European Sword Maker Tier List - Ultimate Sword Buying Guide 2nd Half, Collab with  

Maciej seems like a wealth of video content to meme on, but not to buy swords from. Perhaps if he spent more time sharpening his swords before selling them to paying customers, and less time ranting like a lunatic at people who review them, he could be considered a reputable sword maker. What a child.

Finally I finished watching the entire 2 part series. Took me 4 sittings to go through it all, but it was the most worthwhile watch by a long shot.

Mammoth undertaking Kane! So helpful to the community. Very glad that you share your extensive experience with everyone.

You know what's astonishing about how long this two part series was? In another year or two, you'll probably be able to do it even longer because you'll presumably have more experience with some of the lesser-known and less prolific makers on the list! Great job all around. Looking forward to chatting about it all on the live stream.

Great Review Kane.

Trying to be more positive, here are some thoughts based on my experience: I have two longswords from Vladimir Cervenka. He is a sword maker that knows how to balance a sword. I have a 1.7kg sword that moves and feels like it’s 0.5kg lighter (as a comparison, it feels more nimble than a Brescia Spadona, which is a really good sword). The grips are also really well made. I have never felt an oval grip more comfortable and “grippy”, and that it’s purely due to the grip shape (he does wire wraps, so it’s not a leather friction, it’s the well proportioned ellipsoid design/reproduction). My only regret is that I didn’t settled initially on only one longsword instead of two, and selected one of his rapiers / side-swords (there’s a video with people from Blood and Iron and Skallagrim doing a small test cut with one of his side-swords). I told myself that there’s a next time, but there’s always other sword/maker I want to try (plus antiques). From Vladimir Cervenka, I also like his blades having a flex inline with similar antique pieces (but don't think they are pool noodles when I say flexible). Not all blades have that diamond section stiff blade feel, so I appreciate an "Andrea Ferrara” type blade that is so flexible you can kept it coiled in your hat (apocryphal tale about how he went about convincing Scotts that his blades/steel was better, and why one can find his name inscribed on blades of basket-hill sword long after his death). I don’t have a scabbard for them, so I never sharpened them properly to use them in a cut test. But the solo drills leave me with a smile. Vince Evans is the sword maker that makes me proverbially drool. His pieces are just art. But I don’t see V. Evans as a sword-smith that I would place a commission with and give him instructions of what I want. He would do whatever he wants, and you will buy whatever he makes… that is if you are lucky to be able to (as in availability not money)! Malleus Martialis, those guys get dynamics right. They definitely put the martial in their products and not just in their name. Eleonora Rebecchi does a nice job going around museums to get inspiration for their designs. People that know how to spar with a sword have them in high regard, and so do I. Last, Florian Fortner… I know little of his work, but I am afraid of it. Based on the photos out there, I genuinely think that his work needs to be carefully cataloged and recorded, or it will appear as an antique in a few decades. It’s just that good! And keep in mind that Florian Fortner has done scientific work on measuring swords from across museums, he is a HEMA practitioner (i.e. knows how to use a sword), and he is a freakingly talented smith! Down the line, I think he is the smith I want to commission that special sword (the one you save from a fire; cuz your wife and kid can run on their own :) ).

Pretty fair list it seems like, this is probably the best guide out there to first time buyers, as it gives a lot of the detail they will need to make informed decisions. Sounds like for a first buy L.K. Chen or L.K. Balaur arms models are probably the best bet due to high bang for buck, though Albion always remains a good option for the patient. The custom makers are good if you have something specific in mind, and this video is excellent for pointing you towards the right person to find for that. Not really sure the value of the lower end makers beyond really liking the aesthetics of something, not being able to find it anywhere else at an acceptable price or cultivating talent.

One of the most underrated channels about swords on YT. You are doing such a serious job here! And i really envy your sword collection! :D

really appreciate your time making this long-ass video. Learned some very cool new makers thanks to you. This got me through the day.

Excellent video! Thanks again for your time and effort.Cheers from Greece...!

You are a pillar of the community. This 2-part video should be in the transcribed into the legendarium of swords.

I'm glad you're continuing this. As an addendum, you should check out Nazarov & Kaliber for historical reproductions. Also drooling over their modern competition cutter shashka, which has taken gold medal in their local Russian competitions, weilded by the smith himself. Have to watch their videos on auto-translate, tho still worth checking out. The daughter, Anna, is very knowledgable and well researched

I both love and hate these videos! I love as the detail you give for each makers is of tremendous help in deciding who I want to buy from. I hate these videos as I want to buy from too many makers and I do not have enough money to buy from them all haha Also, what sword are you holding through the majority of the video? It is gorgeous!

Very informative, and eye opening Iykyk. Thanks Kane!

I am astounded by the value this guide brings to the sword realm. Every maker should strive to get on this list and climb the ladder to the top.

After the first one, this one is even one hour longer than that! You are on fire for putting each one of them under the microscope.

This video is an important reminder of why we need reviewers. Anyone with less experience with the overall market will likely carry their massive baggage of personal biases and throw the baby out with the bathwater. Good going being that voice of reason, Mr. Kane!

Kane, you are the perfect reviewer to do this extensive list. Great job!

I spent a whole afternoon watching both parts of this list, and it is an afternoon well spent.

If anyone sees this and 4 times the same long message detaling my experience with Nielo Sword... blame it on RU-vid. If you just see this and no additional message... blame it on RU-vid. 😑

Thank you for being a guardian of knowledge and contribute all of it freely to the community!

Great job Kane! Very helpful as always.

Excellent, just what I needed! Looking to buy a zweihander for personal use and Regenyei was the only place with any variety so glad to hear the craftsmanship is stellar as well.

Thank you so much again. All these informations are gold... I would love to see you review a Gael Fabre sword or a crown forge sword. Keep making your vidéos :)

Nice

This video is like Mímir's head that Odin carries around to consult for secret knowledge. Heil og sæl!

This is a much helpful guide for collectors and a joy to watch, too! Very nicely done!

This is the longest sword video I have ever watched. Still worth the whole shebang!

Very earnest and fair critique of these makers. Many of them earned their reputation well, others are disingenuous and misleading.

Telegraphically (before I go insane trying to make a simple post) about Nielo Schiavona Type 2. I contacted him about it two years ago, and proposed this project. We went back and forward on the details, the decorations I wanted to make the basket pop, and he made it. He is skilled to transform some three prong piece of steel into a Schiavona basket, so I think he is a huge plus for the community. He has a partner that does scabbards (big plus) and I liked mine with simple decorations to match the basket. I see that recently he has made the same piece for few other customers, so I am happy it caught on. We need more Schiavona Type 2 makers out there, and my commission was in part to support this. Blade thickness starts at 5mm at the guard and tapers to 1.5mm at 5cm from the tip. I can confirm the point of balance of 10.5cm and weight of 1.34kg as listed. Now, Schiavona refers to a guard type, with blades varying from longer, thin type blades to wider cutting focused blades. And they were used from infantry to cavalry, such as a pallasch sword (i.e. wide blade, tip heavy, cutting swords, used from atop a horse). There is a huge variety, with the antique I handled feeling light, but having a long (over 90cm) wide but thin and even a bit floppy blade. I say this since what I have feels more like a pallasch in spite of the 10.5cm ballance point. Since I don’t have a horse, in hindsight, I would have varied a bit my requirements to around 3.5cm wide blade (from the existing 3.8cm) and a more pronounced profile taper to remove 100g from the blade and improve wrist cuts and half-cuts in fencing. And returning to the maker… to anchor him in regard to other makers listed in the list (but without assigning a tier)… if I would be drafted in a 16th century army... I would take his pieces over most Del Tin ones, but I would keep my Landsknecht Emporium messer.

This honestly feels like finishing all three series of The Hollow Crown. By the end of it, some have been deposed, some exposed.

👍

Hey man how would you feel about doing a review of a couple swordier blades, maybe an arming sword and a longsword. Say, if they sent me samples to check out, and later I sent them to you?

How many years have you been playing with swords to know everything inside and out?

I'm curious about the tier of fabri armorum, their swords are very cheap

Out of curiosity are there any sword makers that are able to make a good replica of the Wallace Collection A474?

You should rank them on the toughness level.

That was quite a roast of Maciej Kopciuch. Has he responded already?^^

Did I miss Lockwood?

Oi, Kane, chill! No need to go about ruining fella’s business dressing up some Windlass as upscale merchandise. Muppets have to get their messages somewhere.

So, in other words, Maciej Kopciuch swords are the worst out there?

Apocrypha just got an expansion! To say this video is an endless library of swords is strange, as customarily swords are amassed in armouries.