Basket-Hilt

[Greg]

Does anyone know where one can find a (relatively) inexpensive basket hilt? Not the sword...just the basket. Doesn't have to be top quality...can be a cheap crappy import. Just metal, shiny, and, well...a basket hilt.

[Peter Remling]

There's a cheap copy of the Windlass Baskethilt cutlass floating around somewhere. The hilt is fine, the blade was crap. I'll see if I can find one and post it here.


It looked like this, this ones the Windlass though:


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn46 ... 62-1-1.jpg

I'll check Ebay and some of the other sword sites and get back to you.

[Peter Remling]

How about this:
http://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/29 ... erralID=NA

or this one:

http://www.dragonswordsndaggers.com/product/PC1982

and some broadswords:


http://www.swordnarmory.com/Scottish-Ba ... p-5950.htm

http://www.swordsdirect.com/scottish-sw ... words.html

[E.MacKermak]

What are you putting it on? I found this one looking for historical fencing supplies: http://www.zenwarriorarmory.com/catalog.php?category=68

There should be others searching along those lines.

[Greg]

A buddy of mine back home (who wears a kilt just about every day...simply loves the highland culture as a whole) recently got into my modified nerf gun hobby, so I'm customizing a pump shotgun-esque dart gun for him. I'm painting it plaid (no easy feat with a can of spraypaint *chuckles*), stenciling "Edin go bragh" on the side, and am covering the pump handle with red velvety material. Wanted to throw on a cheapo basket hilt around the pump handle to complete the look. I may wind up just grabbing a hammer, dishing a piece of scrap metal, and cutting out some slots with my dremel and a grinder to keep it around $20, but I was wondering if there were some cheap options first. There ARE, it appears, but since it's just a plastic nerf gun, I don't wanna spend more than I would on materials, time, and the gun itself put together on just a cosmetic piece.

Maybe that $16 saber guard could have some holes punched in it and then dremeled out to look more like one, Erich...thanks to the both of you! If anyone has any more thoughts on the matter, feel free to let me know!

[kaelln]

So, is the Windlass cutlass a decent weapon? Something that could be used for its intended purpose and not fall apart? I once held an extremely cheap cutlass in my hand, and it's the first sword ever to feel like it belonged there. The balance was perfect, and I thought, for the first time, "this is something I could actually fight with". So, how do Windlass blades stack up?

[Peter Remling]

Most of the Windlass blades are decent for what they are. The blades are HT have full tangs and are generally fairly good ( for the money ). Sorry for the qualifiers but while the blades and components are generally good, the combinations they make put together are lacking. Most of the swords have heavier than desired blade presence.

They have gotten it right on a few occasions: The Sowrd of Ulrich from the movie A Knight's Tale was ugly but an excellent cutter, more recently the type IVX is a great looking and handling sword.

Historically speaking, it's hit or miss.

If however you're looking for a decent low end sword you could do a lot worse. The best thing to do if you are thinking of purchasing a Windlass is read the reviews on Sword Forum International, My Armoury and more likely Sword Buyers Guide.

I have two or three currently but have owned probably 20 over the years.

[Mirimaran]

Might I recommend Therion?

http://www.therionarms.com/

A very cool guy who I got my shield boss from, I am sure he can help you out.

Ken

[kaelln]

Thanks Pete!

Miramaran, I'll keep him in mind, but I won't be buying right away. Even a low end sword is a save-up-for-it item right now.

[Mirimaran]

I am in the same boat, my friend. It's feast to famine around here, but I am scrapping together enough money for Faire! *S*

[Peter Remling]

So, is the Windlass cutlass a decent weapon? Something that could be used for its intended purpose and not fall apart? I once held an extremely cheap cutlass in my hand, and it's the first sword ever to feel like it belonged there. The balance was perfect, and I thought, for the first time, "this is something I could actually fight with". So, how do Windlass blades stack up?

Upon rereading I realizied I never directly answered the question on the windlass cutlass. Yes it is a good serviceable weapon. It would make for a nice close combat weapon.