Best wishes to everyone here. My previous account ( Roy Robinson Stewart ) can't be used as the email address was attached to a discontinued domain name, hence the new account.
I've been plodding away with some basic drills with sticks, a heavy mace, and some two handed chinese swords over the past year, and this week received my first real European longsword, the Angus Trim 1520. I can't put it down, it just feels amazing.
I've read many glowing reports of the qualities of well built and balanced longswords, nevertheless the reality is much more inspiring than I'd expected. I'm sure that this is due to the fact that the longsword was the result of a long evolutionary process, but also can't help feeling that there might be some genetically inherited affinity with this weapon type. Not only does it feel incredibly efficient, it also seems to inspire righteousness simply by holding it in the hands.
Well, on the note of "ochs", from what I've seen of it generally isn't the handle held around there, but it tapers downward slightly? Or do you mean it's just too high in general? Might be a bit too far back from what I've seen also.
Left ochs naturally rests a bit further forward than right ochs if you're right handed, and holding it too high will reduce your thrusting range and power a bit, but it's adjustable to a certain extent (within a few inches) based on your body mechanics. In general the center of the cross should sit a little bit above and forward of your eyes on the left side when used as a static guard (it will wind up higher from outward force if you're actively opposing an attack with it), and the cross should tilt outward a bit at the top as if you've just finished an unterhau from right to left. Similar position on the right, but more even with the eyes instead of out in front. On both sides it works best if the horizontal arm is fully parallel with the sword.
0==[>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Stacy Clifford Free-Scholar ARMA Houston, TX
The primary problem I see in the picture is the body turned almost sideways, as is seen in modern fensing. The man needs to square up with his adversary/target.
Last edited by Randall Pleasant on Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My main aim was to have the light falling on the blade in a certain way, to show the face as well as the blade, and to avoid moving. The photo was also taken from floor level at a 45 degree angle approximately
My life is like shaving with a razor sharp machete. It's a bit awkward, it stings every now and then, BUT everything said and done I'm happy with the results.
