The WMA gear thread

[JohnnyCache]

Could we get a sticky on where to buy varying levels of WMA gear?
What do you guys use in your practice and where do you get it?

[Ningirsu]

I guess I'll start.

For high-quality steel sharps and blunts:

http://www.albion-swords.com/index.html
http://www.lutel.cz/
-I've handled an Albion before, and it is absolutely fantastic.

-For a cheaper blunt steel sword, the Paul Chen/Hanwei/CAS Iberia (why the hell are there so many names of the same company) Practical Hand-and-a-Half sword from Kult of Athena (kultofathena.com) is very sturdy and costs only $100.
They handle a bit awkwardly as the blade is a bit too heavy and the pommel is gigantic, but for the money it's a great deal. Kult of Athena also has a decent warranty policy; I just returned one of these swords that had a small defect, and they sent me another one which was fine.

For wood wasters:
http://www.newstirlingarms.com/shop/...y.aspx?catid=3

For plastic wasters:
http://web.emerytelcom.net/users/blhunt/sales.htm
http://www.ferruza.com/nylon/en/products.html
-I personally use a With Intent plastic waster, but unfortunately those have been discontinued.

For aluminum:
I don't use aluminum, but I've heard this site offers fairly good aluminums:
http://www.swordcrafts.com/

We make our own padded wasters.

For armor:
For sparring, we just use modern sports equipment. A three-weapon fencing mask, a cup, a leather gorget (might have to look for these at Renn. Faires), and lacrosse gloves are all we really use. Additional kneepads and elbowpads are easy to find at any sports store. You could get sparring jackets or plastic motorcycle armor if you really want, but I've never really found those necessary...bruises teach well anyway.

[JohnnyCache]

is there a difference between a "plastic" waster and a "nylon" waster?

[Ningirsu]

Ah, sorry I didn't specify that (lol, didn't even cross my mind!)

If I recall correctly nylon is a kind of plastic.

[willaume]

Could we get a sticky on where to buy varying levels of WMA gear?
What do you guys use in your practice and where do you get it?

hello
I think that you will have to make your own choice mate.

Feder they are metal blade. you can use a fencing helmet saber and fencing jacket but you do need a metal throat protector and metal gloves.
Feder are fine for club sparing, but in competition they tend to promote rush and grapple because the blade is too flexible. and the seems to break quite often.
the level of protection required to use then in competition is too high to represent un-armoured fencing like ground fighting in full plate to represent BJJ.

Wooden waster
good ones are hard to come by and you do need a fencing helmet, lacrosse type of glove and a padded gambison.
again i think it requires too much protection to simulate un-armoured fencing.


Nylon/ plastic waster
they do not require much protection, fencing jacket, fencing helmet and lacrosse gloves
personally i find them too wobbly
if used in competition you will need a Do like chest protection and possible something on the collarbones

shinai
usually the come with some modification in weight . I used them with a fencing helmet and no gloves. some are using gloves.
in competition you will need a Do like chest protection.
They are too bouncy compared to a real sword. that being said I think shinai is the simulator that behave the less unlike a proper sword.
i think it is basically good enough.

from the championship in hanover, the best simulator where the rapier simulator and really we need something like that for long sword.

phil

ps for the helmet use a 1600 N 3 weapons fencing helmet