Wooden Waster Selection

[Jonathan Newhall]

Apparently the waster I ordered from New Stirling Arms was damaged while shipping (grr...) and I ended up with this one instead as a "replacement" - http://www.newstirlingarms.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=25

Now I ordered the normal German two-hander seen here http://www.newstirlingarms.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=8. I have no experience comparing the two models... what would you make of the difference? Which is more comparable to a sword I would probably run into while purchasing my steel blunt or sharp? Which is more realistically weighted?

I'm asking this because I have no experience with the model I actually ordered, and am wondering if this replacement is adequate by ARMA's standards. The weighting seems alright, but ... the pommel is bloody huge! And it's a tad short...

So, ARMA, should I be satisfied with this waster? Or should I go yell at New Stirling to ship me the product I ordered?

[ChristineChurches]

Ummm...you linked to a Hand and a Half, not a Two -Hander. If you referred to the sword that you really wanted as a two hander, this may have led to a bit of confusion on their part.

Ask them to replace this with the one you ordered. The Hand and a Half - both long and regular - are what we all have here in Las Vegas, with a few Davenriches thrown in for good measure.

Be aware though that if they do not have any in stock, it may take a while.

[Curt Dunham]

We like our Davenriches, but I had to sand down the extra bump on the pommels to make the handle/pommel transition more comfortable. I also flattened the pommels slightly. Easy job with a palm sander.

We like the length and balance of the Davenriche.

Curt Dunham
ARMA-South Florida

[Jonathan Newhall]

Sorry Christine, I said two-hander despite them being labelled as hand-and-a-half because there's no real difference in that terminology. Hand and a half, as they're called today, swords were swords usable with two hands, one hand, or one and a half hands. Being a class of long-sword I called them two handed in my post. You will also note that based on the dimensions the Daverinche "hand and a half" actually has the same size hilt and a longer blade than the "two hander" I linked to. Therefore the classification system is wrong to begin with, but I won't stray farther into that. Besides, I used the sword's model number not the name in my order.

I suppose I should get on telling New Stirling Arms off for shipping me the wrong model, then...

Thanks guys.

[ChristineChurches]

Jonathan -
I understand with precisely how many hands a hand and a half sword is able to be used.

Since you were asking a question concerning ARMA member preferences, I wanted to be sure that you understood that if you actually are seeking a true two handed sword, that this is not what you ordered or received. I am not arguing that New Stirling Arms is accurate in its descriptions based on its naming system - they can call them "Super Duper Vorpal Toothpicks" if they want - but you stated that you have no experience with NSA wooden swords and they do have a true two hander - their version of the Claymore.

In our regular practice here at ARMA Las Vegas, we use hand and a half swords for our longsword practice, and we call them hand and a half swords, not doppelhanders/bidenhanders/claymores - hence my clarification of your terminology (also because the item to which you linked is labeled as a hand and a half, so I cannot assume if you call it a two hander which one you actually want).

Good Luck!

[Jonathan Newhall]

No problem I understand what you meant

I've already gotten it all straightened out and I should be receiving the one I ordered soon, hopefully.