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Post by 400n on Mar 12, 2024 17:24:20 GMT
Hello, first post, thanks for letting me join  I had planned / hoped to get in to medieval longsword with my daughter, but it so happens near where we live there is a small, friendly Sabre club - so went along to that and decided it was a good fit for us, definitely good to have instruction and companions. The folks at the club are lovely and will no doubt be offering their advice /ideas, which we will definitely listen to. Have a few ideas about what kit to get from my own research - initially this would be to practice at home with drills etc., but kit choice in the UK seems really limited - so I wonder what top tips folks on here might have? |
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Post by crazyjons on Mar 12, 2024 17:32:45 GMT
I would probably start by getting decent fencing helmets and gloves for both of you.
If you haven't heard of it already I really enjoy the Sword Guy Podcast by Guy Windsor, he also hosts a forum and has written a bunch of books about Hema stuff.
Jon
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Post by kclee008 on Mar 16, 2024 18:40:08 GMT
There are a lot of YouTube videos of HEMA swords and gear reviews out there. Also, I’m the US Purple Heart Armory is one of the best one-stop shop website with good variety and options. Not sure about UK and shipping, etc. but exploring the website and gear options can give you a lot of good ideas and brands to check out. And, they have a number of padded training swords and sabres to check out. And if nothing else, try googling something like, “HEMA sabers and gear in UK.”
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Post by fivesidedpixels on Mar 17, 2024 23:19:06 GMT
I don't practice sabre myself, but make sure to confirm the starting gear requirements with your club (as I'm sure you're already doing). I wouldn't want to invest into a full kit only to learn I'm not into sabre, or whatnot.
First confirm whether your club uses steel or synthetic trainers. Steel will handle more accurately, but is more expensive. Synthetic is cheaper, can still feel relatively accurate, but you won't mourn it after getting it chewed up. Both WILL break bones and poke eyes without proper protection.
A mask, gloves, padded jacket, and sword are the bare minimum if you're performing partner exercises with steel or synthetic blades. Further gear beyond that (neck, forearm, thigh, shin protection, etc.) will either be mandatory or personal preference based on the club. Foam sabres are a thing, which reduces the gear requirement to just a mask, but I'm not sure they're too common.
Beyond that, I can't say much. You'll find more sabreurs on YouTube (History & Sabre seems neat) and the r/WMA subreddit than here, so those might be better places to ask around. But talk to your club first and foremost, can't stress that enough. Ask them what system they study and what type of sword might be preferred. Sabres were kind of all over the place in terms of weight, being curved/straight, and possessing different hilt designs. None of them are extremely different, but some systems might be designed with a certain sword in mind.
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