Favourite sword and why?

[Steve Fitch]

Just wondering?

Trying to research OPINIONS on what sword people prefer and why. ie: fighting, style, etc.

[Rod-Thornton]

Just wondering?

Trying to research OPINIONS on what sword people prefer and why. ie: fighting, style, etc.

Hey Steve:

For me it is the rapier. Why? Honestly, it's simply cuz it looks to be the most graceful and prettiest, with the long slender blade, and complex hilt types, and light weight, aesthetics really (dumb, huh?) . Even more so though, now that after learning something these past couple of years, it is also wickedly quick, subtle, and can be cruelly effective. Still, the longsword is my more competent weapon, as it is so versatile, so well developed in the literature, and so well examined by the association in both free-play and test cutting....but although I can certainly fight better with the longsword, the rapier is the fav...... (can you guess which weapon I'm trying to get better with these days?)

[Jeffrey Hull]

The German langes schwert (longsword).

You can do more with it than any other sword.

[s_taillebois]

Bastard sword. Because of the tapering of the blade, the point of balance is closer to the hilt. So works well for winding. Also, the blade form lends itself to a fencing style more reliant on the thrust. (Which when sparring with wasters needs to be modified, thrusts can be dangerous otherwise). Also, since my height is about 6'2'" a bastard sword/thrust based preference works well because of the reach abilities.
In test cuttings, this manner of sword doesn't cut as well...and if edge alignments off, not as effective or forgiving as wider blades (a type 13 will easily outcut (in depth) the i.e. 15 or 16 (bastard types). And the thinner blade section (of the weak) of these types will 'twist' if the edge alignment is incorrect.
Also when practicing with a steel/ sharp, because of the narrow blade width out to the end...this type of sword works well for 1/2 wards, sword thrusts. However, the overall form of these kind of swords doesn't lend itself to steel blunts....making a safe version, a bit hard to keep the blade form and function intact. Have not yet seen a blunt of this type I'd really be inclined to buy.
One of the issues with this type, is many of the makers, don't get the reinforcing forms quite right, especially out to the point. Way too much flex on what should be a fairly rigid blade.

[Brent Lambell]

The longsword - and for so many reasons.

I have only studied the German school to any extent so that would be my preferred fighting style (although Fiore de Liberi seems terribly interesting). The German school has proven itself to be so no-nonsense and pragmatic in all approaches to combat, paired with the versatile longsword it just feels right.

[Ken Dietiker]

Bastard Sword, mainly because Fiore and Vadi just "click" for me, but also because I'm relatively short myself and I find the German longswords are just too long. And a few other reason...

[Nathan Dexter]

I dont think I could pick... I really like the longsword, but I'm starting to like sword and buckler more and more. And I really want to get more into the messer.