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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2008 15:37:30 GMT
Any thoughts on what would be the best Falchion to buy, any good or bad experiences with the Windlass or Valiant Armoury's Falchion..... I have read both reviews would but like to hear second opinions or comments from others ?
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Post by Brendan Olszowy on Oct 20, 2008 0:25:32 GMT
No. Just that you should find one under 2lb 10 oz. And you will love it. I LOVE my FB Falchion, hence it's my only FB sword not for sale. Because they are shorter they should be quite machete-like. Albion do a beaut which you would do well to acquire. I don't like the look of the VA one. Way over built. Then I worry that the windlass would be too thin coz of their tendancy for thin blades. It should be axelike, but light due to it's compact size. I guess I'd still lean to the windlass.
Have you also considered the G2 Celtic and Falcatta? Structurally I'd pick them over the ones you listed. I have the G2 Celtic and it's a great piece! JPFranco has the Falcatta and loves it. I'm not a G2 fanboy, but in the shorter blades I do trust them. But for a Falchion theres not a lot of choice, so the Albion is the only one I can recommend. Or I could make you a killer...
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2008 1:14:27 GMT
If you can track one down, there's a model from Windlass called the Sword of St. Michael. There's a positive review by Bill Grandy on myArmoury about that one.
It would need work and isn't 'the best' (it's a LONG ways behind what I've seen of either the Albion or Brendan's work) but it seems to be the best in the SBG budget that I've seen reviewed.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2008 12:32:05 GMT
Windlass is FINE. When it comes to whippiness, you only have to worry about their longswords. Their falchions are shorter, so they are fantastic(besides, being whippy isn't much of a problem with a dedicated cutter, just for thrusting).
The Sword of St. Michael is an interesting one. They made it double edged, for reasons I don't understand(the painting it's based off of shows an obviously SINGLE edged sword...).
I've wanted their Italian Falchion for a long time. The only reason I ended up with the St. Michael was because the Italian was on back order for months, and I gave up. I got to handle one at a Renn Faire, and I deeply regret giving up on it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2008 12:40:14 GMT
I am erring towards the windlass Falchion because its based on the Thorpe Falchion (Norwich, UK) and part of my surname is Thorpe.......
so I thought it would be a good family heirloom, for the generations to come, especillay if I make sure that I attached the full history with the sword, regarding the 'Thorpe Falchion'.
many thanks for your comments
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Post by rammstein on Oct 21, 2008 19:41:32 GMT
HR, what about the picture makes it obviously single edged? It appears double edged last I saw it which admittedly was long ago.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2008 23:23:15 GMT
This painting? Not really clear to me - I could go either way on dual or single-edged. In any case, this is the Windlass version of the St. Michael. Not curved like the one in the painting, but it does have a diamond cross section, which is what the painting looks like to me. The reviewer liked the way it handled. The one I really like the look of is the Windlass Italian Falchion. The grip looks like it would be really comfortable, especially the pommel - no digging in. I like the way the pommel design is repeated in the ends of the guard. also I like the double fullers and that bit of sharpened back-blade near the end. Ideally, I would like to see a little bit of curve to the blade and/or that flare like Brendan's - tho maybe not quite as much. I like the "knife-ness" of this one. Unfortunately, I haven't found much in the way of a review of this sword or even detailed stats that include a PoB. Does anybody here own one? I am afraid it might be too blade heavy and the weight at 3lbs 4oz on a <26 inch blade sounds like a lot.
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Post by ShooterMike on Oct 22, 2008 0:57:07 GMT
I have the MRL Medieval Falchion that's based on the Thorpe Falchion. It's the first sword I ever did a review on here on SBG. The review is still up on the main SBG site under the "Slicers and Choppers" section.
It's been a pretty decent sword. The handling is good, even now that I am more of an ATrim and Albion "snob" of sorts. There are really only two things I don't like about. The first was the stitched seam on the grip wrap. But that's easy to correct with a new grip wrap. The second is the guard becoming loose and rattling a bit after substantial use. But that happens to just about all MRL swords and generally most sub$300 swords, with extended use/abuse.
I think it's still a good buy for the money. But then I think that's probably the case with the other two above as well.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2008 1:55:50 GMT
I've been eyeing the Gus Trim Falchion on Christian Fletcher's website for a bit. Thinking about picking one up next month.
The Windlass version of the Thorpe Falchion is not bad. No real problems except for the ugly stitching on the grip. With the grip redone and a scabbard treatment, I think you would be pretty happy with it. I've had mine for about 6 years now or so. I redid mine with an aged wood grip just like the guy did on MyArmoury.com - nice and easy fix. Not a bad deal at all considering its one of the cheapest Windlass swords right now - I think KoA has it for around $149 or so.
I had the Italian Falchion, but I got rid of it. The hilt hardware had a bit of uncorrectable rattle in it. Seemed to be a little ill-fitting. I've held the St. Michael's Falchion, at the grip was a little too small for my bear paws. The VA version looks more like a swap meet rip off of an LoTR Orc sword than a Falchion, it weighs 4lbs and has a 22 inch blade - WTF did they make it out of? Depleted uranium?
Good luck in your search from a fellow falchion fan.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2008 3:50:30 GMT
The one I really like the look of is the Windlass Italian Falchion. The grip looks like it would be really comfortable, especially the pommel - no digging in. I like the way the pommel design is repeated in the ends of the guard. also I like the double fullers and that bit of sharpened back-blade near the end. Ideally, I would like to see a little bit of curve to the blade and/or that flare like Brendan's - tho maybe not quite as much. I like the "knife-ness" of this one. Unfortunately, I haven't found much in the way of a review of this sword or even detailed stats that include a PoB. Does anybody here own one? I am afraid it might be too blade heavy and the weight at 3lbs 4oz on a <26 inch blade sounds like a lot. That reminds me of a very famous phrase, "That's not a knife... now this is a knife!" Anyway I don't have any falchions nor have I ever handled one although I do like their sheer cutting ability. Whichever one you get be sure to review it and let us see what you thought... just in case the rest of us might be considering one. -Sam
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2008 16:37:48 GMT
HR, what about the picture makes it obviously single edged? It appears double edged last I saw it which admittedly was long ago. Well, to me it doesn't look double edges. Also, the curvature of the one in the painting would make attacks with the spine-edge more difficult. Plus, due to the knucklebow, you can't reverse your grip to make use of the other edge on a normal basis.
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Post by alvin on Oct 22, 2008 17:00:41 GMT
With a double edged blade, it is not necessary to reverse one's grip to make a cut with the back or short edge - just make a back cut.
From the painting, it could be either a single or double edged blade. But this is a painting of a fictional act done long ago. So it would not be unusual to find artistic license at play. I mean, look at the painting. A sissy-boy with wings on his back and on his silly little pin cushion hat using a buckler almost smaller in diameter than the open mouth of the so-called dragon !!
PS - After reading the myArmoury review of the Windlass SWORD, I'd be sorely tempted to get one - looks nice.
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Post by ShooterMike on Oct 22, 2008 17:29:45 GMT
Regarding the Sword of St. Michael, since the definition of "Falchion" is: 1. Short, heavy, broad-bladed sword with a single edge, bearing a similarity to a heavy scimitar. 2. Short, curved single-edged sword with a broad blade. www.renaissancemagazine.com/glossary/glossaryd-f.htmla short, single-edged sword with a cleaver-like curved blade, popular from the 13th century onwards and used with all classes of soldiers www.aemma.org/misc/glossary.htmlIt's my opinion that Windlass screwed up on this one. It would be such a better sword for messer drills (which REQUIRE a flat blunt back edge), and actually be a falchion, if they'd made it single-edged with a sharpened false edge.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2008 19:28:33 GMT
hello guys!! .. If someone is interested in the St. Michael Sword-Falchion .. I believe I found a site in which stills in stock .. check it . www.firebloodarms.com/FB21026.htmlHope this helps ..
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2008 20:04:47 GMT
Thanks for all the commnets the St Micheal sword is interesting but I still think that the Thorpe is probably more accurate.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2008 20:14:50 GMT
Mike, I have read your review of the Falchion, www.sword-buyers-guide.com/falchion.htmland noticed that you have remove the leather stitched grip and rebound with cord. I make swords and my preferred method is cord bound, but I was wondering if the method I used was different to yours. I usually wrap a single layer of self amalgamating tape around the wood grip before I put the cord binding on. The helps to keep cord securely in place. I generally start the the binding at the hilt and loop the cord near the pommel and a piece of cord hanging past the hilt, I use this for pulling the cord through later. I then start to wind the cord around firmly and slowly, ensuring that there are no gaps. When I get to the pommel I thread the cord through the loop, this is when I pull the cord near the pommel. The loop should disappear under the cord. Once this has gone approx 15mm I cut the cord at both ends and then pad out and check the uniformity of the cord. If you are in the UK you can buy four types of falchion from......... www.theknightshop.co.uk/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=falchion
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2008 22:22:11 GMT
With a double edged blade, it is not necessary to reverse one's grip to make a cut with the back or short edge - just make a back cut. That's my point. Much easier to do with a straight blade, as the MRL one is. But with a curved blade? I think I've only seen one historical blade in my life that was curved AND double edged along the whole length. That being said, I do like MRL's version. It was quite lively in the hand, and would've been a great cutter.
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Post by ShooterMike on Oct 23, 2008 2:41:44 GMT
Phil, When doing a plain cord wrap with linen or cotton cord I do it exactly like you described. But I usually do a leather-over-cord wrap, so the cord is just glued in place as a base material. The wrap on the MRL Falchion is done with flat leather strap so I didn't think I could cleanly do the under loop. It's just wrapped and tucked under the last two coils at the pommel, then the excess is trimmed away. I am actually in Texas so ordering from the UK is quite expensive. I have a new ATrim Courtrai falchion coming any day now (hopefully). It will be interesting to compare it to a Windlass offering. BTW, I agree with your selection of the Thorpe-based example. It seems to me to be the closest thing to a period original. I think you'll like it. I keep planning to go back and strip mine down, then do the whole "antique treatment" by corroding the steel and aging a new leather grip wrap. If you make modification to yours please post lots of photos?
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Post by admin on Oct 23, 2008 4:36:02 GMT
Just thought I'd weigh in on the VA Falchion again (pardon the pun). It is really too heavy for real usage, far too heavy for its own good. It looks cool enough in a modern kind of way, but it's not really a Falchion - more of a Giant 'that's not a knife, that's a knife' kind of thing (that is really only useful on very heavy targets).
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2008 5:58:52 GMT
Mike, Thanks,
I don't glue mine in place the self amalgamating tape secures the cord so it won't move.
I intend to change the grip, I may try a leather strap this time. Thanks for your advice.
I have just ordered the Thorpe falchion, it actually comes blunt, so I have requested the sharpening service, so I will see how it arrives.
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