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Post by mikejungle on Jun 25, 2024 19:54:51 GMT
I'm looking for my first and last sword, but I also don't want to spend $3 G's on a sword. Just...fiscally irresponsible. This XIV sitting at the Met (https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/23367) has been my grail for years now, and so far, I've only seen Mateusz make it in the proportions that look right to me (e.g., sulowskiswords.com/types-xiv/type-xiv-gold-plated-from-paris/). Ideally I'd be looking for a well tempered bare blade of this exact (or very close) proportions. Maybe slightly longer tang. Is that possible for under $500-750, or is it a pipe dream? Albion and Darksword don't seem to have that shape, and I don't know who else I could look to. I haven't inquired yet, but I'm guessing the other Sulowski, and Maciej would be just as expensive. Cutler comes closer than anyone else, but it still doesn't tickle me like Sulowski's shape. Too bulbous at the tip, and it doesn't swell toward the guard like I think it should. Windlass, Lockwood, Kingston, don't even come close, imho. So that's why I think custom is the only option left, but if anyone has any insight, I could really use some direction! Cheers.
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Post by alientude on Jun 25, 2024 19:58:22 GMT
In'Carius Craft would almost certainly be able to make you a bare blade in that profile in your budget. The problem is then you're dealing with In'Carius Craft.
Another option would be Purna Darnal, although you'll need to spec out the blade yourself, down to all measurements including distal taper.
You could try reaching out to Arms & Armor and see what they would charge for a bare blade.
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Post by Lord Newport on Jun 25, 2024 20:07:05 GMT
Be patient and wait till you see someone selling one in the classifieds at a big discount. Immediate gratification is an expensive luxury.
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Post by mikejungle on Jun 25, 2024 20:45:04 GMT
In'Carius Craft would almost certainly be able to make you a bare blade in that profile in your budget. The problem is then you're dealing with In'Carius Craft.
Another option would be Purna Darnal, although you'll need to spec out the blade yourself, down to all measurements including distal taper.
You could try reaching out to Arms & Armor and see what they would charge for a bare blade.
haha, what's wrong with In'Carius Craft? I'd never heard of them before now. Do they have a bad rep? I'm patient, but I'd prefer not to pull my hair out if they're not professional. And I absolutely wouldn't mind waiting for the right blade on the classifieds, but even when the right one pops up, it's prohibitively expensive. This one that wildyracing is selling (https://sbg-sword-forum.forums.net/thread/71241/mateusz-sulowski-xiv-xvi-sword) has the perfect blade, and while the fittings are far from my liking, I'd totally get it...if it wasn't 3,000 Euros.
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Post by alientude on Jun 25, 2024 20:47:08 GMT
In'Carius has a reputation of promising something will be done in X time, when in reality it will be done in X * 3 time. Or longer. And his communication is dreadful. And once he tells you the commission is done, it can still be many weeks or months before shipping, all while he'll tell you he's shipping it next week.
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Post by bwaze on Jun 26, 2024 4:28:42 GMT
This happened to my friend, and I thought he was exaggerating, until I made my order of Type H Viking sword. It was a bit less stressful because I knew he really does finish the commission, he's just terrible at communicating. But it's no fun to be told again and again that your order is practically finished, he only has to ship it, or it is already on the way, to be told the scabbard isn't done yet...
In the end it wasn't that long of a wait - I was promised a sword in half a year, and received it in about a year. But I was told the sword is done months before it was actually shipped. :-P
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Post by mikejungle on Jun 26, 2024 7:02:06 GMT
I haven't done a deep dive yet, but I like what I've seen so far! Maybe not top tier, but way better than 90% of off-the-shelf options?
So In'Carius always delivers? It sounds like it'd be annoying to be led on by times, but I think I'd throw that dice.
How is his heat treat? Nice hard edge? I'm curious about their pricing too, but I can just reach out to him for a response.
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Post by bwaze on Jun 26, 2024 8:29:15 GMT
I think he finishes everything eventually, but I know some people gave up when they were basically lied to about the status of their order, but they also received pre-payment back. But I know some were still mad they wasted their time.
I ordered a rebated blade sword,so I didn't really test the hardness, but friends sword holds the edge really well even when cutting soaked cardboard with fresh hazel branch in the middle (poor man's tatami).
The only slight issue with my sword was a really tight scabbard. He makes scabbards with really thin wooden slats (plywood?), and thin but high quality leather, but it seems that his method produces very tight scabbards that can shrink into too tight - my friend's was exactly the same. Blade went all the way in, but you had to use a lot of force both ways. I fixed both scabbards by wrapping the blades thinly with cling film and painter's tape, using a lot of Ballistol oil and slowly forcing the oversized wrapped blade in, every day a bit more. It's now just a bit tight, but very useable. I think alientude received a sword with scabbard so tight it wasn't useable, if I remember correctly.
I paid only 650 EUR for my Viking Type H, scabbard and belt + shipping, but that was in 2021 - 2022.
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pellius
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Post by pellius on Jun 26, 2024 11:27:13 GMT
Be patient and wait till you see someone selling one in the classifieds at a big discount. Immediate gratification is an expensive luxury. For sure. Even after the big discount.
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pellius
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Post by pellius on Jun 26, 2024 11:30:51 GMT
Also, imho, a custom to your specs from a reliable well known maker for $500-750 is indeed a pipe dream.
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Post by wildyracing on Jun 26, 2024 14:33:12 GMT
In'Carius has a reputation of promising something will be done in X time, when in reality it will be done in X * 3 time. Or longer. And his communication is dreadful. And once he tells you the commission is done, it can still be many weeks or months before shipping, all while he'll tell you he's shipping it next week. I absolutely agree on In'carius Craft. He certainly mishandles the commission estimations and delivery dates. It can be really irritating, to the point of breaking any relations with him. But he (Rafal) is still my favorite smith for Euro style swords. Period. I own three customs from him. Two of them are completely my own design from scratch, third one is cusmotized after the sword was more or less ready. These three I will never sell. Rafal does completely custom commissions that no one else will agree to do, let alone for In'carius prices. mikejungle Thanks for the kind words! Fittings and blade style is really up for the eyes of the beholder. You may not like something, another might sell the car to buy it. :) That said, Mateusz Sulowski is leagues beyond In'Carius in all but deep customizations. I owned a couple of his swords. Sulowski's work is a complete masterpiece in aesthetics, balance, form, function. I truly believe any high noble or king would readily carry such a sword. The price is what it is - expensive. You pay for what you get. For me personally, his swords are certainly too expensive for anything else than display.
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Post by curiomansion on Jun 26, 2024 20:45:53 GMT
mikejungleIf it's been your grail sword for a while, I'd suggest saving up and getting it exactly the way you want it. You shouldn't have to spend more than $1500 to get it pretty close. Art of Swordmaking has a pretty amenable style to that piece. Though his website is currently down. Funny, I checked it last week and it was fine. I think he lapsed on a payment. In'carius's aesthetic also seems compatible, but if you go in expecting a long wait time, it'll be worth it. Albion's is 2 years, so a year and a half is less bad. Davis Reproductions should also be able to make you a very similar piece for around $1500. His wait times aren't crazy. Valiant Armoury will do customs too. In the meantime, I have no idea how to order from Del Tin, but they have a very similar piece that might hold you off until you buy your grail version. www.deltin.net/2140.htm
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Post by eastman on Jun 27, 2024 0:36:39 GMT
mikejungle If it's been your grail sword for a while, I'd suggest saving up and getting it exactly the way you want it. You shouldn't have to spend more than $1500 to get it pretty close. Art of Swordmaking has a pretty amenable style to that piece. Though his website is currently down. Funny, I checked it last week and it was fine. I think he lapsed on a payment. In'carius's aesthetic also seems compatible, but if you go in expecting a long wait time, it'll be worth it. Albion's is 2 years, so a year and a half is less bad. Davis Reproductions should also be able to make you a very similar piece for around $1500. His wait times aren't crazy. Valiant Armoury will do customs too. In the meantime, I have no idea how to order from Del Tin, but they have a very similar piece that might hold you off until you buy your grail version. www.deltin.net/2140.htm
info@deltin.net
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Post by mikejungle on Jun 27, 2024 5:46:18 GMT
Ah...it doesn't get me in the boobles like Mateusz's works do. I like my XIV's thiccc Like basically XVIIIc, but thicccer? I'm also talking out of my ass, because I've never handled a single one. I just know what my eyes like.
I really like the idea of a fat hand a half blade because of...Dark Souls? I hope some of y'all are here for the same reason. Otherwise this is an embarrassing confession.
But to be serious, I know very little about HEMA. Right now. It just never made sense to me that the one-handed swords didn't have room for a second hand. Even the shortest sword would benefit from extra leverage, right?
Is there a tier list for expensive to least expensive East European smiths? Both Sulowski's, Maciej, and even In'Carius (I'm cooling on this option, because I'm ok with long waits, but I'm less ok with lying) have some sexy MFing XIV/XVI's I am a [very] amateur leatherworker and woodworker, so I think I could make my own handle and scabbard. Quillons and pommel, I'm less confident about, but I know I can fashion something workable. Eventually. That's the only reason why I've been seeking a bare blade.
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Post by madirish on Jun 27, 2024 14:22:05 GMT
Forget about Art of Swordmaking for an XIV.....Mateusz Sulowski is your man for a big XIV, his are just stunning. I have a smaller XIV of his (based on the same sword in the Deutsches Klingenmuseum as the Albion Solingen) and it is lovely, but I still plan to commission a big XIV from him as well as an XVIIIb.
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Post by curiomansion on Jun 27, 2024 15:45:15 GMT
Ah...it doesn't get me in the boobles like Mateusz's works do. I like my XIV's thiccc Like basically XVIIIc, but thicccer? I'm also talking out of my ass, because I've never handled a single one. I just know what my eyes like. Then save up for one. If your eye can see the difference between his work and everyone else's, you won't be satisfied with a cheaper option and you'll end up chasing the experience with multiple swords, spending the same money and time at the end of the day. Mateusz has a very good eye. Up there with Peter Johnsson. One more person everyone sleeps on is Gael Fabre. Good luck shopping!
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Post by mikejungle on Jun 28, 2024 17:52:43 GMT
I just reached out to Mateusz and got a quote for the cheapest big XIV/XVI, and it's clocking in at 1,800 E without a scabbard.
How often does this specific shape show up in classifieds? I'm wondering if I can jut wait a year or two for a big XIV to show up and get a better deal with fancier digs, instead of pulling the trigger on a new sword. I looked through every single listing, but it only goes back to 2023. I'm guessing this site went through a refresh?
I know wildyracing's is still available, but it' still too much for me...
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Post by alientude on Jun 29, 2024 5:10:29 GMT
In'Carius Craft would almost certainly be able to make you a bare blade in that profile in your budget. The problem is then you're dealing with In'Carius Craft.
Another option would be Purna Darnal, although you'll need to spec out the blade yourself, down to all measurements including distal taper.
You could try reaching out to Arms & Armor and see what they would charge for a bare blade.
Just a quick, sad note that Purna Darnal is no longer an option.
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LeMal
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Post by LeMal on Jun 29, 2024 5:25:07 GMT
In'Carius Craft would almost certainly be able to make you a bare blade in that profile in your budget. The problem is then you're dealing with In'Carius Craft.
Another option would be Purna Darnal, although you'll need to spec out the blade yourself, down to all measurements including distal taper.
You could try reaching out to Arms & Armor and see what they would charge for a bare blade.
Just a quick, sad note that Purna Darnal is no longer an option.
God DAMN it. Just came across the news of his car accident. :( Excellent maker, and I'm glad to have gotten some of his pieces. But more importantly just a good, down to earth guy. I'm sure he will be missed by many.
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Post by bwaze on Jun 29, 2024 7:39:24 GMT
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