seth
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Post by seth on Oct 5, 2017 14:15:02 GMT
It was a pretty good show and impressive work. I question the shows assertion that the ability to recreate medieval armor has been "lost" until now. They made it seem like no one had ever been able to make armor like this until Rick and John did the show--those were the narrator's words, not Rick or John's. It seems like there are many excellent armorers who have not let this art die out.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 27, 2017 20:12:14 GMT
Looks like we have deal. Thank you again all for the input.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 26, 2017 15:52:58 GMT
Thank you for the replies. I will see what he has to say when I can track down my account info for Myarmoury.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 26, 2017 15:52:07 GMT
I thought the blade looked unusually worn at the tip. Interesting theory on a war prize. Maybe a soldier picked up a broken sword and someone later mated a new blade. My neighbor had a Japanese Airsaka rifle he brought home from Iwo Jima. His son thought he would make it into a deer rifle and butchered the stock and tried to bore it out so it would fire .30-06. He completely ruined it. When I was a kid it hung on some nails in his barn rusting away. Maybe this sword has a similar story.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 26, 2017 15:40:14 GMT
I've thought about getting the Windlass a hundred times. I've heard from others that the wood is crap though. I guess for a wallhanger it would do, but I wouldn't do any serious whackin' with it. I've got the Windless English Warhammer and I used to own the German Warhammer (I think). I broke both handles. I knew the English one would break because the the handle had a large knot in the middle of it, and it broke right at the knot. The German seemed more solid but the woof broke without much effort. I think what passes for hardwood in India can't measure up to oak, ash or hickory. I put an oak handle on the English and cannot phase it with full strength strikes against hard targets like stumps.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 26, 2017 15:29:06 GMT
Very nice. I ground quite a bit of material off mine too. For the holes in the head, I drilled out the 1/8" side so both holes were 1/4". Then I put a length of 1/4" brass rod through it and peened it flush to the head. I thought about using 1/4" steel rod which would have blended better but I like the look of bronze.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 25, 2017 16:33:50 GMT
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 25, 2017 16:19:59 GMT
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 24, 2017 3:18:21 GMT
I am really impressed with Castle Keep's swords (from the pictures-never handled one). They seem to have rather rounded points though. Is that a legal restriction in the UK or are the pictures just not showing the point well?
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 24, 2017 3:13:19 GMT
Thank you for the explanation Mr. Kelly. That's a real shame that post was lost. It was a fantastic write-up. It got me interested in pipeback sabers and I just got an Argentine model 1898 so I wanted to reread your post. Thank you for all the information you share here.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 23, 2017 1:02:15 GMT
Does anyone know why Mr. Kelly's original post disappeared? I recall reading it awhile ago and wanted to do so again, but it seems to be gone?? Thanks.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 22, 2017 19:33:48 GMT
Just a stray observation from someone who's been in the military for 20+ years: the reg requiring sharpening before battle created extra work, soldiers hate extra work, extra work often gets delegated to those who are least capable of doing it right or extra work is not done if it can safely be avoided. It's possible those dull swords were simply the result of an "eh? good enough" mentality.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 15, 2017 18:46:08 GMT
The grinding on this example is comparable to others I have seen in person (3 or 4 now). Yes, they were pretty sloppy about it but that was legal protocol once a sword left the armed forces. The grinding looks sloppy, but does not go deep. Maybe 0.2 - 0.4mm. Would be highly unlikely to affect the safety. Cool. I may take a stab at winning this one.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 15, 2017 18:33:06 GMT
Thanks for the reply. The grind looks pretty sloppy. I hope it didn't weaken the blade.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 15, 2017 16:53:27 GMT
Thanks for the link. How does the grinding near the hilt across the pipeback and crest affect the integrity/value of the sword?
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Post by seth on Sept 14, 2017 17:51:59 GMT
I bought a Glock 20 (full-sized 10 mm pistol) many years ago because I was intrigued by the caliber. I really enjoyed shooting it. I don't reload, and 10 mm ammo in local stores was non-existent so I bought it all online. I carried it whenever I was out in the mountains loaded with Double-Tap 200 grain hard cast bullets.
Eventually I picked up a S&W Model 69 in .44 magnum and that became my new favorite woods gun. It is a joy to shoot with moderate .44--a bit snappy with the 320 grain hard casts but doable (I replaced the stock grip with an X-frame grip--huge improvement!). It was roughly the same weight of the fully-loaded Glock 20 (slightly less actually). My 10 mm languished in the safe, and I traded it off several years ago with the thought that is was superfluous.
Fast forward to 2017. I was in Cabelas gun library and came across a Gen 4 Glock 29 (sub-compact 10 mm). I handled it and remembered how much I liked the 10 mm. Cabelas has a glut of used guns. I knew from some other employees that they had bought up tons of used stuff before the election. Post-election, the market has slowed to a crawl, and it is a buyer's market. So I made an offer (a real deal for me), and I am now the owner of a Gen 4 Glock 29. Here are my impressions.
The Gen 3's came in the regular and short frame grip sizes. One regret I had with the Glock 20 was not getting the Glock 20SF because it is a very large pistol. (I wear size large gloves, and it was big in my hands). The Gen 4 Glock 29 does not have a SF model. I think this is because it comes with different backstraps. With none of those installed, it seems about the size of Gen 3 SF. I have not backstraps installed, and it fits my hand really nice.
The Glock 29 is classified as a sub-compact by Glock. Indeed, its grip is similar to the other sub-compacts in that it leaves your pinky without a resting place. The rest of the dimensions are more similar to the Glock 19/23. It is a bit wider than those. I had no trouble shooting it with a floating pinky, but I did add some grip extensions on the ten magazines (2 for $12) which make the grip much nicer because my pinky doesn't feel homeless. It came with some 15 round Glock 20 magazines which shoot fine in it too with a full grip.
It carries really well. It's a woods gun so I don't bother with concealment. I attached a Blackhawk holster to my pack's waistbelt and it rides perfect there. It does weight much less than the Glock 20 and my Model 69. I definitely like carrying it better than the other two. I love backpacking, and this cuts a great deal of weight.
Ammo choices have really improved. Cabelas carries a lot of 10 mm. They don't carry Double Tap which is still my favorite, but they have 10 mm target ammo for $20 per box of 50. With the ubiquitous Cabelas coupons plus military discount, this price drops to < $15 per box. Not much more than 9 mm. I really should reload this. Double Tap must be feeling the post-election guns and ammo blues too as they have been having fantastic sales too.
So how does it shoot? I was wondering how this would compare to my full-size Glock 20, and I honestly like the Glock 29 better (sunk cost fallacy maybe). But my results have been great. It is a great shooter. Despite the smaller size, recoil is fine. It has been 100% reliable which I expected.
I don't feel under-gunned with it all. I am in Montana and hike where black and grizzly bears roam (our griz do not get as large as the Alaskan ones). Never had an issue in 40 years--only a few close encounters which were exciting by amicably resolved. My .44 shoots a 320 grain bullet at roughly 1200 ft/s (1023 ft/lbs). The 29 shoots a 200 grain bullet at 1240 ft/s (683 ft/lbs). Both rounds can achieve more than enough penetration as long as I am accurate enough to put them where the penetration matters.
The Glock 29 is a real winner. If you want to get into the 10 mm, the Glocks are the most budget conscious way to do it.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 13, 2017 14:57:23 GMT
The XDs are great guns and will serve you well. I would have a hard time passing up a deal on a HC .45 too--especially if I had access to free ammo
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 11, 2017 21:05:40 GMT
"Although I suppose I could practice with Armscor first then just carry the Federal." This is pretty common in the States. Shoot the cheaper stuff for practice and carry the expensive hollow-points. However, once you select a self-defense load, bite the bullet and put a few boxes through your weapon to make sure it feeds reliably. And, once a year or so, go ahead a shoot off the ammo you've been carrying and replace it with fresh stuff. As to the choice of guns, there are so many, but you said in the OP that you had access to free .40 and .45. For me, that would be the determining factor. Access to free ammo means you will likely practice more and more practice will make you more proficient. For human defense calibers in semi-autos, 9 mm, .40 and .45 are all good with proper self-defense loads (the FBI is switching from .40 back to 9 mm). Since it is free, I personally would choose the .40. It's a great round--plenty of power and guns that fire it have good capacity. I like the .38 super and love the 10 mm, but for your needs, the 9, 40 or 45 seem like better options. Many .40 caliber handguns come in full-size, compact and sub-compact models so one caliber can be used for home defense, car carry and concealed carry. Sometimes the magazines are interchangeable. If you find something you like to shoot and shoot well, go with it. For defense in your home, you may want to consider a shotgun as someone else suggested. Double 00 buck is a fantastic self-defense load in close confines. It also is less likely to penetrate walls (however it still can!). Can you get a small closet safe to store it in? Drill in your home, memorize what is behind every wall. I hope that knowledge never has to be used. Best wishes and stay safe.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 8, 2017 20:08:28 GMT
Something pretty in the works! My very own recreation of Bronn's sword! Very cool looking. I really like the pommel.
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seth
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Post by seth on Sept 7, 2017 21:16:32 GMT
A very cool sword. I like the blackened cross guard and pommel contrasted with the brown grip Aikidoka.
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