Preorders are LIVE for the 2024 BladeForums Traditional Knife
Traditional Knife Information Thread - make sure you go in there and read up.
Requirements: Be a Gold or higher member or have been a member of the forums since 6/2023 with at least 100 posts in the Traditional Forum. Preorder is for people who live in the continental US only, international orders will be separate.Delivery expected in Q4 2024, hopefully before the holidays.
bithabus said:*Snip*A custom made sword by a well trained smith will cost at least $1000, more than the antiques that have been mentioned, and there are reasons for that.
I'm afraid that simply isn't true, there are people that are every bit as interested in having a good replica of an Oakeshott XVIIIa as people interested in having a Japanese style katana. There are also more and more people practicing what they style Western Martial Arts these days.
FullerH said:That is not entirely true. Take Patrick Barta at www.templ.net, for example. His Roman Riding Sword is 400 Euros, about $523US at current exchange rates, and is a superbly made reproduction of one of the Nydam Bog swords. I know how good it is, for I have one. And it comes with a very nicely done scabbard for the price. I admit that the sinking dollar has made his work rather more expensive, but some of it is still a good buy, and the Roman Riding Sword is a really good buy. He does have a good number of his swords priced at less than 700 Euros, or $915US. Similarly, Lutel makes quite nice swords for less than your $1,000.00 price.
knife saber said:That's cool. I can definitely understand the appeal to haveing a proper replica that it wouldn't be a crime against history to actually use and enjoy. Can you point me to some sites for getting more information on Western swordarts? I'd love to see a class in action.
.In fairness, I was aghast at the $2,000 price tag quoted above. The Cuirassier sword I have cost just above $700, the baskethilt about $900. The spadroon, though, ran about $270 and is still in fighting shape. I do have a nice pipe-backed British 1822 that is in fighting shape that cost just under $300. If my reply was harsh, please forgive
FullerH said:Or the above-named Patrick Barta at TEMPL or Lutel, both of which are in the Czech Republic.
Bithabus, I would certainly count the Lutel swords as production, but I am not so certain about Patrick Barta. His is a very small establishment and he does most of the work on his products himself, or so I understand. So, no, they are not "custom" in the same sense that Randall Knives are not "custom", I suppose, but they are very much a quality product. I am curious as to what you would deem swords by "Tinker" Pearce or Angus Trim to be. Both make them largely by hand (well, Angus Trim uses a CAD-CAM machine to make his blades and then finishes them by hand) but do make them to a list of established designs. I understand that both will customize their swords for a fee.
The pricing that you are quoting for antique swords leaves me a bit puzzled, as I have never seen a real antique version of anything like what I am talking about that is available for anything less than a figure well into the thousands. Perhaps, if we are considering surplussed British (or other) army sabers or what ever, then we could find antiques with the price at what you are thinking.