Training Weapons
Steel Training Swords
Steel training swords are considered the most realistic tool for recreating the European martial arts with accuracy and a degree of safety. They are used in everything from solo training to free play, and generally replicate a sharpened steel sword in all but a couple of areas. First, they are not sharp. And secondly, they flex in the thrust quite a bit easier than many live steel swords.
Albion Swords (link)
Price: $411 - $566
Albion Swords collaborates with Peter Johnsson, a renowned swordsmith and researcher, to recreate museum originals and more generalized style-based recreations. While their practice swords are not replicas of extant pieces, they show Peter’s and the rest of the design teams thorough understanding of what a sword really is. In my opinion, Albion’s training swords are among the best, if not the best, money can buy.
Arms and Armor (link)
Price: $360 - $535
Arms and Armor were among the first to produce a high quality steel training sword and have a large product line dedicated to historical European martial artists. Their Fechterspiel is considered by many to be the flagship of their products, and is highly recommended by a wide number of training groups around the world.
Glorymade (link)
Price: $375 (Shipping from Sweden)
Simply put, I know nothing about this company and have heard nothing about them except that their training tools have been featured and recommended at several northern European swordsmanship events.
Hanwei (link)
Price: $105 - $229
Hanwei, perhaps know best for their katana and European “sword like objects”, has taken an interest in the growing historical European Martial Arts community by producing their own training gear. My general take on their products: you get what you pay for. Their equipment works, and generally holds up well, but simply isn’t as durable, accurate, or visually appealing as something from a more expensive producer.
Aluminum Training Swords
Aluminum training swords split the gap between wooden wasters and steel swords. They offer many of the characteristics of steel without the high prices often attached, but are not quite as durable and, being made of aluminum, are a modern anomaly. It should be noted that an aluminum sword cannot be used with a waster or a steel sword - it has to be aluminum on aluminum.
Glorymade (link)
Price: $265 - $275 (Shipping from Sweden)
Simply put, I know nothing about this company and have heard nothing about them except that their training tools have been featured and recommended at several northern European swordsmanship events.
Noble Armoury (link)
Price: $180 - $220
This is another company I have heard very little of, with only an occasional mention in passing on forums. In general, responses are favorable, but guarded reserving the cost - people don’t seem to think they are quite worth the expense.
Swordcrafts (link)
Price: $123 - $184
Swordcrafts offers a shallow line of longswords at very reasonable prices. I have not personally handled any of their weaponry, but hear that it is some of the best aluminum has to offer. Unfortunately, it seems contact and communication with the company has been difficult for many buyers in the past, though the end result of the purchase has been worth it.
Wasters
Wasters, usually made of wood, but now also made of plastic, are a historically documented way of practicing ones training, both alone and in play against others. They are inaccurate representations of actualy steel, though, and should really only be used when steel cannot.
Glorymade (link)
Price: $47 - $85 (Shipping from Sweden)
Simply put, I know nothing about this company and have heard nothing about them except that their training tools have been featured and recommended at several northern European swordsmanship events.
Hollow Earth (link)
Price: $40 - $125
Hollow Earth produces interesting and very customizable wasters for a slightly higher cost than some. The wasters I’ve handled have been thick and bulbous - not a very accurate recreation of a sword, but perfectly fine for pell work.
Little Raven (link)
Price: $52 - $98
Little Raven offers a wide array of wooden wasters. They come personally recommended as both sturdy, long-lasting, and appealing.
New Stirling Arms (link)
Price: $55 - $95
New Stirling Arms has created, in my opinion, the best waster out there. It acts more like a steel sword than any other waster, but is somewhat more fragile. If you are looking to use your waster primarily for heavy pell practice, this is probably not the waster for you. However, if you are looking for a the best wooden simulator of a longsword, I highly recommend these.
Purple Heart (link)
Price: $20 - $75
Purple Heart wasters are highly recommended by the community for a number of reasons. First, they are less expensive than many alternitives. Secondly, they are very tough and hold up well to pell work and training abuse. Lastly, they offer some customisation, allowing you to buy what you need for your training.
With Intent (link)
Price: $90 - $120
With Intent makes plastic wasters, which are less accurate than steel, but more accurate than wood. They bend, flex, and slide much like steel, making them excellent wasters. Further, they are virtually indestructible - they won’t splinter, crack, or break and never need sanding or oiling. These are the Modern Man’s Waster.
