Research and Discussion Forums

I know Albion Swords are the accepted standard here, but what is the forums opinion of Valiant Armory? I'm looking at picking up one of their 'Knights Templar' swords but having no first hand knowledge I'm looking for others opinions who may.

Thanks in advance...

So I've recently moved to Ft. Riley, KS and once again am looking for a training group that might be within reasonable distance... I know there used to be a group in Topeka but I can't acertain if it is still there. So, does anyone know if there are any groups around?

Thanks.

I suppose this is more a curiosity than anything... But I've seen photos and videos of people training in plate armor, but does anyone train in strictly maile as was common in Europe prior to the mid-late 14th Century? What has your experience with it? How would you compare it to fighting unarmored ...

So I just read this article and as I've never seen any such 'sport' in action I'm curious, by what rules are they governing their 'matches'? I'm not asking because I have any interest in partaking of such an activity, but I'd like to know where my disagreement with such a sport would lay. As a point...

Thanks. I'd never even heard of those companies. I'll have to take a look...

What specifically is wrong with the Hanwei swords? And as for Windlass not being sharp, can't you just sharpen them?

Thanks all... I've got it on order, so we shall see.

I know that Albion swords are considered the best and most accurate; but what would fall below them that would still be considered battle ready quality. Where would Hanwei, Windlass Steelcraft, and others fall? Not necissarily in perfect historical accuracy, but in terms of quality... Just curious f...

I see... Well I might still pick it up. It looks interesting and can't be any worse than some of the books out there.

That must be where the idea of a pan-european style that is stressed in the description comes from...

And former? Why did he leave?

Just looking for some opinions and thoughts from anyone who has had a chance to review this book... Is it worth picking up? Thanks in advance.

And I just saw the 'Sword and large shield combat' thread...

I would imagine some work has already been done in this area, at least by a few interested individuals... I understand that surviving material is likely scarce at best, but theoretically how different would individual sword and shield combat of the ancient Greeks and Romans differ from that found in...

Pankration looks like modern MMA because they feature punches,kicks, grappling and throwing techniques. it excel both in standing and ground fighting... (I know I'm coming late to the conversation but...) It is impossible to know this. All we know of ancient Pankration is that it incorporated grapp...

I'm not sure what I really thought, but somehow I assumed that the two schools of the longsword were fairly similar with slight differences. However the more I read the more the more it appears to me that there are some serious differences between the two schools. Now to be honest alot of this is co...

I would suspect that much everything we understand or think we understand is, or will be outdated at some point... I'm in south Georgia and hope to start training soon with a group out of Charleston, SC... At least once or twice a month. The group looks to focus on the Italian Fiore dei Liberi schoo...