Himalayan Imports has a variety of very real, sturdy swords for under $200. Best deals are found on www.BladeForums.com, the HI section.
John
John
Is it bad to want a sword?
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Cromlech
Member
Just Remember that Cold Steel swords are generally heavier than the originals, and built as cutters. This is good if you like chopping stuff (just get a damn axe/Kukri/Machete), but if you want a decent-handling sword, you should get something in the vein of an Angus Trim or Albion sword.
A real two handed sword (Claymore etc) should weight 3-4lbs. That Cold Steel 'Great Sword' may be impressive, but it is heavier than it needs to be.
An authentic medieval European sword should balance well, and handle nicely, and not have to be heaved about like in the movies.
A real two handed sword (Claymore etc) should weight 3-4lbs. That Cold Steel 'Great Sword' may be impressive, but it is heavier than it needs to be.
An authentic medieval European sword should balance well, and handle nicely, and not have to be heaved about like in the movies.
EricTheBarbarian
Member
The flea market knockoffs are probably not your best bet. I have a flea market sword I got for 6 dollars and it was cool until i got tired of tossing cantaloupes into the air and cutting them in half. If you havent done that I suggest you try it. The other medevil weapons and stuff they sell at the flea market are junk. I thought it would be cool to have one of those maces that you swing around. I tried smashing a few beer bottles with it and it completely destroyed the mace. The flea market weapons seem to be more for hanging on the wall while you play Warcraft on a computer in your parents basement. You know, they dont make those medevil weapons for battle from Braveheart like they used to.
Cromlech
Member
My Medieval Mace was tested upon a crappy old motorbike exhaust system (the back box), made of 4mm thick steel. The flanged points tore straight through it as if it were a Coke can.
Sniper X
Member
All cold steel is fine quality, I have a few of their knives, and one of the Cold Steel Katanas, the Practical Katana. It is a fine quality blade and Saya. I also have a very very expensive "real" japanise Katana made by a master...but that is another story all together! Yes, it is worht more than most NEW high end cars...but it was givin to me. If you are lookinf for a Katana, you can find great quality ones for $250.00~ over a million dollars. The $250.00 ones are great for pretty much anything you would want to do with them, and they can be quite beautiful.
Attachments
Nah. You never know when those watermellons are going to get unruly.
I have one 'real' sword - a Paul Chen. If I ever really had to I have confidence that I could use it as a weapon, but I have guns I reach for first. I have a couple of one-piece knockaround swords that would otherwise be machetes but they're sword-shaped. They do what I want them to do: Chopping branches, brush, and wood.
And the occasional watermellon.
I have one 'real' sword - a Paul Chen. If I ever really had to I have confidence that I could use it as a weapon, but I have guns I reach for first. I have a couple of one-piece knockaround swords that would otherwise be machetes but they're sword-shaped. They do what I want them to do: Chopping branches, brush, and wood.
And the occasional watermellon.
Sniper X
Member
No rouge watermelon is safe in my neck of the woods!
Cosmoline
Member
I'm starting training with a wooden gladuis in prep. for the real thing. At close range they're a lot more lethal than most handguns.
Sniper X
Member
Cosmo, is that anything like a Boken?
Don Gwinn
Moderator Emeritus
Kind of a rigged game, asking this bunch a question like that. What did you expect such a motley crew to say? 
Cosmoline
Member
I just ordered a hardwood practice gladuis from these guys:
http://www.woodenswords.com/WMA/gladius.htm
I haven't seen it yet, but in my searches they were the only ones who made a wooden practice gladius that could withstand some smacking. Most were really selling rudes made of plywood. The woodenswords model is supposedly made of hickory. We shall see.
I'm not sure what I'll get ultimately for a steel gladius. The generation2 versions seem to be respected. Other quality steel gladii are *WAY* too expensive.
http://www.woodenswords.com/WMA/gladius.htm
I haven't seen it yet, but in my searches they were the only ones who made a wooden practice gladius that could withstand some smacking. Most were really selling rudes made of plywood. The woodenswords model is supposedly made of hickory. We shall see.
I'm not sure what I'll get ultimately for a steel gladius. The generation2 versions seem to be respected. Other quality steel gladii are *WAY* too expensive.
carebear
Member
Cosmo,
angus trim has a "modern" gladius design in his "tactical sword".
Yeah, I know, tactical. But it comes in two blade lengths and looks very nice. Only $360.00
angus trim has a "modern" gladius design in his "tactical sword".
Yeah, I know, tactical. But it comes in two blade lengths and looks very nice. Only $360.00
carebear
Member
First off, I don't see anything about trying to design (verb) a modern anything in my post or on the Atrim site.
A "modern gladius design" means, to me anyway, a sword, of a design-type (noun) commonly called "gladius", made of modern materials and with modern methods. Just using fewer words.
Basically,a sword that basically looks (to my eye) and handles like (I assume) a gladius, but made of modern stuff.
Would you actually want a gladius made of the steel used for a common soldier's issue weapon (lowest bidder) of the era or a modern steel of uniform quality and modern manufacturing method, with modern QC?
Would you want the same wooden grip and dyes they used back then, or modern grip panels with easier demounting for cleaning / replacement / maintenance?
Modern does not equal shoddy ripoff nor trying to improve upon the nature (as opposed to the structure) of a thing.
A "modern gladius design" means, to me anyway, a sword, of a design-type (noun) commonly called "gladius", made of modern materials and with modern methods. Just using fewer words.
Basically,a sword that basically looks (to my eye) and handles like (I assume) a gladius, but made of modern stuff.
Would you actually want a gladius made of the steel used for a common soldier's issue weapon (lowest bidder) of the era or a modern steel of uniform quality and modern manufacturing method, with modern QC?
Would you want the same wooden grip and dyes they used back then, or modern grip panels with easier demounting for cleaning / replacement / maintenance?
Modern does not equal shoddy ripoff nor trying to improve upon the nature (as opposed to the structure) of a thing.
Cosmoline
Member
They look interesting. There appears to be both the Maintz and the Pompeii blade shapes. But his faq are lacking. Do you know what steel that is?
The big differences appear to be that there's a modern flat handle with significantly more gripping surface and the possibility for a second hand. The originals were one hand affairs for use with a shield, of course.
I see one major problem. The tactical Pompeii has a less pointy tip (I'm sure there's a technical term for that). The Pompeii was primarily for stabbing, so that's a problem. The "leaf" version that looks like an exaggerated Maintz style has a much sharper stabbing tip. I wonder what he was thinking there.
carebear
Member
That's on the home page anyway. You could email him I'm sure.
Cosmoline
Member
Thanks, that's what I suspected.
Here's what the Generation2 site says:
http://imperialweapons.com/swords/aboutGen2.html
Here's what the Generation2 site says:
http://imperialweapons.com/swords/aboutGen2.html
carebear
Member
So your take is what? positive or negative?
Cosmoline
Member
I haven't decided anything. I'm going to bash things with the wooden one awhile and then see.
Two friends of mine that are bladesmiths forged a pair of gladii. They used historically correct construction and then put them to the test. The swords each were able to pop hair and hack through chainmail. They hung a pig carcass for some final tests. A draw stroke with minimal pressure produced an 8 inch deep gash on the pig abdomen. To simulate the protection that might have been worn by one of the Germanic warriors they wrapped the pig in bull hide leather then a fur-out deer skin. The pig was then "attacked" and the pig was cut in half though all the layers of leather/hide with a single blow! They guys never sharpened the blades during any of their tests. With luck we'll all get to see it since there was a crew there "filming" the whole process from forge to pig parts for a pilot they're pitching to the History Channel on historic blades, their making and use.
I've handle the gladii they built and they're well balanced, comfortable and very lively for something that looks so heavy.
I've handle the gladii they built and they're well balanced, comfortable and very lively for something that looks so heavy.
I was looking at swords...
Over the past summer, I was looking at swords and the owner was going off about how much more brave it would be to defend one's self with a sword than like, "...them d@amned cowards who carry concealed pistols! H@ll, any d@maned fool can pull a trigger!"
There is an example of the opposite view. If you want one, buy one.
Doc2005
Over the past summer, I was looking at swords and the owner was going off about how much more brave it would be to defend one's self with a sword than like, "...them d@amned cowards who carry concealed pistols! H@ll, any d@maned fool can pull a trigger!"
There is an example of the opposite view. If you want one, buy one.
Doc2005
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