07-27-2011, 11:44 AM
Some of the top of the line swords are made by Del Tin or Albion, KOA sells several of their swords which range from $380-700+ They are considered to be some of the most accurate swords as far as design, size, and weight. Weight is a big factor for all other swords $140 and below which in my experience tend to be rather heavy (much heavier than the real thing), for some reason the majority of sword makers feel that they need to have a super thick sword to avoid having a sharp edge (the majority of replica swords do not come sharpened, and many shouldn't be sharpened because they are not high enough quality steel to properly hold an edge).
Some of the few swords which are affordable, but accurate, if you can overlook their sometimes heaviness, are Deepeeka's Mainz and Pompeii Gladius, (which Matt Amt's site says are some of the few "off the shelf" good swords), as well as Soul of the Warrior's Pompeii Magnus Gladius, SOTW also sells an $85 regular Pompeii gladius, which I understand is not bad.
However if you are going for a AD9 Impression, you most likely want a Mainz gladius (I don't recall when the Pompeii Gladius was introduced). Perhaps someone else can chime in?
One last thing, if you do buy Deepeeka products, see if their is an "N" model, nearly all the Roman helmets and swords have been modified to become better replicas, sometimes much better replicas (many of which suggestions were given from RAT members, among other experts).
Some of the few swords which are affordable, but accurate, if you can overlook their sometimes heaviness, are Deepeeka's Mainz and Pompeii Gladius, (which Matt Amt's site says are some of the few "off the shelf" good swords), as well as Soul of the Warrior's Pompeii Magnus Gladius, SOTW also sells an $85 regular Pompeii gladius, which I understand is not bad.
However if you are going for a AD9 Impression, you most likely want a Mainz gladius (I don't recall when the Pompeii Gladius was introduced). Perhaps someone else can chime in?
One last thing, if you do buy Deepeeka products, see if their is an "N" model, nearly all the Roman helmets and swords have been modified to become better replicas, sometimes much better replicas (many of which suggestions were given from RAT members, among other experts).
Quintus Furius Collatinus
-Matt
-Matt
