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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Nov 18, 2018 2:47:25 GMT
My Hanwei Tactical Katana is for me the best combination of handling, durability and low maintenance. I have swords more nimble, more impressive, nicer and whatever else but in a SHTF situation I'd want this in my hands.
It has a light slender TH spring steel blade with bohi and the full tang scale handle works as a counterweight for a real good handling. A katana blade but also with some messer or saber features. No maintenance problems with the grippy plastic scale handle and an anti rust coating on the blade. The plastik saya works as a parrying stick too.
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Post by mattjohn98 on Nov 18, 2018 4:00:54 GMT
I would say my Hanwei practical special katana is probably the overall best performer. To this date, I have not failed even once at cutting with that sword! I'm assuming when you say "BEST" you mean functionality, not appearance. Some people don't like Katanas, but I never handled a Katana I didn't like, which says a lot about that kind of sword (Or at least on the modern market).
After that, I would say Cold steel Shamshir and then after that Hanwei Banshee. My Cold steel Italian longsword is also very good in handling too, but I put it after the first three. If I needed to use a sword in SHTF, these are probably it.
Sadly, a lot of European swords on the market, have bad handling characteristics, hence why I put the Asiatic swords first.
This is subject to change though, because I'm considering getting an Albion soon, so that may replace it.
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Zen_Hydra
Moderator
Born with a heart full of neutrality
Posts: 2,625
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Nov 18, 2018 4:17:57 GMT
I have several antiques, and some custom swords, along with a few Albions. My best sword has to be my Cold Steel katana machete. It's everything a sword should be, far better than any antique katana, and it cost far less than any of the fancy shmancy swords I paid over a grand for. I'm probably going to give all my other swords to Good Will, or maybe just cut them into pieces with my chop saw and throw the bits into my recycling bin. In conclusion, juggalo ninjas.
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Post by leviathansteak on Nov 18, 2018 4:53:02 GMT
It will be my albion ringeck for me.
Imo its the perfect longsword for me in terms of handling with very quick snappy handling. The hilt is long enough to have some space in between the hands for good leverage but not too long so as to alter my cutting form or impede one handed use
Its certainly a thrusting weapon but the balance and edge geometry allows it to cut really well at the COP.
The super acute point gives it the versatility to face off against armoured targets and the pointed quillons allow a devastating mordschlag.
Probably this would be the only sword id keep if i could only have one.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Nov 18, 2018 5:56:34 GMT
In terms of? Handling is my American 1850 foot officers sabre. But it's a bit short. Fighting ability? Prussian 1896 artillery sabre. But it lacks thrusting ability and good hand protection. Size to handling ratio? Italian 1860 cavalry sabre. Good hand protection too, better than my sparring sabre. Favorite sword? American 1860 cav. Very snappy and light cutter.
I think I'll go with the Italian 1860. It's a good fighting sword, spear tip and broad blade with a nicely carved grip.
EDC? American 1850. SHTF? Prussian Arty. Fighting? Italian 1860.
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Post by mrbadexample on Nov 18, 2018 14:23:12 GMT
That's tough as my different swords fill different useful niches. I've got an antique sirupate kukri from the Atlanta Cutlery stash that is a wonderful little sword. Only problem is length, but for close in work I'd trust it completely.
Overall, I'd probably go with the $35 dollar Franken-rapier I built out of assorted Windlass parts. It's long, fast, nimble, and still maintains enough blade presence to cut. It's not going to cut off limbs or slash through heavy fabric, but it'll deal competently with muscle and tendons. It's a scary, stiff thruster. I've always favored cutting blades, but this piece has changed my mind. If only it had better protection for the finger looped over the guard...
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Post by randomnobody on Nov 18, 2018 17:11:26 GMT
This is one of those weird topics that pops up pretty often. Usually there's a lot of questions about how one defines the verbage used, met with a varied mix of answers from all levels of experience and preference.
My "best" sword, for overall specs and quality, is my AT1315. Size, weight, handling, build quality, all the trademarks of a very good sword.
However, if I were forced to part with all but one of my swords, I would save an antique Afghan "Khyber knife" that is my personal favorite. What it lacks in size it makes up for in, well, everything else. Paired with a small shield it would be quite formidable in the hands of someone who knew how to use it. Myself, I just like playing with it...
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Post by nddave on Nov 18, 2018 18:18:15 GMT
I'd probably have to go with my Windlass Homildon Hill Sword.
1.It has great weight and balance.
2. It can be used easily one or two handed.
3. Durable type XVIa cut and thrust blade that is of a good longsword length and has a very good heat treatment.
4. Non corrosive hilt and fittings benefiting travel and the elements.
Overall it fits me the best of all my swords. Like it was made just for me if that makes sense. There's no doubt that in any scenario be it timetravel, zombies, fantasy worlds or whatever other hypothetical you could bring a sword into, the Homildon Hill would be my primary.
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Post by markus313 on Nov 18, 2018 20:02:23 GMT
I really like my Hanwei Tinker EMHS. However, after owning and / or handling a few dozen antiques and several low to mid-range repros of varying types and time-spans, I’d still fall back on the CS Cutlass Machete, especially my modified one. It’s all there: low cost, ease of maintenance, portability, durability, maneuverability, cutting performance, versatility. Probably like my modded CS Viking hand axe even more though…
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Post by Rabel Dusk on Nov 19, 2018 0:42:43 GMT
It depends what you mean by best sword. If it is best performer, the sword that I would pick up to defend myself,it would be my Gus Trim Makers Mark VIa - light, fast, lethal dut and thrust.
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Post by elbrittania39 on Nov 19, 2018 4:09:34 GMT
My Persian 1909 Dragoon saber. It's just such a great no nonsense battle blade. It's design really feels like something you would have seen a century earlier.
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Post by wlewisiii on Nov 20, 2018 0:48:01 GMT
Gotta be my Windlass 1906 Cav Association Commorative. They made a really good reproduction and I love how it handles and cuts. It just feels right.
My ARW saber comes close but in the end the steel hilted 06 is just that much better
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Post by zabazagobo on Nov 20, 2018 2:36:17 GMT
Tough question. I could (somewhat) narrow it down as:
Looks, handling, fun factor, etc.: Hanwei Bushido daisho; great handling and very pretty swords that cut really well. The katana from the SBG Store had ito issues out of the box that got worse with time, so that's a knock against it in a s.h.t.f. scenario. My 30th anniversary Musashi katana by Hanwei is appreciably better in that department, and it deserves a nod as well.
For a strictly pragmatic, 'gets the job done without fuss' mentality, my Huawei kanmuri-otoshi and unokubi zukuri are both rock solid and utilitarian blades that feel great in the hand and look nice to boot. No issues with anything loosening aside from some tsuba play with the kanmuri-otoshi. Great choices for an actual sword fight as they're quite fast and have great edges.
Would also give an honorable mention to my Cold Steel gim/jian. It's an incredibly agile and scarily sharp weapon that just does what it's meant to do perfectly.
The Windlass Bosworth deserves a mention for it's phenomenal manueverability , although it was impressively dull out of the box.
You asked for one, and I rambled about seven. Typical for me.
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stormmaster
Member
I like viking/migration era swords
Posts: 7,647
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Post by stormmaster on Nov 20, 2018 3:08:25 GMT
best sword for me atm is my Jeffery Robinson Suontaka, for purely aesthetic reasons
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Post by bluetrain on Nov 20, 2018 11:10:55 GMT
I have owned more swords than I have now. Of those I actually have now, my Cold Steel smallsword is the best. In fact, it's the only decent one I have. Of those I used to own, however, I think I liked the Japanese NCO sword the best. It was a wonderful cutter and built to last (including the scabbard. It was awfully heavy, though. Second best was an 1897 pattern British infantry sword. The one I had only had a plain blade and judging from the markings, I believe it had been in use at some university. Should have hung on to it.
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Nov 20, 2018 12:28:05 GMT
With "Japanese NCO sword" do you mean a NCO Shin Gunto with a metal or later wooden hilt?
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Post by bluetrain on Nov 20, 2018 12:54:17 GMT
It was, I guess, a Shin Gunto with the fake metal lacing on the grip. That was about 40 some years ago. They had to have had the most rugged scabbard ever made for a sword. The little spring catch to hold the sword in the scabbard was a clever idea.
I understand that some or maybe most officers used a cover for the scabbard of their sword and that sometimes the grip was wrapped with cloth.
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Zen_Hydra
Moderator
Born with a heart full of neutrality
Posts: 2,625
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Nov 20, 2018 16:17:51 GMT
I understand that some or maybe most officers used a cover for the scabbard of their sword and that sometimes the grip was wrapped with cloth.
I have an officer's gunto with silk ito wrapped over samewaga, and the tsuba has a leather cover closed near the throat with silk laces. Other than military styled fittings, it has a lot of traditional elements, and even the military fittings are very well made.
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Nov 21, 2018 1:12:40 GMT
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Post by Dave Kelly on Nov 21, 2018 1:26:13 GMT
You're kidding, right?
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