How historically accurate are these weapons?

[Mid Knight]

I am wondering how historically accurate several weapons are. (for medieval Europe)

Knight sword: http://www.trueswords.com/handandahalf- ... p-563.html

Dagger: http://www.trueswords.com/knights-dress ... p-885.html

Another dagger: http://www.trueswords.com/knights-dress ... p-875.html

Waster (training sword): http://www.trueswords.com/medieval-knig ... -3347.html

Another waster: http://www.a2armory.com/practiceswords/ ... l-wood.htm

Thank you very much to anyone who can provide any information and thanks for taking the time to read and reply!

-Dylan/Mid Knight

[Heir of Black Falcon]

I guess it depends what you are looking for. In general design they are ok. The problem is that they are Stainless Steel which is not good for anything but setting on a wall. Since most people buy swords and such for decoration it may or may not be a problem. The one dagger suffers a bit from medievalesque design but depends what you want.

Check out MRL or Cas Iberia for a look at some less expensive but realistic weapons. If you are just getting them as show pieces they work.

R

[ELMAS]

If you want more historycally-acurate stuff look here.

Yep, they are more expensive:

http://www.darksword-armory.com/swords.html

[draugaer]

just from their look, I'd say the knight's sword is quite acurate. The 2nd dagger looks pretty reasonable as well, though I always thought that medieval European daggers were wedge-shaped for breaking the links in chainmail. The first dagger is getting a bit too fantasy looking imo.

[Damien]

Define what you mean by 'historically accurate.' Are you wanting something that just -looks- accurate, or something that -is- accurate down to the last detail, or something in between?

Besides the wasters, none of those items are made with the proper methods and materials to qualify as accurate in any sense. So if you're looking for items made in the correct fashion with the correct materials, those aren't it.

If you're looking for items that simply resemble historical counterparts.. they're all right. More specifically:


Knight's Sword: Pure trash. That piece has been copied numerous times and has been floating around various cheap-o Internet sword sites for at LEAST a decade. However, it's still pure trash. It's unwieldy looking, with no refinement to its profile or geometry and the pommel is in no way historically accurate.


Dagger: Not accurate in appearance to 'medieval Europe.' But perhaps to Enlightenment-era Europe. It's a main-gauche in basic design, not a battlefield dagger, which would be simpler.


Another dagger: Pretty much a fantasy piece. Stylistically it's fairly close to how some medieval daggers would look, but far too froo-froo in hilt geometry.


Wasters: Can't really go wrong with a waster. Anything wooden and shaped like a sword is pretty much about as historically accurate as it gets when it comes to wasters.




If you want premium functional and correct medieval replica weaponry, I suggest www.albion-swords.com They are the premier makers of functional, historically accurate swords. Their Next Generation line is incredible. But if you're on a budget, I'd suggest trying their Maestro or Squire lines. Neither has anything as nice as Next Generation, but they're still quite nice and far more affordable.

Angus Trim (search around Google for 'ATrim') also makes excellent pieces that are historically accurate and functional. Although not quite as attractive as most Albion pieces, they're more affordable 'raw' than Albion pieces are.

If you're not on a budget, I'd suggest grabbing an ATrim and getting it customized to your specifications by Christian Fletcher (www.christianfletcher.com).

[Mid Knight]

Thanks for the replies! I am on a small budget unfortunately, but I will check out those sites. Thanks!

Edit: I am mainly concerned with the appearance but also the material.

Edit again: Since I don't have a job yet (I am getting an apple picking job in a few weeks but I'll only get about $1,000) and I spend most of my money on LEGO and have a few other things I am looking to buy as well I am on a low budget. What about these:

http://www.armorvenue.com/medieval-swor ... tle-sword/
http://www.armorvenue.com/medieval-swor ... val-sword/
http://www.armorvenue.com/medieval-swor ... ing-sword/
http://www.replicaswordshop.com/product_p/cash2046.htm
http://www.replicaswordshop.com/Hand_an ... asr078.htm
http://www.swordsofhonor.com/clmesw.html

Thanks a lot.

-Dylan

[Heir of Black Falcon]

The third one is just wrong in so many ways. The others are ok.

Here is Cas Iberia
http://www.casiberia.com/
http://www.casiberia.com/cat_european_arms.asp

MRL
http://www.museumreplicas.com/museumreplicas/

These are the two main entry market swords I know of. Generation Two has a few really nice 'battle ready' swords as well. Gen 2 was in part aided by the late Hank Reinhardt. Seem of better quality and finish than MRL and Cas swords but you do pay a bit more. Angus Trim, Albion, Arms and Armour are all great improvements, to the Cas Crowd. Albion in particular are nice. Once you have used on its hard to go out. I do have loads of Cas swords. Their tempers are hard and allow good cutting and parry/blocks. I find MRL swords to look decent for the most part but not put together to last the rigours of use. Most are based ona real historic sword of swords though. I find their blades very whippy and hard to cut with but I have not handled one in years and it supposedly has gotten better. Many of the places you linked to are reselling Cas and MRL swords.

Angus Trim
http://www.angustrimdirect.com/

Arms and Armour
http://www.armor.com/

Albion
http://www.albion-swords.com/

Good luck.

R

[Mid Knight]

Thanks. I am going to the Renaissance Festival this weekend and most likely Arms and Armor will be there because they were last year but their stuff is out of my price range unfortunately. I am still strongly considering this one: http://www.armorvenue.com/medieval-swor ... val-sword/ So any comments/advice specific to that sword? How accurate it is, specifically what years it was in use, etc? Also, I see a lot of daggers in the $30 price range, are any of them accurate?

[timber_wolf899]

Forgive the movice question, but why is stainless bad for swordmaking?

[Heir of Black Falcon]

TW,

Stainless is an alloy that adds a number of elements to avoid rusting. These elements are typically very hard. This is ok for making an edge but bad making the blade brittle. Think of a sword temper as a scale or spectrum. It is a mix between hardness and flex. You need the blade to remain somewhat flexible or everytime you landed a blow, blocked or parried you blade would shatter, you need hardness to be able to block, stab, cut and hold an edge. Stainless is very brittle. Your edge would shortly be chipped due to hardness if it did not shatter before this. Stainless also is typically heavier. This is very general as Stainless, tool steel and carbon steel, etc. all have varying degrees but generally this is the issue.

Also they just look wrong.

I hope that generally helped.

Mid Knight,

The links are dead for me? Not sure which one is was you are refering.

R

[timber_wolf899]

Thanks. it makes sense, and you saved me a metalurgy discussion with my dad. haha

<he's spent 40 years in steel production, so mention steel and you're in for it!>

[Mid Knight]

I am talking about this one: http://www.armorvenue.com/medieval-swor ... val-sword/

How accurate is it, appearance wise and material wise?

And what type of steel is most accurate?

Thanks.


-Dylan/MK

[Heir of Black Falcon]

Mid Knight. It is ok but it looks to be a rather late but somewhat generic design.

R

[sidewinderl]

TW,

Stainless is an alloy that adds a number of elements to avoid rusting. These elements are typically very hard. This is ok for making an edge but bad making the blade brittle. Think of a sword temper as a scale or spectrum. It is a mix between hardness and flex. You need the blade to remain somewhat flexible or everytime you landed a blow, blocked or parried you blade would shatter, you need hardness to be able to block, stab, cut and hold an edge. Stainless is very brittle. Your edge would shortly be chipped due to hardness if it did not shatter before this. Stainless also is typically heavier. This is very general as Stainless, tool steel and carbon steel, etc. all have varying degrees but generally this is the issue.

Also they just look wrong.

I hope that generally helped.

Mid Knight,

The links are dead for me? Not sure which one is was you are refering.

R

In summation, this is what happens when you buy a cheapo stainless sword and try to use it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dHwukEtNZw

[Heir of Black Falcon]

Ah... Yeah I downloaded that video back in 2001 or 2002. I just cannot believe how nuts those QVC guys can be..... Maybe next time he will ask for a none stainless sword. So yep.... stainless equals brittle.

R