Greetings, and a few questions on wodden wasters

[Martin Eriksson]

Greetings to all!

soo yet another new person

a few weeks ago i stumbled on to the Albion web site, and well my love for swords was re-kindled! Wanting more, googling and what not, finally i found this most excellent site! and boy am i happy to have found it! So i've spent many hours reading articles and essays, and not to mention all the excellent posts that are posted here, this is basically a gold mine for anyone that is interested in wester martial arts.

as an ex-eastern martial arts practitioner, (some 7-8 years doing different things, Jui-jitsu, karate, akido, escrima, aido) my passion was always to use weapons, Aido was fun for a while pulling the katana performing one cut and resheet had its moments, not to mention escrima (fast pased 2 short stick fighting). But then i moved from Sweden to Cyprus and got married, and the options for martial arts in this country is not comparable too sweden.. anyway, back to the topic at hand, swords!

Love them, gotto collect them, its just this compulsion, that according to my wife is bordering on obsession, which after reading here i dont feel very alone about anymore but due to budget restraints, i'v never really been able to buy those swords i would like to buy, i have a few katanas, and chinese sabers, bokkens, and a whole chest of knifes and daggers. But now having stumbled onto the western martial arts and the swords available from Albion, something i didn't know i was missing was found.

Additionally as a westerner it just feels more appropriate that i should study the teachings of "my" ancestors rather then those of the east and so the old sword obessession has reared its head, and the wife is not happy hehe

everyday i'm flipping through the albion catalogue thinking and planning what to buy first!

just yesterday i got Mr. Clements Medeival Swordsmanship! and i cant wait to start reading and start trying things out, also downloaded some manuals found on different web pages, e.g. http://schielhau.org/Meyer.title.html

before i get an albion sword the most important thing i would guess is to actually get/make decent waster, i consider myself pretty hand with wood and so will try to make my own from hickory or other hardwood (if i can find it here)

now a question on a wood waster, should i try to make it as accurate in size, scale, weight as the albion sword i will buy?

currently swords im thinking of are:
The Sempach

The Constable/The Mercnary

The Baron (i like the idea a sword where focus is on slash, but still able to do some thrust)

i'm not made out of money so will probably start with one of them as to which one i've not decided yet.. but they are pretty similar in length.. i think i like the sempach and baron the most, but the sempach feel a bit more versitile and that will probably by my first albion blade to buy,

So should I try to make my wood waster to resemble the sempach as much as is possible, of course its still a waster and its made of wood there are limitations, and to do some pell work it has to survive..

I dont mind spending a weekend making a "perfect" waster or two.. as if now i have this idea to make it an "exact" replica in terms of dimmensions (not blade thickness or tapering as a wood blade would not last long like that) but in terms of hilt, guard, lenght, width, point of balance, pommel, weight, and tapering as close as i can come withouth risking a break on this first hit to a pell..


Next big problem is of course to find a sparring partner, i dont feel to optimistic about this but i'm sure i will find someone eventually till then i'll manage on my own, learn the basics, guards, cuts and footwork, work the pell and do some floyris(spell?)


so if you happen to live in Cyprus, let me know!!

Cheers, and thanks for an excellent site!

[Shane Smith]

It would be best if your waster was similar in balance and feel to your sword. Crossguard width and pommel type along with blade and handle length should ideally be a close match.

I have a sempach and have handled the baron. Both are very nice swords but the sempach is more nimble. I also have the crecy and it is a fierce cutter and handles better than the baron. Either way, you seemingly can't go wrong with an Albion. I like every one that I have handled.

Welcome to the forum

[Martin Eriksson]

thanks Shane!


will have a go at it in the weekend.. if i can find some decent hickory...

hmm the local cabinnet makers should have some, or at least red oak..

cheers!

[JeffGentry]

thanks Shane!


will have a go at it in the weekend.. if i can find some decent hickory...

hmm the local cabinnet makers should have some, or at least red oak..

cheers!

Hey Martin

I would make a waster to type such as type xvii, or xv, that way you learn to use that type of sword then what ever you get you can adapt the waster work to more than one specific sword.

The first waster i made was red oak it was ok for about six month's and it was high maintance because the grain kept raising up when struck, i would definately try to find hickory, red oak will work though if nothing else is available.

good luck and welcome to the Dark side young Skywalker.


Jeff

[Shane Smith]

Good input Jeff.

I gave up on buying 80 dollar wasters that crack at random and have gone back to making my own. My last two were made of purple heart blanks with hickory crossguard and pommel fillets. They're holding up just fine.

I have made probably a dozen red oak wasters over the years and they do last just a few months. If you must build of this wood, find the straightest grain you can or you will be sorely disapointed,and that in short order.