I got two Raven Studios' wasters recently and had the chance to play with them. They are very nicely made, with good clean lines and balance. The distinct hilt construction is a nice change from other models. The great-sword is one of the longest wasters of its kind I have seen (other than the immense true two-handed variety) and would be a very good size for taller practitioners. Strangely though, it is especially light, and we found this somewhat disconcerting for a weapon of this size. A bit more mass would make it much more robust. It even seemed lighter than the shorter longsword model. The longsword is also very nice and handles quite well and has a distinctive look of its own. However, the blade is unnecessarily wide for half its length and surely could be trimmed a quarter inch or so. We felt the cross guard was just a little bit short and for functionality could be an inch longer, although this is not critical. The cross also seemed a bit too thin and to withstand practice we'd feel much more comfortable with one a bit thicker (like on the great-sword). The handle could also probably be lengthened a half inch to an inch, although again, this is not a crucial matter. We found the longsword's grip quite nice overall and wished the great-sword had the same feel, as that handle seemed a tad too slender for such a large blade. The handles themselves are sandwiched and connected by rivets, which is different.
In sum, I was impressed with and pleased by these wasters. They are very original and its good to finally have another reputable maker available. Though, I certainly would like to see them offered with pommels other than the flat wheel variety, such as plum or scent-stopper or round knob forms. I'm told this may be forthcoming. I have no reservations about recommending them.
JC
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