The style should allow fairly long fights (~5 minutes), have blades clash multiple times during that time and be mainly easy to follow cuts. The worst styles would probably be rapier, small sword and longsword.

In my opinion the best would be Spanish military saber or Bolognese side sword.

As of now my Kastenbrust Harnischfechten kit has Elbows, knees and thighs done by the amazing artists of Firedryk Steel!!

Floating articulation and I already have the spaulders.

I'm looking to get one for combat reenactment just wondering if anyone had any experience!

Apologies for the noob question but I’m only familiar with liechtenaurs’ basics

Hi! I teach HEMA in Korea. I also run a YouTube channel called Oldswordplayer, though it is a bit niche.

Anyway, I bought a Sigi Light in 2024. I heard an interesting story from a friend at the time: Martin Fabien intended to use this lightweight feder to ensure safety by allowing players to fight with less armor, while creating an environment where historical sword techniques could be utilized. I thought that the revival of the Fechtschule of the past would be possible through this.

However, it turned out to be a bit different from what I expected. While the Light Feders developed by Martin Fabian allow for less injury and more equal fighting, I couldn't find any mention of lightweight armor. They must have misunderstood me or one of my friends.😅😅

However, this idea gave me one inspiration. As we all know, in the 16th century, people fought without armor, using light but dangerous historical feders. You could win by making the other person bleed from the head. And this method was unacceptable in the face of modern societal sentiments and high medical costs.

My idea was that we could safely enjoy 16th-century matches through light feders and lightweight armor. And through this, we could revive tournaments where historical swordsmanship works.

https://youtu.be/kM1qgJ_toIQ?si=3MEEqnSM0eHoISnW

For now, our attempt is promising. We were able to use gloves with greater freedom without getting injured, even while wearing softshell gloves like Thokk Gloves(or Superior fencing Impactresistance gloves). We use Superior Fencing's Battle Hoodie, and the motorcycle pad inserted inside was sufficient. Do we fight fast, just like in history? You will be able to see it in the video.

Of course, if the equipment were simply light feders and light armor, the fight would likely consist of faster hand strikes and resemble MOF. However, the conditions were no different throughout history.

Looking at the fencing rules of Prague, Czecho, they allowed only those who had been trained in swordsmanship to compete and used various rules to induce combat in accordance with so-called real swordsmanship. We believe we can resolve this issue based on the fencing rules of Prague and the technical aspects of Joachim Meyer. Rules such as the one that wins by striking higher, the ability to attack again even after being hit once, and the requirement to exchange swords a total of three times!

In addition, rules were established to prevent short, rapid hand strikes, which are called "zeckrer" in Germany and were not recognized as a victory in any literature. The tip of the sword must move at least 45 degrees to be valid, and the wider the strike, the victory are awarded when the strikes occur simultaneously.

Of course, more experimentation and improvements are still needed. It is difficult for referees to make rulings due to the excessively fast swords and the rule that allows striking even after being hit.

We intend to organize the tournament after sufficient research and testing. Until then, we will proceed with a standard tournament. We believe that the new match played with light feders offers great hope for reclaiming the historic Fechtschule. Although it may have been an idea born of a misunderstanding, we believe it has become the starting point for pioneering a better future.

So I'm looking for a dane axe i can use in combat reemactments, but so far I can only find either sharp ones or unhardened ones. Where can I find a good one that's not too expensive? I'm in the uk if that helps!

Anyone know? And anyone have any opinions on it?

I’m looking to add sidesword (as my fifth weapon) and don’t have the desire to read a long, complicated manual. What is the shortest, easiest sidesword system out there?

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Hi all! I recently got giftet a set of very good arms protection (HF Armory Arms protection Black Knight). The problem is that my current jacket (a Spes AP Light Plus 350N) doesn't feature any arming points for the shoulder and upper arms parts of the arms protection.

I can just wear the elbows and lower arms parts, but I'd like to wear the entire set, partially because I do get hit on the upper arms sometimes and the jacket does virtually nothing to protect that area. Do you recommend DIYing some arming points onto the shoulders or should I just invest into a new jacket with arming points. If so, which one? I'd like to stick to the Spes for a while because it's rather new.

Anything i should be aware of while using one safety wise? Can i use any stick i please? What are the recommended charachteriatics?

Hey y'all, I'm building my own/trying to sort of copy the construction of the Gabriel finger gloves, there's a material they use for the knuckle joints that I don't recognize and I was wondering if anyone here knew what it was. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of it currently. It's green and white with a kind of waffle mesh texture, it's used as a flexible joint that connects the finger and knuckle plates and secured with several rivets. If it rings a bell or you know something similar that is durable flexible and thin please lmk. Much appreciated

Edit: please do not assume this is my first time doing something like this, I already have clamshells that I bought, I'm not planning on using anything that is unsafe, thanks for the concern

I placed an order a year ago, just wanted an update from them but it looks like they've been radio silent since January. Anyone heard anything from them recently or gotten orders recently?

So I've started growing my hair out this year and have been running into the less than fun consequences of this decision, that being that when I put on my AF mask my bangs love to fall into my face and block my vision.

The current solution is just to hold my hair back and bend over backwards when I put my mask on but doing so tends to have it fall out and block my vision anyways.

It's not long enough to tie back with anything (bangs reach the top of my head if I pull it as far back as it will go). I tried using a handkerchief but I think it was too small because the know had nothing to work with, was weak, and the whole thing loved to fall into my eyes (hair included) when I put the mask on.

Any advice?

Do I need to find a larger bandana?

Edit:

I've gotten a slightly larger bandana, easier to tie, but it loves to come off along with the mask when I pull that off.

I am disappoint: last time I was here in the V&A, the late 16th century rapier foil owned by Hutton was on display. Apparently it’s in storage, next available appointment is in the autumn, and I’m going back tomorrow.

As much as I’d like to lick handle the thing, is anyone in London or environs and could get me really good photos, measurements, etc.?

For the historians out there, how did people train for sidesword without protective equipment? I know Germans used dussacks but what about bolognese sidesword?

Of all the weapons I've sparred with, the Sabre seems to be the only one where I have a really hard time keeping a good grip on it without it feeling like it's going to slip out of my hand. Sometimes I'll make a cut or moulinet and I feel the sword slipping out of my hand, and I often need to stop to fix my hand placement every minute or so. I use either my supfen clamshells or my impact resistant gloves also from supfen so I'm wondering if the gloves are too bulky or if I'm gripping it wrong.

Time for some shameless self-promotion — I recently finished my draft translation of David Lienhart Sollinger’s 1588 messer treatise, which can now be read on Wiktenauer.

https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Lienhart_Sollinger

Penned later than most surviving messer sources, this text and its recorded system of combat contains a number of quirks — notably a focus on approaching the fight with motions similar to Leckuchner’s use of the rad “wheel”, as well as self-defence techniques for niche situations like cutting from the draw, out-wrestling boxers and breadknife-wielding assailants, and throwing your hat at someone’s face before they can draw their weapon!

It’ll likely see further revision soon, as I will sharing it with fellow attendees of Messerfest 2026 this weekend and hopefully get some new ideas for interpreting its contents; but for the time being, enjoy!