Best sword manufacturers

[Shane Smith]

This summer, I had a chance to watch a Steel on Steel competition at the Ren Faire in Hebron, CT. 75% of the contestants were using this blade from Silvermane: Practice Hand and a Half Sword. For the money, $150, you can't go wrong. I own an unsharpened, older version of the blade and love it. The newer blades have thicker tangs. These swords were taking a beating in the competition and held up great. So, if you're looking for a 'working' blade, it's something to consider.

Disclaimer: No, I'm not a company shill for Silvermane.

I have one of those and the pommel is way too big for good handling during many techniques in my experience.

[Mars Healey]

I have one of those and the pommel is way too big for good handling during many techniques in my experience.

I agree. I prefere a ball-joint (round) pommel myself, since I tend to palm the pommel a lot. I was just putting that sword up for consideration in case someone was looking for an inexpensive, sturdy, knock-around sword.

Edit: Here's the exact same sword for $319. HA!

Bastard Sword

[Matt Easton]

I'd like to add Mark Vickers of St.George Armoury to the list ( http://www.stgeorgearmoury.co.uk/ ). His website is crap and doesn't do his work justice unfortunately. A lot of guys in my group have custom swords from him now - they're as good as Albions, are custom, and come in cheaper (for us in the UK anyway, as we have to pay through the nose to get Albions here).
Albion would be my second nomination, without getting into more expensive options (such as Patrick Barta, mmmmm).

Matt

[Randall Pleasant]

I'd like to add Mark Vickers of St.George Armoury to the list ( http://www.stgeorgearmoury.co.uk/ ). His website is crap and doesn't do his work justice unfortunately.

Matt

Great looking materials. Might we see you next August in a full suite of armour from Mr. Vickers?

I wouldn't say that his website is crap but there is enough red in those pages to overload even an ARMA member.

[Matt Easton]

Hi - my armour is being made by Kevin Legg of Plessis Armoury:
http://www.plessisarmouries.co.uk/

No way on earth you're getting me to a) bring it all the way to Houston, and b) wear it in Texas in August!

Matt

[Aaron Kavli]

Howdy.

Speaking of sword makers, does anyone have any experience with Windlass Steelcrafts? I'm looking at maybe getting one of their blunt swords for drill/sparring.

http://windlass.com

[Jake_Norwood]

Windlass, the main supplier to MRL, has made a few decent products on accident. Their weapons are usually somewhere between replicas and wall hangers. Not reccomended, but you could do a lot worse.

Jake

[Shane Smith]

Howdy.

Speaking of sword makers, does anyone have any experience with Windlass Steelcrafts? I'm looking at maybe getting one of their blunt swords for drill/sparring.

http://windlass.com

I have owned several. They tend to be whippy of blade and creaky of hilt but they are generally servicable. Until recently, I had never seen one break but my own MRL War SWord broke during counter drills as I intercepted an incoming cut. The sword made the cover and then the blasde just kept going...

I have handled several examples of their "Arbedo" hand and a half and they've all been fairly decent.

[s_taillebois]

As noted, MRL can be a bit variant on their qaulity. Blades seem fairly tough; although as noted byM. Smith, the weaks of the blades are a bit too springy. (wouldn't be that hard for them to fix, but they do seem to be fond of the blade bending marketing)
If you go MRL, before using it, tighten the pommels, quillions and such,as that seems to be their biggest issue. Sometimes even rust binding these parts, or epoxy, is needed.
That said, for the money, MRL can be functional. And depending on the wind, stars, and the flights of augery birds; one can get an MRL sword which does what it should. At thier best they hold their own agaisnt other makers, and their worst...an affordable return.
Have a Towton, have done so fairly rigorous cutting with it (keeping in mind that bastard's are as much a point weapon), with no real problems...except the weak of the blade should be stiffer...and whatever they plated the pommel with, has worn off.

[Jaron Bernstein]

I watched Jeff Gentry's Towton break off at the cross duringfairly mild test cutting.

[s_taillebois]

Well, a very good example of the variability of MRL's line. If they'd get their contractors to hold to better QC, it would be nice. At least more predictable concerning their reputation.
That said, metalwork is a complex trade. And whether it's a mass marketer like MRL or a custom or semi-custom maker, slight variables can cause trouble. Subtle variations in casting/forging (ie gas inclusion), tempering, and etc can play hob with the whole situation. Used to teach metals at the University, and at times finding out exactly where some variable had compromised a piece, was difficult. So am a little reluctant to pillory a sword maker unless they consistantly turn out complete junk. Then they bloody well deserve it...
That said, the period smiths must have been remarkable people. With the variable 'steels' of the period, and their technology (water trip hammers and such)...some of the extant pieces are simply remarkable. But they did have the guilds 'masterwork' and other standards to meet, and anyone with a royal warrant certainly had motivation. Also they had insight into subtleties that modern smiths are denied. Maybe not that bad of a loss, given that many of these subtleties would have been discovered as a result of killing people with swords, in the field use. And that, is something, no modern maker can claim to have...affectations aside, we obviously don't use these implements under the same conditions.

[JeffGentry]

Even though i snapped my Towton, I would still recomend that particular model.

For the money it was a decent replica.

Jeff