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Post by razorseal on Nov 24, 2018 7:15:40 GMT
Hey guys, Looking to get a viking sword before KoA and MRL ends their Black Friday weekend sales (10 and 20% off w free shipping) Time is of the essence so help me out! I ordered a A&A Knightly Sword which I will hang in my office on the right side of my wall mounted TV. I now need something on the left side of the TV. First world problems right? I was going to get Abredo, but the Knightly is so similar to it, I decided I will get a Viking Sword instead. Here are what I would call my top two choices... If you want anything else you want to mention, please do so! I much prefer the Windlass Ashdown for looks, but there are no reviews of it. The Ronin has been around for few years with good reviews and is rather popular and best bang for buck I think. www.reliks.com/functional-european-swords/ashdown-viking-sword/www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=RKE8 MRL has the sword for a better deal, but reliks had some really nice pictures to get a closer look.
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Post by Jordan Williams on Nov 24, 2018 7:22:21 GMT
I would personally go with the Ashdown based on looks and that it may feel lighter due to a less wide blade. The Ronin though does look more the part, but it has a very long grip as well.
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Post by csills2313 on Nov 24, 2018 13:52:16 GMT
I prefer the Ronin but I really want the Hanwei Caewood Viking sword I don’t believe Hanwei is having a sale right now
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Post by wlewisiii on Nov 24, 2018 14:05:56 GMT
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Nov 24, 2018 15:22:19 GMT
Personally I wouldn't buy either one of them. Main reason is the blades are to narrow for a Viking sword, both being less than two inches. A lot of companies just take a blade they're using on a Euro sword and put Viking fittings on it and call it a Viking sword. I wouldn't go with anything less than two and a quarter these days. I have two of my earlier purchases that are less than two inches and they look silly next to my two and a quarter inch ones. Plus it should have a wide fuller for a real Viking sword look. Hey just my opinion. What about MRL Sword of the Viking King ? It at least has a two and a eighth inch wide blade and is below $300. They're having a 20% off sale until the 26th. www.museumreplicas.com/sword-of-the-viking-kingSame sword Kult of Athena $265.50 plus 10% off sale. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=501168&name=Sword+of+the+Viking+King
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Post by nddave on Nov 24, 2018 15:29:13 GMT
The Ashdown is pretty much their Battlecry Maldon Viking without the all black and a fancier scabbard. There's plenty of info on the Maldon though so I'll post you some info via links.
In my personal opinion I'd take the Ashdown over the Ronin. Not that the Ronin is bad per say, though aesthetically the Windlass is much more pleasing and theres just something that looks off in regards to the Ronin Viking sword, I feel the same way in regards to the H/T Viking too.
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Post by razorseal on Nov 24, 2018 16:35:23 GMT
I don't like the styling of that one. the ULFBERHT seems like engraved or something. The ulfberht swords that attract me are the ones where they inlay another metal and then acid etch it or whatever they do. lol
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Post by razorseal on Nov 24, 2018 16:38:48 GMT
Personally I wouldn't buy either one of them. Main reason is the blades are to narrow for a Viking sword, both being less than two inches. A lot of companies just take a blade they're using on a Euro sword and put Viking fittings on it and call it a Viking sword. I wouldn't go with anything less than two and a quarter these days. I have two of my earlier purchases that are less than two inches and they look silly next to my two and a quarter inch ones. Plus it should have a wide fuller for a real Viking sword look. Hey just my opinion. What about MRL Sword of the Viking King ? It at least has a two and a eighth inch wide blade and is below $300. They're having a 20% off sale until the 26th. www.museumreplicas.com/sword-of-the-viking-kingSame sword Kult of Athena $265.50 plus 10% off sale. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=501168&name=Sword+of+the+Viking+KingI did hear the less than 2 inches thing. I actually looked at albion and notived out of all the viking swords, only one was under 2 inches. all were 2.25 etc... I wasn't sure if I could find one that matched that requirement for my price range. I'll check that one out... Unfortunately it's out of stock... That could be a good thing (popular) but it won't do me any good LOL Has anyone ordered from Reliks? They have it in stock.. www.reliks.com/functional-european-swords/sword-of-the-viking-king/I also wonder the balance on this thing. I would think it'd be pretty tip heavy... wide and long (that's what she said) Looks like it's been out for a long time (10 years?) and barely any reviews of it.
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Post by razorseal on Nov 24, 2018 16:42:08 GMT
The Ashdown is pretty much their Battlecry Maldon Viking without the all black and a fancier scabbard. There's plenty of info on the Maldon though so I'll post you some info via links. In my personal opinion I'd take the Ashdown over the Ronin. Not that the Ronin is bad per say, though aesthetically the Windlass is much more pleasing and theres just something that looks off in regards to the Ronin Viking sword, I feel the same way in regards to the H/T Viking too. That battlecry one looked nice as far as performance goes, but imho it was not attractive. that black paint or whatever they did on the blade is just not my thing. that being said, I do agree ronin seems off. I think their problem is, all they swords look alike. They're just very basic looking and similar... it is very popular though. I do wish the ashdown was over 2 inches in width.
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Nov 24, 2018 17:07:19 GMT
The blade length on the Kings sword is the same length as my Albion Vinland so that length is not a problem. As for ordering from Reliks they're in Canada so check the shipping charges if you're in the US. I've seen as much as $40 from Canada to the US. Reviews on the sites selling it seem to be very good, only a few minor little issues like fittings on the scabbard.
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Post by nddave on Nov 24, 2018 17:43:30 GMT
The Ashdown is pretty much their Battlecry Maldon Viking without the all black and a fancier scabbard. There's plenty of info on the Maldon though so I'll post you some info via links. In my personal opinion I'd take the Ashdown over the Ronin. Not that the Ronin is bad per say, though aesthetically the Windlass is much more pleasing and theres just something that looks off in regards to the Ronin Viking sword, I feel the same way in regards to the H/T Viking too. That battlecry one looked nice as far as performance goes, but imho it was not attractive. that black paint or whatever they did on the blade is just not my thing. that being said, I do agree ronin seems off. I think their problem is, all they swords look alike. They're just very basic looking and similar... it is very popular though. I do wish the ashdown was over 2 inches in width. Well then you'll love the Ashdown becuase it is the Maldon minus the black and plus a better scabbard. Why does it matter if it's over 2 inches? You realize its pretty much at 2 inches which was standard norm for many of the dark age double edged swords or medieval swords on general.
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Nov 24, 2018 18:07:31 GMT
Yes according to Peirce's book Swords of the Viking Age the blades could be as little as 4.4 cm (1.73 inches) but as wide as 6.2 cm ( 2.44 inches). But the more traditional look for the majority of the Viking blades were wide with a wide fuller. All Albion's Viking swords are well over 2 inches. It just looks more Vikingey.
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Post by nddave on Nov 24, 2018 18:21:24 GMT
Yes according to Peirce's book Swords of the Viking Age the blades could be as little as 4.4 cm (1.73 inches) but as wide as 6.2 cm ( 2.44 inches). But the more traditional look for the majority of the Viking blades were wide with a wide fuller. All Albion's Viking swords are well over 2 inches. It just looks more Vikingey. Well if we're going more by aesthetics and personal taste then yes you could go by that. Usually though if you look at the majority of swords from the time period most even the broader bladed ones had a more narrow fuller similar to an Xa or even XIa. Windlass pretty much sticks with a run of the mill Geibig Type 2 or Oakeshott type X(of varying lengths but usually the same 2" width) but some like the Ulfbert have a profile more similar to a Type Xa or Geibig type 3. All Viking swords do tend to keep to the Class 1 lenticular blades though, but as anything there can be variations by the makers and even those commissioning the sword be that in the past or present. Hence all those fancy broad two handed Viking swords floating around today.
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Nov 24, 2018 18:40:49 GMT
Yes but we're talking about the majority of the Viking swords of the time period not the majority of the European swords of the time period. If you're looking for a Euro sword by all means look at a narrow blade with a narrow fuller. But we're talking Viking swords here. I have bought both narrow and wide Viking swords but wish I had not bought the narrow ones. Just trying to save him from making the same mistake I did in my early years of collecting. If he doesn't mind having a Euro sword with Viking fittings than so be it but there are now some lower priced Viking swords with wide blades and fullers.
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Post by nddave on Nov 24, 2018 18:56:12 GMT
Yes but we're talking about the majority of the Viking swords of the time period not the majority of the European swords of the time period. If you're looking for a Euro sword by all means look at a narrow blade with a narrow fuller. But we're talking Viking swords here. I have bought both narrow and wide Viking swords but wish I had not bought the narrow ones. Just trying to save him from making the same mistake I did in my early years of collecting. If he doesn't mind having a Euro sword with Viking fittings than so be it but there are now some lower priced Viking swords with wide blades and fullers. So am I. Again this misconception that Viking swords should be big broad and wide fullered is clearly your personal preference and not really grounded on historical examples. There are just as many if not more 2" and under width swords in collections and museums as there are the 2.5" wider variety. I get you have preference for broader blades but lets not misinform people on either the function or historical accuracy of blades of less width than 2.5".
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Nov 24, 2018 19:01:10 GMT
Yep, like I said in my first comment, " Hey just my opinion ".
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Post by nddave on Nov 24, 2018 19:33:47 GMT
Yep, like I said in my first comment, " Hey just my opinion ". I know, no worries but sometimes especially with new members or those new to swords an opinion can be misread as fact and then we get a whole mess of misinformation or misunderstanding.
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Post by Gunnar Wolfgard on Nov 25, 2018 1:21:23 GMT
But remember the Vikings also made single edge sword too but that was not the majority or what was considered the traditional Viking sword. WIDE BLADE WIDE FULLER. I'm sorry I couldn't stop myself, it's the heathen in me.
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Post by razorseal on Nov 25, 2018 2:04:45 GMT
I appreciate the discussion here guys. I'm not too familiar with the viking swords (honestly, not very familiar with medieval weapons period lol). What I do is however compare shapes and sizes to swords A&A and what Albion makes... So far I've seen them as top 2 sword makers that sell pre designed swords to the masses... Of those 2 sword makers, none of them produce a under 2 inch wide viking era sword. (well, albion does have a Type X which is a 1.93) so when these other ones are 1.875 and the viking king sword mentioned above is 2.1, I assume that's more of in the lines of what I'd be interested in... That being said, there are no reviews of that sword except what's on the stores and I feel like I'm taking a risk... Espcially since I'm new to this and I'm not sure what to expect and what to compare it to. I still have one full day left before I decide, so please let the comments and discussion rolling! edit to add: So I looked up Reliks for shipping... They're from Canada so shipping is 45 dollars. 80 if I use UPS... At this point, I might as well put an order with Albion and just wait a year or check the classifieds for one LOL I also found this 11 year old post about this viking king sword. Not very flattering lol myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.17566.htmlHow about the Hanwei Tinker 9th Century Viking Sword? Thing has a 2.18 wide blade. Sold out just about everywhere, but found this one and it looks like they have it in stock. Well priced too. www.dowdlesports.com/CAS-Hanwei-Tinker-9th-Century-Viking-Sword-Sharp_p_66469.html
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Post by pellius on Nov 25, 2018 5:11:33 GMT
As usual when I encounter a post asking for suggestions for a Viking Era Sword, I strongly recommend the Hanwei Cawood Sword. www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=SH2457&name=Hanwei+Cawood+SwordI’m sure someone will point out it isn’t technically a Viking Era sword. Nonetheless, it has a nice Viking vibe to it. To me, this is a fantastic sword, especially for under 300 bucks. The handling is great. Really very good. The proportions are good, and it’s right at two inches in width if that’s important to you. It has decent distal taper, and a lenticular cross sectional geometry. Good harmonics. Very fast. Peened hilt construction with a very durable and tight leather grip wrap. It feels quite secure in the hand. Nice broad fuller with good depth and crisp borders. Comes sharp. I really like Hanwei 5160 steel. Tough, and holds a good edge. Very reliable heat treat. As typical with Hanwei, the finish is not polished, though. More like “brushed.” And, of course, the leather is unnecessarily orange. It’s more subdued in person. If you handle it a lot, the grip will darken considerably. That may be good or bad, depending on your point of view. And the cross guard isn’t for everyone. Anyway, just my opinion. Viking swords are awesome. I’m sure you will enjoy whatever you choose.
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