Another I've been doing ALOT of research on in the less mass produced swords is Lutel. It's true you get what you pay for. Another is a person from Sweden but you pay $1500 plus and its a sharp to get the right weight and balance. As soon as you ask for a blund, you're adding 10% weight and throwing the center of balance forward.

From a volume produced sword, I'm becoming more and more impressed with Lutel. I've been looking hard at their steel data (raw steel) and their designs versus historical models. They build a sword on demand, not in volume and everything looks right. From a practice blade, you can't go wrong with the price and they WILL build custom swords even though they are machine ground.

We have been working with Allan Clark in Scotland. He produced two excellent, and I mean excellent basket hilted swords for Bob and my Dad's 1745 Highland kit. Both back and broad swords are exquisite in detailing and craftsmanship and based on extant examples (can be found in the book SWORD AND THE SORROWS). Bob has already been talking to him about a commission for a Medieval blade.

Since then, I've been promised delivery many times, including a "Next Friday" back in September.

Well, Del Tins are production swords, and for what they are they are some of the best bargains for the money. I like Arms and Armours product, but I don't like their long waiting list, slow response, and they are on the pricey side for production line swords. Arguably they are the best production line swords in regular production out there, they do look very good - they capture the look better than Del Tin.

Allan Clark of Armour class is definately on the top of my fav list. He is a dedicated bladed weapon manufacturer, his product is Superb (balance, weight, temper, appearance - list goes on), he can pretty much make any sword you like , and it will closely parallel it's historical example. He has a long list - he is good about communicating, his turn around time for the length of his waiting list is good, and his swords handle like 'Tinkers' vaunted blades while looking like historical pieces rather than medievalesque.

He is most famous for 17th & 18th c. baskethilts, but can and will make anything. I have handled a fair number of historical swords of the 18th & 19th c (and one or two real medieval blades), and his work is closest to the money that I have seen (details like sharkskin grips bound with wire, detailed filework to hilts, he can do precious metal inlay, engraving, etching - just name it). He isn't cheap - a baskethilt runs £450, and I have a quote on an elegant 15th c. bastard sword from him at around $375. He really does wonderful work, and I will be using him in the future for bladed weapon projects.

Jeff Hedgecock is a fantastic bladesmith - I own a stunning ballock knife with silver mounts & matching byknife & pricker made by him. From the photos in his portfolio, his swords would seem to be just as good - they LOOK proper from the photos. I will at some point commission a sword from Jeff. On the bad side is his waiting list, but I have never been unhappy with Jeffs work, and I can be hyper-critical about what I buy (and I am never entirely happy with my portrayal & gear).

I hear Peter "Cernnunos" Johnson is to European custom swords what MacPherson is to harness (and Jeff too - a deserving plug to a less famous but equally tallented armourer). That is the fellow Fredrich is talking avbout who's prices start at $1500 for a blade. From the detail photos I have chanced across of his work, I would say it is a deserved reputation - they look like the real thing. His scabbards would seem to match. From a fellow student of historical swordsmanship who's opinion I highly respect, there is no one to equal this fellow at reproducing Medieval European swords.

I have it from several sources that if you are looking for a stage fencing blade, there are several 'Bohemian' manufacturers that will fill the bill with a sturdy sword with a solid tang (not welded) that have a medieval look - although not exacting copies of existing blades. Chief amongst them is Lutel - they come in at about $150 and will take a beating, and looks-wise are worlds above Starfire. They have a 1 year guarentee and he will do maintenance on them if you buy one from him.

I hear Pavel Moc makes a sword that performs like a Del Tin, with more proper looks, at around $250 US. Good luck getting him to respond to you though.

These last two are more production sword manufacturers though - sounds from your specifications like you need to contact either Peter Johnson (save your shekels !) or Allan Clark, Siegneur de Leon ! If you go to Allan, tell him I sent you.

I'm still putting all the info together. IE steel hardness, carbon content, sulfur content (makes it brittle - IE why the Titanic steel shattered), etc. Not quite done but, from an engineering standpoint on steel, Lutel is definately using the right product. Looks closer to the older Krupp55 steel that Del Tin used to use but with better flex (structure) of some of the newer steels.

The english to german to czech translations and back have been interesting. For the price, I think they're worth a hard look especially for practice blades. AND you can order it customized. I still have my hopes to get a blade from Johnson (I thought it was Johanson?) someday but that would be a sharp.

http://www.algonet.se/~enda/hand_eng.htm

My other question is about Armart/Pavel Newmann: their website doesn't include any bastard swords, though they say they'll customize. Has anybody got a hand-and-a-half from them, and what did it cost? I know the quality is excellent, but I wonder if A&A in the US is comparable in price ($415 to $525, I think)

One more possibility -- don't laugh, I'm just asking, especially you theater people -- what about the blades from "Amfence"? Do they actually stand up to edge-to-edge sparring, and how is their balance and vibration factor? Are they just a sheet of steel, or are they actually shaped with a distal taper toward the point?

[ 01-28-2002: Message edited by: Callum Forbes ]

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URL=http://www.jousting.co.nz

Angus makes an exceptional preformance sword by all accounts. That said, his pieces look very modern and machined (which they are). He bases them on historical designs, but they sacrifice historic detail for preformance . Also, he makes sharps strictly - no unsharpened sharps (which is what I prefer & use), and no blunts as used in the European reenactment community.

They are heavily used by HWMA practitioners for cutting practice. One problem I have with them is that in some cases he has tweaked the designs to preform better than their historic counterpart. Since I am interested in historic blades, and I seek a sword with historic detail for presentation purposes, they don't suit my needs. They do tend to 'sing' in the hand, and are supurbly balanced.

Looking at the LOR swords, and the details like the by-knifes that all the 'hero' swords have, I'd say Peter Lyons can make you a very good looking historic sword. I hear they are rugged as well. As to balance, I can't say, as I've never handled one. Suffice it to say that I was impressed enough that I would someday like to commission a blade from him.

Hope this helps.

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URL=http://www.jousting.co.nz

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Purpleheart, run by Christian Darce makes some of the best wasters around

www.woodenswords.com

I've had mine for three years with no problems yet, and I've only seen one broken - and it was recieving a tremendous ammount of abuse.

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quote:

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Originally posted by chef de chambre:
Hi
I have it from several sources that if you are looking for a stage fencing blade, there are several 'Bohemian' manufacturers that will fill the bill with a sturdy sword with a solid tang (not welded) that have a medieval look - although not exacting copies of existing blades. Chief amongst them is Lutel - they come in at about $150 and will take a beating, and looks-wise are worlds above Starfire. They have a 1 year guarentee and he will do maintenance on them if you buy one from him.

I hear Pavel Moc makes a sword that performs like a Del Tin, with more proper looks, at around $250 US. Good luck getting him to respond to you though.

These last two are more production sword manufacturers though - sounds from your specifications like you need to contact either Peter Johnson (save your shekels !) or Allan Clark, Siegneur de Leon ! If you go to Allan, tell him I sent you.

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About the Czechs:
Some of them make nice stuff, I will try to grade them.

Pavel Moc: Pavel is a nice man, he makes nice fencing blades. they do perform similar to Deltins, though my feeling is that the edge holds up a little better. These blades are not for the hard edge-to-edge choreographed hack and slash fights, but for fencing and practice they will do nicely. His swords are well made, flexible and nice. A friend of mine is the German main distributor for these, he always has some blades on hand, I can get them for you at the same price here in Germany (around 250$ depending on type) that you pay directly, and my buddy usually does not have the problems in getting him to respond that you may have as a privat customer. One of my bastards is from Pavel, I am very happy with it.

Lutel: Nice looking swords, balance-wise not as nice as the Moc. nice, decent looknig leather scabbards. Beware, Lutel has jerked up his prices a lot since I got to know him 7 years ago (a bastard with sheath and belt was 140$ at that time). I do not think you will get a blade from him under 200-220 US$. There are also a lot of copies floating around that are Lutel lookalikes, so beware. I own a dagger by Lutel. My Lutel one-hander broke after 2 years of heavy use.

Jiri Krondak: I do not think he has been mentioned here yet. He makes the toughest, still decent looking weapons that I know. if a Moc is not tough enough for you, ask Jiri. His blades are a wee cheaper than Pavel Moc's. I own a Katzbalger and two simple practice one-handers from him, and they are really durable.

Tomas Marek: My main supplier. Virtually my entire two-hander collection was made by him. He will make a Flamberge style two hander for around 300$, very nice and stable. The blades look very decent, and he is a reliable person to order from, though he will only deliver in person. But since I see him at events three times a year, no problem. He has never let me down with an order, and my very first sword was made by him. It has been in constant use since then, both in show and free fight. It is 8 years old and still going strong. In a pinch I can always drive down there and make an urgent pick-up myself.

These are not all the Czechs that I know, but the ones I can make statements about that I feel are reliable. I own swords from another 5 smiths, no problems, but either I am out of touch or do not even know how to contact him. I have pictures of all these things or can make them, so if you are intereted I can post them here or mail them to you.

Thanks

Another Czech Republic source for swords is "Arms and Armor Manufacture". In my never-ending quest to help raise the authenticity levels of US re-enactorship (I started out in the SCA twenty years ago - hi, Hugh!), I'm importing AaAM swords and armor.

I don't mean to come off as a commercial source who's popped into the board to advertise, it's just that this thread seemed an obvious place for me to first jump in.

Nice to meet y'all.

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Greetings

the last time I talked to Urs, whom made Arno's webpage, he said the backlog was quite sigificant. I go to know Arno when he had just strted selling commercially, he is a nice fellow and will work with the customer on any wishes. Not inexpensive though.

I now know what they mean when they wrote about a sword becoming 'live' in my hand.
http://albionarmorers.com/swords/johnsson/peter.htm

Not cheap, but someday, I will order from him.
-Chuck Davis

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-Chuck Davis