Fencing companies?

[Jim Charles]

Hey guys,

I was just wondering. Have any of you used swords (for training or practice purposes) from any fencing companies? I have not paid much attention to WMA in the past few years and am a bit out of touch. But it used to be some fencing companies handled longswords and such.
There used to be a company called American Fencing Supply that handled some stuff, and back in the day one company handled Oscar Kolombatovich's replicas.
The reason I am asking is that I came across an interesting Meyer style training sword here....
http://www.alcheminc.com/longhilts.html

I know some folks use Hanwei, MRL and those with deep pockets use Albion, but is anybody using stuff from fencing supply places anymore?

[Doug Marnick]

I have never handled their products personally so I cannot give an accurate review. I can see they advertise "safeflex" blades, which leads me to believe their swords might have that whippy-noodle effect we try to avoid, but that is only an assumption. Other forums may have accurate reviews but thanks for the suggestion. It's always good to see what is out there for training tools.

Doug Marnick
NYC

[Jaron Bernstein]

Unless you are doing the SCA thing (which has its own weapon guidelines), I would not get an Alchem. I handled them recently and they are rather whippy.

[Jonathan Hill]

This would depend on what blade you are interested in. I recently handled their dueling sabre blade which was one of the better dueling sabre blades I've handled. I’ve handled their rapier blades in the past and I personally like darkwood better. I have not heard anything positive on their longswords.

[Allen Johnson]

I've handled several of their rapiers, smallswords and baskethilts. The only one I'd consider buying is the smallsword. Even then the weight seemed a bit much.

[william_cain_iii]

Just a thing on Alchem, for clarity's sake.

They do sell safeflex blades, however not all of their weapons are so fitted. Take the reitschwert rapier:

http://www.alcheminc.com/reitschwert.html

You can get it fitted with a traditional practice blade or an SCA-approved (yeah, bleh) safeflex blade. Also, you can specify your blade's flex weights (both standard and max). Given that the Hanwei Practical 37" rapier isn't terribly noodly, and you can specify an alchem rapier's flex force to the same specs or even stiffer, there's a good chance you can get one without the noodling effect.

Just speaking on behalf of the science. Considering the reitschwert myself since the hanwei practicals are sold out out out.