Y.I.S.

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Joseph

On the subject of wasters, I am doing a 3 week stint at a Ren. Faire in Michigan, and they just recruited a half a dozen new members from a local disbanded group. After watching the "competitive" theatrical fighting, (net result, one busted lip, one head split open and one swollen wrist), I pointed out how unnecessary the degree of force was. Handing one of them a wooden waster, I proceeded to show them how you can counter-cut instead of parry, lock the person and ground him, and disarm them in your first parry. (Thanks Bob Charron and John Clements!) If you attack a real swordsman (not that I am one, by any means) with mere aggression and power, you'll be dead in about 5 seconds. Better to learn properly to start, and keep theatrical (Starfires) for their intended purpose as props.

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I have a waster on order with Purpleheart Armoury already. The Christian Fletcher sword that I have been looking at is the TL-1506 15th Century Longsword. As a shrpened weapon, I am also considering Angus Trim's 15th Century Riding Sword.
I would appreciate your opinion on those blades.

Thanks,

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Joseph

There are a number of makers available in a reasonable pricepoint. ($175 to $500)

Del Tin - Italy
BTW: By export law, they cannot sharpen them. Hence someone like Christian Fletcher or Art Elwell could rework them and turn them into a sharp.

Lutel - Czechoslovakia
Relatively unknown. As good (or perhaps better) steel stock. Exchange price excellent. Order system poor in that they don't accept CC's and they don't speak English. Have good success so far. I believe Art (A Work of Art) was importing some so he may even have some in stock if this is true.

And then you have better domestic sources for higher priced blades. Arms&Armor, TinkerBlades, Angus Trim (all sharps I think), etc.

FvH

It even helped to push me to do a project I have had on hold for some time, a carved period jousting lance.

Thank you,

[ 07-24-2001: Message edited by: Seigneur de Leon ]

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Speaking of sources for accurately designed, well-made but not completely custom weaponry, does Arm Art make bastard swords, too? All I've found on their site is one-handed "arming swords", though I hear their steel is less likely to nick than some (see above).

quote:

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and my 12 year old Del Tin didn't. I have heard, though, that Del Tin is using somewhat softer steel now....is this fact?

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Chef and I think the Lutel and particularly Armart stuff is much much much better than a Starfire. (I have one that I've pounded hard.)

If a good longsword is what you're after, you can't beat Lutel's price for what you get with a scabbard included (scabbard quality varies and the buckles are wrong authenticity wise). If a custom is what you are after, Lutel with customize a stock item, Pavel at Armart will work with you to make a custom. But it's more $$ and longer wait.

If you happen to be at Higgins this month either tomorrow or on one of the Sat's, let me know and I'll bring both Lutel and Armart for you to see. I know that Pavel has refrained from doing longswords due to higher shipping but he is negotiable and speaks English fluently. Lutel's biggest drawback is that their English is very very broken. If you can, translate to German or offer both in the same email. It has worked well for me.

For other's curious on Armart, here is a review on SFI I gave on my custom 15thC piece.
http://swordforum.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=reviews&Number=62616&page=1&view=collapsed&sb=5&part=

It's too bad because I think the quality is way better than any other sword I've seen around here. But then again, I don't know what Armart has in stock.
Or it may be another Pavel...
I don't know, I'm not familiar with Armart.

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Prices somewhat higher than the czech stuff, but most of them speak fluent english and the UK stuff is explicitly intended for steel-on-steel combat, which some of the czech stuff isn't.

On the downside, not many of the UK swordmakers have decent websites - the UK hobby assumes that everybody will meet everybody else every few months (either at the blackbird leys markets or one of the big battles), and can therefore choose swords based on what other people have got/recommend/etc.

If you're interested in going down that route, let me know and I can try to provide a few ideas of the best person to call, likely price etc.

So: the Lutel-Blades are pretty and cheap, suitable for practice and fighting when you are careful, but they are no working horses that survive serious hard treatment

Greetings

William

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Originally posted by jcesarelli:
I have a custom sword from Starfire that I use to practice with. I would like to replace it with a more accurate weapon, blunted. Most Swordsmiths sell their weapons sharpened. Does anyone have a recommendation for a blunted practice weapon that is truer to the weight and feel of a period piece?

Y.I.S.

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i would say the next move from a starfire would be a paul chin practical sword. its cheap, relayable and and pretty nice looking. now, its no del tin or lutel, those are the way to go for a period piece etc. but for cheap, non edged beater sword, i'd get one (oh wait i do hehehe)

check out http://www.necrobones.com/armory ask him for prices and pictures (cause i dont think there on his site yet) i got my knightly and viking for 80 each

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