Suggestions on entry level (under $450) medieval long or bastard sword

[rschuch]

Well, the L.A. Excalibur is out of stock everywhere. The Lady of the Lake’s arm must be really tired handing all these things out. So I still have an itch to scratch. Any suggestions on under $450 battle ready peened sharpened long or bastard sword?

It seems every single sword I find that has good reviews also has bad reviews of it either breaking or having inconsistent builds. I wanted something big like a bastard or long sword, but there's not much in stock these days. Kind of settled on either a Hanwei Bastard sword or Scottish claymore or the Windlass Acre sword (only one handed, though), and only because these are the only ones in stock. I'd prefer to get a Hanwei / Paul Chen Tinker Pearce longsword or Windlass Battlecry Agincourt or Bosworth or Ronin Euro 2. All these are in my price range, actually all under $350.

Can anyone vouch for any of these? Dots indicate in stock:

• HANWEI BASTARD SWORD ANTIQUED - $249
HANWEI SCOTTISH CLAYMORE ANTIQUED - $275
HANWEI HAND AND A HALF SWORD - $297
HANWEI WAR SWORD - $220
HANWEI TINKER GREAT SWORD - $270
HANWEI MERCENARY SWORD - $233
• HANWEI TINKER PEARCE SHARPENED BASTARD SWORD - $257
HANWEI TINKER PEARCE SHARPENED BASTARD SWORD WITH FULLER - $249
• HANWEI TINKER PEARCE SHARPENED LONGSWORD - $257
• WINDLASS BATTLECRY ACRE SWORD - $325
WINDLASS BATTLECRY AGINCOURT WAR SWORD - $265
WINDLASS BATTLECRY BOSWORTH LONGSWORD - $375
• WINDLASS ERBACH SWORD - $320
• WINDLASS SWORD OF HOMILDON HILL - $260
WINDLASS SWORD OF ROVEN - $295
WINDLASS BLACKSWORD - $270
RONIN KATANA LONGSWORD MODEL 2 - $350
• RONIN KATANA HAND AND A HALF ITALIAN LONGSWORD MODEL 5 - $285
RONIN KATANA TWO HANDED LONGSWORD MODEL 7 - $285
RONIN KATANA TWO HANDED WAR SWORD MODEL 3 - $450
RONIN KATANA LONG SWORD DOUBLE FULLERS MODEL 1 - $375
RONIN KATANA CRUSADER LONG SWORD MODEL 13 - $350
DARKSWORD ARMORY EXCALIBUR - $625

 

[SimplyMinded]

The Tinker Pearce Longsword is a solid option and they make a blunt trainer blade you can swap out too. You might be able to find aftermarket parts to customize it, I remember seeing some but it's been awhile.

 

[Steely_Gunz]

I have the standard Hanwei Scottish Claymore. I've not used it hard but it has been pretty damn solid for under $300.

 

[rschuch]

The Tinker Pearce Longsword is a solid option and they make a blunt trainer blade you can swap out too. You might be able to find aftermarket parts to customize it, I remember seeing some but it's been awhile.

I think this will be the one I get. SBG has a really good review as well, though they say the sharpening isn't great.

 

[rschuch]

Well, I ended up going a little sword crazy. I got three.
The Windlass Battlecry Agincourt
The DSA Excalibur
and the KoA Kern Irish one handed ring pommel (which hasn't arrived yet)
Also got a couple Tod Cutler daggers, but that's another forum.

The Agincourt and the Excalibur could NOT be more different. The Agincourt point of balance is like 3" in front of the hilt and, at 2.8 lbs., making it light as a feather and a scalpel. Came very sharp, easily maneuverable with one hand, but kind of lacks that extra umph. Fit and finish is nice and came with a frog, so I was very pleased with this one.

The Excalibur is blade heavy in the extreme and at 4 lbs., feels like most of it is attached to the tip. This came sharp as well and is scary to swing around. Definitely don't want to give it a hefty chop with your leg in the way! BUT this is the sword of power! Want to cleave someone's armored legs out from under them? This is your huckleberry! Rememebr, it's only a flesh wound. Fit and finish is actually rougher than the Agincourt which, at over twice the price, is surprising, but you're paying for the name and movie replica charm. The peen was a bit crude and the gap between blade and hilt quite large. Scabbard is nice, though no buckles or frog. Gotta stick it in your waistband, I guess...

If the zombie apocalypse starts and you have one or two to deal with, Excalibur is the way to go. If you have a hungry hoard clawing for your brains, I'd go with the Agincourt because you'll be tired after a few minutes of swinging that 4 lb. blade around.

Kinda hoping the Kern Irish blade is in-between and from the videos I've seen, I have high hopes. And empty pockets, now.