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Post by curiomansion on Jul 9, 2024 13:12:01 GMT
I ordered one because I always liked Tod Cutler items (but I only have smaller stuff, a dagger, kitchen knives and eating set, a mace...), I also love his YouTube channel, and I also wanted to buy a 15th century arming sword. The price is relatively cheap, when you consider you do get a scabbard that looks much better than standard Windlass / Balaur Arms / other cheap offerings, with belt fittings of Tod Cutler quality. Of course there is the import fee for us in EU. 480 pounds, 539 with shipping / 634 EUR means extra 140 EUR for our "emergency 22% VAT" (raised for financial crisis in 2008, never lowered since), 20 EUR of extra customs and 20 EUR of customs fee for their bother, so about 814 EUR. In EU you can for instance get a nice Castillon inspired sword by Arma Bohemia for 285 EUR!; The problem could also be returning, if the sword has issues that are just too big. 59 pounds / 70 EUR for shipping, plus about 180 EUR in VAT and customs would of course be lost - that's half the value of the sword... I guess I'll see. I contacted Arma Bohemia via their email/contact us button on their website about a month and a half ago, specifically to inquire about their Castillon Sword. No response at all during this month and a half. I contacted them via message on their Facebook page. Got an almost instant response. Sadly, they told me they have none in stock at the moment, and not sure when they would make more. However, they assured me they would message back if and when they did. So, I went ahead and got the Todd Cutler Castillon instead. Overall, I like the sword a lot. Yet, as one who has a strong fondness for the one-handed Castillon swords, I'd say that I would have liked the width at the base of the blade/guard to have been a little wider, and would have liked the tip to be a little wider (like in #1 in the Castillon group, rather than say #2 or 5). The hollow grind and central ridge are there, but don't seem as well pronounced as the originals seem to be. I'm no expert when it comes to suspension systems, so I must confess I'm a bit confused how I'm supposed to wear this one when it's in its scabbard. ![(rofl)](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/rofl.png) The brown leather on the hilt is a very deep, dark, and awesome looking. So, I like it, I'm keeping it, but my quest for the "perfect" Castillon sword continues. I would almost say my Windlass prototype Type XV is closer, although it's modeled after the Wallace Collection's Type XV (XV.7 in Oakeshott's "Records"). Deeppeeka makes a Castillon sword, though it strangely has a fuller. It does look really nice otherwise. Perhaps if Arma Bohemia does get one in stock, I will try for that one again. I think Peter Johnssons and Gael Fabres Castillion swords are near perfect. Not budget swords in the slightest, but faithful replicas do exist.
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Post by bwaze on Jul 9, 2024 19:49:12 GMT
That Peter Johnsson Castillon sword was so perfect it looks like computer render! ![:D](//storage.forums.net/forum/images/smiley/grin.png)
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Post by tancred on Jul 10, 2024 9:43:19 GMT
Could you post some more details on your Tod Cutler Castillon, Tancred? How thick is the blade at the cross, and 1" / 2,5 cm from the tip? How is the geometry of the blade and hilt, finish? Arma Bohemia / Jakub Malovany is a reseller, not a maker, and he usually doesn't know beforehand when his suppliers will deliver the items. So it works OK if you order things that are in stock, but a bit of a nightmare ordering something custom or not in stock. But right now the page still shows a Castillon sword in stock: MV98 copy of a 1-hand sword (EP55 type) France, England, XVth century total length cca. 95 cm, blade length cca. 78 cm weight: 1445 g sharp blade Provenance: Dordogne or Lidoire in the vicinity of Castillon-la-Bataille - from the Battle of Castillon 1453 www.armabohemia.cz/Novestr/handA.htmAbout wearing a belt like the one on Tod Cutler Castillon: Here's a video on making such a belt with Tod Cutler fittings yourself, so it might be useful, finished belt and wearing it is at about 15:16: And here's another video of similar belt system: And another one here: Bwaze, thank you very much for the video links on how to wear the Todd Cutler sword and scabbard. Very helpful of you, and much appreciated! I wish I could be as helpful to you in regards to the blade thickness on my Castillon. I do not have a calipers, I'm afraid. Unless there is another way I can measure it? It seems that many of the comments on the fit and finish of the TC Castillon were made after viewing the pictures from Vondude's sales thread. That's the Castillon I bought, so the fit and finish are what you see in those pictures. To me, the blade does seem to be unpolished or under polished on parts of it, esp. on the broadest part/at the guard. Hard to describe, but it almost looks like there are brush marks in a circular motion on that part of the blade. Now, I viewed the sales thread as selling a newish but used sword. So, I figured the sword would not be in brand new condition/pristine, and would have signs of use. I was and am ok with that. When I first started collecting swords, I bought them brand new. I rarely do that now; most of my recent purchases have been used. I don't mind a sword that has seen some love. I hope that answers some of your questions. I usually don't get to respond in depth to things unless it's the weekend, but I did not want to seem like I was ignoring this thread. If there are other details or information about the sword you or anyone else would like, I can hopefully answer. I just might not be able to get to them until for a few days. Thanks again for the informative videos!
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Post by mrstabby on Jul 10, 2024 11:15:31 GMT
If you have something with a 90° angle, like a box, straight walled drinking glass or wood block something like that, place 2 on a flat surface pushing them together, then you can slide the sword in between and measure the resulting gap between the objects with a ruler. It can be quite accurate if you do it right and the objects are true. I think this is the best you can do without calipers.
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Post by bwaze on Jul 10, 2024 14:25:53 GMT
No problem, tancred, my Castillon should be shipped mid-July - although I don't believe it could be here before my seaside vacation for two weeks in the end of July - customs take really long time now after Brexit.
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Post by skelley on Jul 12, 2024 0:09:20 GMT
I went and ordered the cleaver falchion along with one of the new daggers last week. Came in the other day and I have to say that I quite like it. It feels like a good chopper in the hand and looks great. All seems to be straight with no warps or twists. Makes me glad I held off on the clip point falchion when it came out as this seems more my speed.
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Post by bwaze on Jul 14, 2024 8:46:02 GMT
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Post by bwaze on Jul 19, 2024 5:53:56 GMT
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