Good Sword Reviews for Western Martial Arts Swords

Sword Index offers good obective and practical reviews, advice and swords.
Tinker Pearce Bastard Sword Review on SwordIndex.com

HEMA Steel Sparring Helmets

http://westcoastarmoury.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=33_25&products_id=177

http://westcoastarmoury.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=33_25&products_id=6

http://botn.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/HMB-Rules-for-TOURNAMENT-CATEGORIES.pdf

Ewart Oakeshott The Man and his Legacy: Part IV

An article by Chad Arnow, Russ Ellis, Patrick Kelly, Nathan Robinson, and Sean A. Flynt Compiled and produced by Nathan Robinson http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_oakeshott4.html

Next Sword for my collection

Albion  Burgundian

Oakeshott Type XVIII

HEMA Equipment

http://www.swordsmanship.ca/buying-equipment/

Custom Oakeshott Type XVa Sword

This sword is a hand made custom ordered sword.

The colors for this particular custom sword are : Antique red Scabbard, Black Grip and Black Belt

Overall Length: 112.5cm

Type XVa Blade 1060. Hand Forged with a Temper of HRC 52 to 54

Blade Length:   88.6cm

Blade Width at Guard : 5cm , Grip Length: 18.25cm

Fittings : Hand made Mild steel 

Weight: Around 1.2kgs

This sword is Peened .

Bastard sword in SCA Combat

http://www.scabastardsword.com/

HEMA Practical Armor

Here is what I know about. I'm keen to hear from anyone who has experience with these items, or for you to add addtional items to this thread:

Windrose sparring helmet (stainless steel)
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index ... cts_id=668

Windrose Fiore sparring helmet (mild steel)
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index ... cts_id=561

As above, but in stainless steel
http://www.windrosearmoury.com/zc/index ... cts_id=641

That Guy's Products sparring masks (stainless steel)
http://www.thatguysproducts.com/masks.html

Darkwood Armory Longsword trainer helmet (stainless steel)
http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/index.php ... cts_id=314

Zen Warrior Armory rapier sparring helmet (stainless steel)
http://www.zenwarriorarmory.com/catalog ... egory%3D43

Steel Mastery Fencing helmet
http://steel-mastery.com/en/plate-armou ... ing-helmet

Custom Sword Smiths

Ben Potter is a creative sword smith who's passion for turns swords into individual works of art. He has two websites for custom swords:
Privateer Armory
Cedarlore Forge

Custom Sword Smiths with good reputation are:

Kevin Cashen, 
Michael "Tinker" Pearce, 
Al Massey, 
John Lundemo, (http://www.odinblades.com/)
Craig from Arms and Armor...

I'm probably missing a few here too.

The big question is what do you want it for, and how much are you ready to spend? For example, if you're looking for a WMA sword that can withstand a nuclear blast but still remain balanced, I'd suggest Jean-Philippe Henry of the Heimrick Armeor, where you can get a decent WMA sword for about $250-300. If you're looking for a historically accurate cutter, you're probably looking at around $1000 plus; a less expensive option may be to take a Gus Trim or Albion blade and have Christian Fletcher make a custom hilt for you, but you're still looking at upwards of $800 and up once it's all said and done.

For medieval/fantasy style swords - Brendon Olszowy from Fable Blades is easily one of the most skilled and yet affordably priced modern day sword artisans around who takes pride in his work.

Custom Handforged Oakeshott Type XVIIIb

Hand forged by Cedarlore Forge

This beautiful custom sword is called DeargAbhainn-Cu'ra.

DeargAbhainn-Cu'ra, literally meaning "the Red River Guardian" in ancient Gaelic, was forged & crafted by David DelaGardelle out of 1075 high carbon steel, figured bloodwood, and mild steel hilt components.

The sword was commissioned by its owner to represent the rich cultural heritage of his family lineage, while looking forward to the future as a celebration of 25 years of marriage to his wife. The owners last name being "Rushing" literally refers to Rush reeds aka "cat tails" that grow by ponds or streams. So the grip is carved with swirling water motif's and reeds sprouting up amongst them.
The scabbard includes knotwork patterns based off of the owner and his wife's wedding bands, and in between show the intertwining sun and moon.

Finally last on the scabbard you see the ever growing Tree of truth & life or the family tree.

In the blade you read two French sayings engraved on either side.
One side reads "One God" and the other reads: "One Faith"

A sword meant to be historically grounded in its execution but completely unique and organic in its aesthetic feel.


Stats:
Steel: 1075
Guard & Pommel: Mild Steel
Wood: Bloodwood

OAL: exactly 4 feet.
Blade Length: 36 1/2"
Blade Width: 1 1/2"
Grip Length: 9 1/2"
Guard width: 8 1/2"

Cinquedea

The cinquedea is a civilian short sword (or long dagger). It was developed in northern Italy and enjoyed a period of popularity during the Italian renaissance of the 15th and early 16th centuries.

The name means "five fingers", and it describes the width of the blade next to the guard. The blade was heavy, about 45 cm (18 in) in length, and tapered to a somewhat rounded point. The grip was simple with a small pommel, and the guard was curved with the concave side toward the point. There were typically several fullers along the wider sides of the blade to lighten the weapon. The wide blade was useful for decorative etching. This weapon was varied in size, being anywhere in size from 10" to 28". It was often carried in place of a knife or larger sword.

The cinquedea was used primarily as a thrusting weapon. It was carried horizontally next to the buttocks so that it could be drawn laterally from the back.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinquedea

Library and Ref

http://www.sawma.org.uk/Library.html

Cedarlore Forge

http://cedarloreforge.com/

Chineese Broadsword

Cold Steel Chineese Broadsword

HEMA Sparring Armour

http://imgur.com/gallery/3j1jA

http://revival.us/kevlar-reinforcedlightsparringgloves.aspx

Practical HEMA Armour
http://www.trainingsschwerter.com/

SPES _Heavy Hema Glove

http://www.trainingsschwerter.com/en/Training/Gloves/SPES-Heavy-Hema-Glove.html

Saber

1860 Light Cavalry Union Saber

http://www.museumreplicas.com/p-1273-1860-light-cavalry-union-saber.aspx

• Overall: 41"
• Blade: 35" long, 1-1/8" wide, 3/16" thick
• Wt: 2 lbs/5 oz
• Scabbard Wt: 1 lb/10 oz

Confederate Cavalry Officer's Saber

http://www.museumreplicas.com/p-1274-confederate-cavalry-officers-saber.aspx

fully tempered of 1095 high carbon steel

• Overall: 38"
• Blade: 32"

Sword Name Suggestions

Generic
Gemmender
Destiny Ender
Destiny Bane
Bane of Destiny
Sparkbreath
Flamebender
Sparkspawn
Angermanager
Therapy
Angerazor
Steelbane
Steelrazor
Steel Screamer
Angersteel
Neverbreather
Breathbane
Breathsbane
Breathsend
Breathender
Fearsmith
Fearsmitter
Fearspawn
Fatebane
Fate Blighter
Awecutter
Mortivate
Hopesteeler
Red Razor
Redclaw
Redcuter
Psynix
D'Red
Dred
Redarc
Redwrecker
Redrain
Redreaver
Thirsty Red
Red Ripper
Red Razor
Red Bastard Sword


Mythological

Angelical
Azazel
Memaniel
Goriel

Daemononical
Shemyorza
Belialor
Lucifuger
Sator

Reading List

European Sword History
http://www.vikingsword.com/index1.html

Sword Index

Japanese Sword Index
http://nihontoclub.com/swords?page=1

Viking Sword & European Sword Index
http://www.vikingsword.com/vmframe.html

European Sword Index
http://www.swordindex.com/

Hanwei Austrian Albreicht Hand and a Half

length: 45"
blade: 35"

blade width: 2" at base
blade width: 7/8" at 2" from point
balance point: 5 1/2" from guard
grip and pommel: 10"
guard: 7 1/4"
weight: 3 lb 1.6 oz

This longsword (commonly called a hand-and-a-half or bastard sword) is replicated from an original attributed to King Albrecht II of Austria. Classically simple in design with a flattened diamond-section blade and cruciform hilt, the original dates from the early part of the 15th century. The "Lion Rampant" emblem of the Habsburg dynasty is engraved in the pommel. The forged blade of the Paul Chen/Hanwei Austrian longsword is fully tempered high-carbon steel with the legendary Passau, Germany "running wolf" swordsmith's mark reproduced in the fullers. The grip is leather over cord-wrapped wood, and the scabbard is leather over wood with steel fittings. Sharp, well balanced blade. An extremely nice, functional longsword.

Review