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Post by wlewisiii on May 28, 2019 19:22:57 GMT
Odds are against ever needing to use it but I enjoy practicing military saber (Hutton, O'Rourke, Waite, etc) with my Windlass M1906 and a wooden dussack waster I have. I do find the horse soldier length saber a bit long at times, so I'll probably get a Windlass 1860 Cutlass to use as a hanger but with the same techniques. I have also practiced with both revolver and buckler in my off hand. I have other swords too but I find I like a good saber style blade with decent hand protection best though that might change if I can ever get in a spot to buy a nice bastard sword like the Windlass Agincourt that can be used one handed with a buckler as well as two handed.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on May 28, 2019 21:09:05 GMT
Odds are against ever needing to use it but I enjoy practicing military saber (Hutton, O'Rourke, Waite, etc) with my Windlass M1906 and a wooden dussack waster I have. I do find the horse soldier length saber a bit long at times, so I'll probably get a Windlass 1860 Cutlass to use as a hanger but with the same techniques. I have also practiced with both revolver and buckler in my off hand. I have other swords too but I find I like a good saber style blade with decent hand protection best though that might change if I can ever get in a spot to buy a nice bastard sword like the Windlass Agincourt :D that can be used one handed with a buckler as well as two handed. I find a cavalry sabre a bit long also but like the hand protection. With that in mind I find my cutlass much more to my liking, and it’s faster too. I have the Agincourt and love it. Lately I’ve been working with a Pilsen rapier and Windlass’ M1840 NCO sword. I truly like the M1840. But neither that nor the rapier have convinced me to abandon the cutlass. Both look promising in a hallway but if the problem is not contained there and flows elsewhere with multiple opponents resulting into a melee I believe the cutlass with shield have them beat. You’ll probably like the M1860 cutlass I understand it handles well. Not only that if you like the way a sabre handles and the drill you’ll take to it like duck to water.
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Post by markus313 on May 28, 2019 21:21:50 GMT
^^^^>>>> Cold Steel English Backsword
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Post by Jordan Williams on May 29, 2019 0:17:55 GMT
Might be an issue important an already sharp sword though into CR.
I'd love to see a formal review of the CS backsword from you. I handled one enough to convince me to like it but not enough to buy it.
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Post by elbrittania39 on May 29, 2019 0:19:49 GMT
Might be an issue important an already sharp sword though into CR. I'd love to see a formal review of the CS backsword from you. I handled one enough to convince me to like it but not enough to buy it. I returned mine, wasn't a fan. The sword feels light in hand....but its kinda a trick. They didn't get the balance or taper right or anything, they just made the blade wafer thin. So it handles well, but for the wrong reasons.
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on May 29, 2019 1:51:01 GMT
Might be an issue important an already sharp sword though into CR. That comes at a timely time. There is one in the works for me as I write and the gentleman is kind enough to remove the sharp edge. Hopefully it will get through. Hehe
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on May 29, 2019 1:59:53 GMT
I'd love to see a formal review of the CS backsword from you. ... they just made the blade wafer thin. So it handles well, but for the wrong reasons. The means justifies the end. No? Hopefully the blade isn't so flexible that it won't give point well.
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Post by Jordan Williams on May 29, 2019 2:34:54 GMT
Might be an issue important an already sharp sword though into CR. That comes at a timely time. There is one in the works for me as I write and the gentleman is kind enough to remove the sharp edge. Hopefully it will get through. Hehe Nice... I think it'll be right up your alley. Will certainly pair well with your buckler (And maybe later on main gauche!).
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Post by markus313 on May 29, 2019 7:13:49 GMT
I'd love to see a formal review of the CS backsword from you. I handled one enough to convince me to like it but not enough to buy it. I‘m afraid I won’t have time to write an in-depth review, and doing so would end up in writing multiple pages. I will start, however, by hinting on points I have spoken about in other places on this board, such as that I`d prefer the Hanwei Backsword’s blade with the CS’s hilt, for example, and that the CS’s blade is nonetheless good enough to still make for my top single-handed sword.
I currently have three exemplars of the CS SEB in my possession, and had the chance to compare them to a rather large variety of comparable reproductions and originals. I have tested all three of them to some degree, and one of them rather thoroughly, including striking hanging logs of fir wood among other things, such as parrying vs. strikes with ash poles etc. None of them will have problems giving point (tested with thrusts vs. Styrofoam blocks covered with up to twelve layers of tough denim). The blade does well with cuts powered from the back, but is also well suited for quicker cuts from the wrist and elbow (also tested on several targets/materials).
Now what sets the CS SEB apart from most other swords is its guard of which I’ve also written a bit about on other occasions. The way this Mortuary hilt is shaped allows for safe use of the hanging guard, which is especially important is close quarters, where space restricts many of the usual fencing actions. It gives protection to the inside of the hand, which most saber and cutlass guards won’t. I have used a variety of trainers in scenario-training (confined spaces and open field), and the size of the CS SEB is close to ideal. It holds the advantages described by George Silver (disenganging in close distance/"when comming to grips"), but is longer than any cutlass or machete. Also a straight blade is best when giving point from low or high. The most important guard in confined spaces is the “true gardant” described by George Silver (denying the point to actions of the opponent amongst other things). This is due to the characteristics of the spaces in a confined environment, giving you almost no time nor space to react to the actions of your opponent; turning corners, sudden engages, possibly low light conditions, likely multiple opponents armed with weapons of different characteristics as well as some armor vs. no armor, being hard pressed/rushed upon, ending up in grappling etc.
In open space it allows for safe play from what Silver calls the “open fight” (again, the hilt giving protection for the underside of the hand being most important). The hilt does not impede fencing actions from the wrist, which is also especially important in confined, when quick turns down the elbow from hanging guard, turning the blade in a tight arc along the off-side are most often the only way to deliver an effective cut. The hilt and pommel lend themselves well to “pummeling”, the blade is long enough to reach the body around the outstretched arms of an opponent. And on and on, but I think I’ve roughly layed out he most important aspects.
Some quick notes on the blade on the CS. Handling will depend on the weight of the foible mainly (all my exemplars vary quite a bit in that). All those blades will vibrate a bit more than blades with more distal taper (in cutting and parrying, however I found that not to be problematic). There are also antique swords of similar overall design and distal taper to be seen in museums. With my own eyes I have sawn a Mortuary hilt sword that must come very close to the specs of the CS (I think I still must have some pics on my mobile phone).
So there you have it: Sword/blade are durable and able of cut and thrust, has the “perfect length” (depening somewhat on your stature, it could be a tad longer for me; this is a technical term used by George Silver) and shape for both wide and close play, the guard is necessary for safe play from true gardant and open fight, the most important guards for “realistic” play in confined and open spaces and respective scenarios.
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Ifrit
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Post by Ifrit on May 29, 2019 7:36:56 GMT
I was doing drills with my arming sword. Thinking about it from a martial point of view in a modern application. It's a damn good sword for that sort of thing. I hate to keel saying how much you gain with a shield, but if you can at least armour your hands and forearms, it's a huge game changer. Using I. 33 techniques but leaving the left hand empty and armoured, ready to handle the opponents weapon, isn't the worst thing I've ever thought of. It really improves a lot of things modern self defense classes already do and allow closing in
I say do it. Get an arming sword. But try get gauntlets too
The guard style makes it a very agile sword and really great for switching grips and using the back edge. Add a negal on there and you are hitting new levels
... Might try that. A negal
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pgandy
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Post by pgandy on May 29, 2019 8:24:29 GMT
Thanks Mark. I am afraid my CS Back Sword is weeks away but you make me more excited.
Djinnobi I managed to get a pair of mail gauntlets recently on the DoD and I must say I feel more secure with them. They add a little weight to my arms, I doubt a laceration to be possible, a good solid hit could cause a fracture that is if a good solid hit can be obtained, and with the leather palms of what seems to be good leather allows for a secure gripe. I think they're one of my better purchases.
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Ifrit
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More edgy than a double edge sword
Posts: 3,284
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Post by Ifrit on May 29, 2019 8:48:40 GMT
Thanks Mark. I am afraid my CS Back Sword is weeks away but you make me more excited. Djinnobi I managed to get a pair of mail gauntlets recently on the DoD and I must say I feel more secure with them. They add a little weight to my arms, I doubt a laceration to be possible, a good solid hit could cause a fracture that is if a good solid hit can be obtained, and with the leather palms of what seems to be good leather allows for a secure gripe. I think they're one of my better purchases. Get some wire mesh gloves to wear under and you will have additional protection when gripping blades
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Post by elbrittania39 on May 29, 2019 16:11:14 GMT
I have to respectfully disagree with the praise being heaped on the CS backsword. On the one I had, I found the grip far too long (almost double what I would have liked) I found the blade whippy and underbuilt at about 3.5mm through out, I don't like the shallow fullers, and the build quality was a bit suspect. When I shook the blade with the flat facing the ground, there was a clicking noise in the hilt. I think it was the blade shoulders on the guard but I couldn't be sure. I don't think it was appalling for the price, but it seemed kinda par for the course of what I expect with cold steel.
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Post by markus313 on May 29, 2019 18:20:33 GMT
That’s sad, I suspect you must have gotten a rather bad one. Though my pieces differ quite a bit from each other, too (I like the mid-weight one the most). None of them has any of the issues you’ve experienced, though (blade slots fit tightly, no rattling, no excessive flex etc.). Attachments:
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Post by elbrittania39 on May 29, 2019 18:37:29 GMT
That’s sad, I suspect you must have gotten a rather bad one. Though my pieces differ quite a bit from each other, too (I like the mid-weight one the most). None of them has any of the issues you’ve experienced, though (blade slots fit tightly, no rattling, no excessive flex etc.). with mass produced swords, it's entirely possible.
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Post by howler on May 29, 2019 18:56:42 GMT
That’s sad, I suspect you must have gotten a rather bad one. Though my pieces differ quite a bit from each other, too (I like the mid-weight one the most). None of them has any of the issues you’ve experienced, though (blade slots fit tightly, no rattling, no excessive flex etc.). This is the very sword (purchased through Knife Center) that brought me to this forum a few years back. The blade felt good in the hand but was advertised at 6mm thick at the hilt, with mine being 4.5mm. That and the slightly whippy blade, plus some durability critiques at the time had me a bit skittish. It was a new CS design at the time of purchase, but your reviews got me reconsidering. Variation between specimens can be a significant factor. Would grab it in a heartbeat if they made improvements.
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Post by markus313 on May 29, 2019 21:14:20 GMT
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