Cut-and-thrust on a budget

[David Kirksey]

Recently I have found an interest in learning more about the cut-and-thrust style. I have the ARMA cut-and-thrust waster, and am currently looking for a good steel training cut-and-thrust sword but have somewhat of a limited budget. I was looking at the Winless Munich cut-and-thrust available on Kult of Athena, but can't seem to find reviews on it. I also was looking at the Hanwei practice side-sword. Have any of you purchased either of these or know someone who has? Or, is there some other credible company I don't know about that offers a decent sword in the $200-400 dollar range? I am new to steel blades and don't want to pay for something that may fall apart. Thanks for any help!

[Stacy Clifford]

In ARMA Houston we bought several of the Hanwei Practical Side Swords back around Christmas for our Di Grassi practice. The blades are good and stiff the way we like them, but the tips do not come blunt enough from the factory and need to be ground down further or covered with something to feel relatively safe. The blade is very narrow and would actually work well as a rapier simulator except for being slightly short, but I understand that they are revising it for future versions to make it less rapier-like and more like an actual cut & thrust, so the current version may not be around much longer. The only major drawback is that the side rings are very weak. The top ring was bent on all of ours after only six months of use and one had already broken, and the bigger bottom ring is getting bent on some as well. We've relayed the info to them, so we're hoping that will be fixed in the new version as well. As far as handling goes, it's pretty good but not great, but better than a waster and very good for the price.

[J. Scott Steflik]

The Hanwei practical side sword has been tempting me for some time, but until they resolve some of the issues I'd pass on them.

Darkwood Armory has their "Arms and Sidering Sword" that retails for $360 and their "2 Port Cross" that goes for $425. Both are available with the economy hammered finish that reduces the price a bunch (though you have to contact them to get the quote). I've talked to a bunch of guys that love their stuff.

[David Kirksey]

After learning more about the English Longsword I think I will get back to that weapon (and my plans for money didn't pan out as well as I had hoped). I think instead I will go back to Longsword for the moment and purchase the new(ish) book on the English sword that's out there. I tell ya, it's hard to pick a starting point lol. I am pretty sure I have WMA A.D.D.