Check out Medieval Warfare Magazine
I've always stood in the magazine isle at Barnes & Noble and seen all the American Civil War, WW2, Ancient World, Ancient Egypt, etc history magazines and wished we had a dedicated Medieval magazine of the same type. Renaissance Magazine is the closest I've found, but more for Ren Faire and costume stuff than armed conflict.
It looks like 'the one' will finally be debuting later this year... April 2011, aptly named "Medieval Warfare Magazine".
They're also looking for contributing writers:
"Do you know your Dark Age Vikings? Are you an expert on Swiss Pikemen or Arabic warriors during the Reconquista? Do you write clear and gripping articles? If so, we'd love to talk to you about writing for Medieval Warfare.'
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Reproductions of the Albrecht II Sword (Oakeshott Type XVIIIa) from Angus Trim, CAS Iberia, Windlass, etc
The Albrecht II sword, XVIIIa.1 in "Records of the Medieval Sword.This seems like a really popular sword to model reproductions after, and rightfully so. It's perhaps the ultimate evolution of the 'cut and thrust' blade, a stiff type XVIII cross section mated to a handsome (and broad for the type) warsword profile. The original is M.I.A. last I heard, which is unfortunate because it was a really detailed piece with Passau markings and an engraved pommel. It was allegedly the sword of Emperor Albrecht II.
There's a review of the CAS Iberia/Hanwei/Paul Chen/Company with many names reproduction of the sword at Sword Buyer's Guide.
And one of the old MRL/Windlass version at MyArmoury.
CAS Ibera actually uses it as the inspiration not only for it's "Hand-and-a-Half" sword but also it's "Practical" version, a beater a zillion of us have owned.
The Angus Trim AT1530 "Gothic Sword ofWar" is another XVIIIa inspired by the Sword of Albrecht IIl;
I really like the 1530. It's technically a hand-and-a-half or bastard sword, but weighing about 3 and a half pounds with a 7 inch grip, few people are going to use it that way. In two hands it feels downright invincible.
This is one of those swords that makes you rethink just how effective a sword could be against an armored opponent. The sheer mass feels more than capable of knocking someone in a barbute unconscious, yet the balance remains 'swordly' enough that you wouldn't be entirely helpless in an unarmed dispute either.
While it's not as flippy and intuitive as some of Trim's (or Albion's, or Arm & Armor's) 2-and-something pound longswords, it's still faster than the average reproduction katana I'd say. Perhaps due to the huge pommel and the taper of the blade being steeper than meets the eye.
This sword has seen quite a bit of cutting, everything from jackolanterns to Christmas tree branches. It's quite irresistable to 'try out'.
If there are any reproductions or roughly-inspired-bys out there relating to the Albrecht II sword I'd love to hear about them.
New Angus Trim Store
I own a few Angus Trim swords and really like them for the price. They're not the most historically accurate (threaded pommel nut) nor the most fantastically beautiful (machining marks in the fuller).
However, if you want a an affordable real-feeling (heck, I've heard Ewart Oakeshott owned one) medieval sword which isn't made in India or China - and in swords that's pretty important because bad heat treating can literally kill the user - then there's nothing better.
The one massive, huge, gigantic downside to Trim's swords is the simple fact that his deadlines and ETAs mean nothing. Expect your sword to be late. I've known people who waited 3 years on a sword that was supposed to be at their doorstep in a few weeks. In any other industry that would be the end of your career but... this is a weird industry and Angus does do good work when he isn't swamped with orders.
Well, Tried & True Armory recently opened their cyber doors and they deal exclusively in Angus Trim swords. The cool part is they actually have swords in stock, cancelling out the worries I mentioned earlier about waiting times. That's www.triedandtruearmory.com.
Note that this isn't the 'Angus Trim by Valiant Armory' stuff - which I take to be similar to the 'Tinker Pearce by CAS Ibera/Hanwei stuff, imports with a well-known smiths name on them. This is real Angus Trim stuff.
This is the first time in a long time actual pictures, model numbers, etc have been online from Angus, who used to be a very frequent personality on the various sword-related forums (MyArmoury.com, Sword Forum International, etc.) then sort of disappeared. While their selection is growing very slowly, I can't help but feel get some nostalgic All Saints Blades and Angus Trim Direct vibes (in a good way). Hopefully they stick around longer than their ill-fated predecessors.
However, if you want a an affordable real-feeling (heck, I've heard Ewart Oakeshott owned one) medieval sword which isn't made in India or China - and in swords that's pretty important because bad heat treating can literally kill the user - then there's nothing better.
The one massive, huge, gigantic downside to Trim's swords is the simple fact that his deadlines and ETAs mean nothing. Expect your sword to be late. I've known people who waited 3 years on a sword that was supposed to be at their doorstep in a few weeks. In any other industry that would be the end of your career but... this is a weird industry and Angus does do good work when he isn't swamped with orders.
Well, Tried & True Armory recently opened their cyber doors and they deal exclusively in Angus Trim swords. The cool part is they actually have swords in stock, cancelling out the worries I mentioned earlier about waiting times. That's www.triedandtruearmory.com.
Note that this isn't the 'Angus Trim by Valiant Armory' stuff - which I take to be similar to the 'Tinker Pearce by CAS Ibera/Hanwei stuff, imports with a well-known smiths name on them. This is real Angus Trim stuff.
This is the first time in a long time actual pictures, model numbers, etc have been online from Angus, who used to be a very frequent personality on the various sword-related forums (MyArmoury.com, Sword Forum International, etc.) then sort of disappeared. While their selection is growing very slowly, I can't help but feel get some nostalgic All Saints Blades and Angus Trim Direct vibes (in a good way). Hopefully they stick around longer than their ill-fated predecessors.
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