cutlasses Today's best handling sword is the walloon/haudegen I picked up but I have an American Civil War militia sword I currently trip over as well. At the desk tomorrow, it might be an 1833 dated m1832 artillery gladius that handles better than some might think. It all depends on what happens to be in hand. It is often more the ability most have to adapt.
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Post by MOK on Oct 14, 2018 16:05:36 GMT
You almost had me there. Either too drunk or not enough. But then, that leads to another question, can one have too much beer? Gulp, burp. Ask again in the morning.
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Post by randomnobody on Oct 14, 2018 16:33:27 GMT
Declined to post in this thread for a while because I couldn't really match the initial format, but since that's all-but forgotten, I can offer a few pieces. My best handling katana is an old Hanwei Practical. I like it because it's super lightweight, particularly compared to some of my other katana (DF Musha in particular) but has proven itself as anything but insubstantial. I've abused the poor thing and it's still without major damage. Second goes to the SlavEdge Katsujinken, which is a bit blade-heavy for my usual tastes but still very easy to move. As for "arming sword," does an AT 1315 qualify? I think of "arming swords" as being generally shorter, 24-30" blades, but maybe that's a misconception on my part. Only other single-hand, double-edge sword I own currently is a Hanwei William Marshall. On that note, Viking sword. While arguably not an accurate representation, I used to own and dearly miss my Hanwei Godfred. Would love another, but it's not in the cards right now. Don't really have anything from the other categories, though if I stretched I might offer my Hanwei shashka as my best-handling saber. Even if I don't particularly care for the handling, it's my only "saber" at present, save a possibly further stretch to my basket-hilted katana... Though my favorite sword to handle, distinct from my best-handling sword, is an antique Khyber knife. It's hefty, and very blade-heavy, but with the right grip it'll fly wherever you guide it. I'm also partial to my antique yataghan and its characteristic hilt, which I'd feared I would hate upon getting in-hand. Wanted one for years, but couldn't get past the hilt shape. Finally found one cheap enough and went for it, turns out I really like it. On the other hand, I have two flyssa that are...a bit awkward, to say the least. Are we doing knives? I have a huge choora dagger, 13" blade, that weighs maybe 8oz? You don't know you're holding it and the point goes immediately toward whatever you're thinking of. It's one of my "scariest" blades. I have to be very careful with it.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Oct 14, 2018 17:00:35 GMT
Thank you all for your answers. Don't brood to much over the categories or even the term "handling". Just wanted to see many good swords.
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Ifrit
Member
More edgy than a double edge sword
Posts: 3,284
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Post by Ifrit on Oct 14, 2018 20:04:55 GMT
Declined to post in this thread for a while because I couldn't really match the initial format, but since that's all-but forgotten, I can offer a few pieces. My best handling katana is an old Hanwei Practical. I like it because it's super lightweight, particularly compared to some of my other katana (DF Musha in particular) but has proven itself as anything but insubstantial. I've abused the poor thing and it's still without major damage. Second goes to the SlavEdge Katsujinken, which is a bit blade-heavy for my usual tastes but still very easy to move. As for "arming sword," does an AT 1315 qualify? I think of "arming swords" as being generally shorter, 24-30" blades, but maybe that's a misconception on my part. Only other single-hand, double-edge sword I own currently is a Hanwei William Marshall. On that note, Viking sword. While arguably not an accurate representation, I used to own and dearly miss my Hanwei Godfred. Would love another, but it's not in the cards right now. Don't really have anything from the other categories, though if I stretched I might offer my Hanwei shashka as my best-handling saber. Even if I don't particularly care for the handling, it's my only "saber" at present, save a possibly further stretch to my basket-hilted katana... Though my favorite sword to handle, distinct from my best-handling sword, is an antique Khyber knife. It's hefty, and very blade-heavy, but with the right grip it'll fly wherever you guide it. I'm also partial to my antique yataghan and its characteristic hilt, which I'd feared I would hate upon getting in-hand. Wanted one for years, but couldn't get past the hilt shape. Finally found one cheap enough and went for it, turns out I really like it. On the other hand, I have two flyssa that are...a bit awkward, to say the least. Are we doing knives? I have a huge choora dagger, 13" blade, that weighs maybe 8oz? You don't know you're holding it and the point goes immediately toward whatever you're thinking of. It's one of my "scariest" blades. I have to be very careful with it. Knives... Knives is a good idea. I got more of those
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Post by laionidas on Mar 25, 2019 15:55:34 GMT
I like near weightless, I depend on accuracy and technique. No sharp crowbars for me. Katana: IMO, all bricks, would love to be proven wrong Go to Japan, talk to dealers, visit musea in places like Seki or Osafune, and get to hold either a mid-Edo period daito (early-Edo swords still exhibit characteristics of heavy Sengoku period armour punchers, while late-Edo Bakumatsu swords tend to show excessive experimentation), or a modern Japanese forged shinsakuto on the lower end of the spectrum (high end shinsakuta are for artistic expression, lower end ones are for training). Then you'll know what the balance of a Japanese sword can be
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christain
Member
It's the steel on the inside that counts.
Posts: 2,835
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Post by christain on Mar 25, 2019 18:32:52 GMT
Okay...I guess I missed this somewhere in the fray. From MY collection and MY experiences:
Katana: Ain't got one. Never had one. Don't want one. 'Nuff said.
Viking: Toss-up. Hanwei Cawood or H/T Norman. Both a very similar and pleasant feel. I know the Cawood is 'technically' not a Viking sword, but hey...I'm allowed.
Arming: No-name (as of yet) Windlass model. Got it in a package deal with other stuff, and it's great for an arming sword length with an *almost* hand 'n a half grip.
Longsword: Sad to say, but a BKS longsword I fondled greatly and generously at Ren-Fest one year. Felt almost weightless for a blunt. From MY collection---H/T Longsword. Feels like a lightsaber in my hand. Wicked-fast sword.
Rapier/Side sword: Don't care much for rapiers, but my Hanwei Side sword is all that and a bag 'o chips. Light, fast, pointy, and did I mention (?)...absolutely beautiful? My PRECIOUS....
Saber/Cutlass: Don't have one(yet), but I'm leaning toward the Scottish basket-hilt from Windlass...just because I like the looks of it.
Other: CS Gladius machete. This one doesn't get too far away from me as far as EDC goes. Sharp, damn-near indestructible, easy to carry and conceal, and priced so that if you DO break it or lose it....no biggie.
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Post by Croccifixio on Mar 29, 2019 10:08:52 GMT
Antiques: I had two that stood out quite a bit that weren't necessarily my favorites, but were so damn agile they were amazing in their class. First would be the French 1882 Infantry Officer's sword - still wish I kept that, but I wish I kept all the swords that pass through my hands. For its length, it had outstanding agility in the hand. Second would be a sword I still own, an intricate and old straight Moro Kris (likely owned by a rich man, since it had silver alloy inlays and had a beautiful pattern-weld). That one acted differently from most of my kris. Whereas the others were slightly front heavy and definitely meant for cutting, this one was longer (around 25 inch blade) and far more agile, with a super aggressive distal taper (from around 12mm to just 5 within the first 6 inches).
Most of my antiques handle much better than repros do, but these are the two that stand out the most.
Katana: Definitely the Hanwei Practical I used to have. It didn't have the heavy wood of my current Kalahi custom, nor the heavy blade of the Slavedge I used to own.
1 handed Euro: ATrim 1557, and not even close.
2 handed Euro: A hand-and-a-half Falchion I had custom made by Alvin Atencio. This narrowly edged out a longsword also custom made by the guy.
Chinese: A custom Lieu Yeh Dao by Alvin Atencio.
Ancient: An L Driggers Falcata-Barong hybrid.
Modern Filipino/Tactical: A Kalahi Sansibar. Though I equally loved my Atencio Tactical Ginunting. However the Sansibar had the longer blade and was thus more difficult to make agile.
Fantasy: The SBG Vorpal Sword.
Knives: An L Driggers leaf-shaped fighting knife.
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