The Armour Archive

Hi all!

Can anyone suggest a good starter sword for rebated steel combat? Im interested in something thats appropriate for the Liechtenauer school, and i was thinking that the Hanwei practical hand and a half sword might work. Does anyone have any experience with Hanwei weapons, or can anyone suggest another sword that would be more appropriate?

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Otto von Aachen
Kingdom of the Outlands, Canton of Hawks Hollow

I like fighting with one handed swords. I fight mostly with a viking style sword but am looking at a norman one that I like. Sword preference is up to the wielder. I like light fast easily controlled swords other may prefer something heavier.

Xander

Xander, thanks for the reply. I know that swords are a matter of personal preference in terms of weight, style, etc. My real concern is that this will be the first blade i've purchased for rebated steel combat, and i want to make sure i dont either A) buy a piece of junk, or B) buy a sword thats not going to be suitable for practicing German longsword techniques. I know Del Tin is supposed to be reputable, and i've heard a few things about Hanwei, but i'd prefer to get some advice from people who have actually used the blades and can tell me which are good and which to avoid.

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Otto von Aachen
Kingdom of the Outlands, Canton of Hawks Hollow

I'm very pleased with the quality and toughness of my Lutel sword. They have fairly thick rebated edges but also have a very good distal taper which gives the proper balance and feel. I've had mine for about a year and a half and have really used it hard in both armoured and unarmoured sparring and training and it is holding up very well. The only thing I don't like is that they really only have two blades available, both with long, deep fullers. I would really prefer a flattened diamond cross section for added stiffness. The Del Tins are also very good although they have been plauged by hilt problems. Lutel website: www.lutel.cz

Matt Anderson
ARMA Virginia Beach

[This message has been edited by Matt Anderson (edited 04-13-2003).]

Ask the kind of steel used, EN45 is what is used on most combat swords as it holds its edge, its a type of high carbon spring steel (Not sure what the American name for it is). Also another metal I have heard that is supposedly great is an alloy of Chrome, Nickel and Molybdenum.

Ask about the tang is it full tang or not (ie does the blade of the sword go right through to the pommel or is it joined with another peice half way?) half tangs sometimes come loose and rattle or fall off completly.

Del Tin produce high quality swords but you are likely to pay for that quality as a first sword I would not recomend it, unless you have the money, time to wait on it and are sure steel is for you.

Hanwei swords are expensive as well, I have little knowledge on them so can't pass judgment.

My adive is to borrow some swords to train with off people in your group until you find what you really want.

I have fought with swords from paul binns who is a very well respected weapon smith in the U.K. a lot of groups order from him. He mostly does swords for the reenactor but they are high quality.

also http://www.castlearmoury.net they do reenactors swords at a low price but high quality.

Xander

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Edmund Greyfox:
<B>Hi all!

Can anyone suggest a good starter sword for rebated steel combat? </B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I use an Atar sword dulled down a bit, but its a single handed sword.

Juliana

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by FrauHirsch:
<B> I use an Atar sword dulled down a bit, but its a single handed sword.
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Heck of a use for an Atar!

Anyway, Lutels, Del Tins, and Hanweis are all good bets.

http://www.A-Work-of-Art.net/ -Art Elwell's place, he's an importer of the Lutels (located in Czechoslovakia). He charges a markup for shipping, handling and services -IIRC, I calculated that the price he charges is 142% of Lutel's (making Lutel prices very comperable to Del Tins). Look closely -if you don't speak Czech, it very well may be worth it. (He also sells Del Tins -limeted selection)

http://albionarmorers.com/ -Albion is probably the biggest and easiest-to-deal-with importer of Del Tins. As far as I know, they carry the entire line, along with their own -highly acclaimed- in-house swords.

As for Hanwei, I'm sorry, I don't have any appropriate links, but IIRC, Templar Bob gave their Practical (rebated) line an excelent review.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I've looked at the Lutel blades, and i really like them a lot. Having the scabbard and belt included is a really big selling point with me. If i stick to ordering a specific stock number and dont want any modifications, do you think the lack of my ability to speak Czech will be a huge issue?

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Otto von Aachen
Kingdom of the Outlands, Canton of Hawks Hollow

Not really just post your address stock order number and ask when the need the money. Most Czech companies speak a small ammount of English you should be able to get by, just don't move house until you get your sword!!!

Xander

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Destichado:
<B> Heck of a use for an Atar!
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Heck, he guarantees them as long as he lives as combat usable.

Its sweet.

Juliana

I like Lutel but I just handled one of the blades from http://www.therionarms.com and I liked them better.

Used a Lutel this weekend at MTT it worked vary well IMHO.

Flonzy

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Cheap garb is as bad as plastic armor.
http://home.armourarchive.org/members/flonzy

[This message has been edited by flonzy (edited 04-14-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">I like Lutel but I just handled one of the blades from http://www.therionarms.com and I liked them better.</font>

Thanks for the good word, Flonzy!


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Hal Siegel - TherionArms
http://www.therionarms.com

Im a fan Of Lutel swords. BUT Ive never sparred with it. I just like them becuase thier design allows you to modify it fairly easy with different hilts and theyre easy to repair.

although a square tang would keep the pommel from rotating and lutel doesnt have anyhting in thier design that keeps the pommel in place.


( if any other sword manufacture does have an easy-to-disassemble sword hilt and someohting that keeps the pommel in place let me know)

Samuel

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Samuel:
although a square tang would keep the pommel from rotating and lutel doesnt have anyhting in thier design that keeps the pommel in place.</font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The lutel I was using had a problem with the pommel being crooked.

Therion I am going to be ordering one of those swords in the near future, I really liked the one I handled this weekend.


Flonzy

The hand and a half from Hanwei is functional ie sharp. The practical knightly and viking work well for the price and you are not investing hundreds of dollars. All three come with scabbards.

Sir Samuel,

You can special order an Angus Trim with a rebated blade, and his hilts don't move around. If they get loose, just tighten the pommel nut -it's a slick design.
Christian Fletcher offers an upgraded, low-profile, hex key pommel nut, if you don't like the standard one.

Mt rebated falchion from armourclass is first rate, i highly reccomend them

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Samuel:
<B>Im a fan Of Lutel swords. BUT Ive never sparred with it. I just like them becuase thier design allows you to modify it fairly easy with different hilts and theyre easy to repair.

although a square tang would keep the pommel from rotating and lutel doesnt have anyhting in thier design that keeps the pommel in place.


( if any other sword manufacture does have an easy-to-disassemble sword hilt and someohting that keeps the pommel in place let me know)

Samuel</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was concerned about the pommel on the Lutels at first, it's a screw-on pommel, not peened at all. However, after about 18 months of hard use, mine has not loosened a bit. I have heard good things about the Czech made swords on Therion's site (although I've not handles any) they are apparently very sturdy and well made, but the longswords are a little short for my taste.