Question: Is an Armour Class longsword worth buying?
My verdict: Yes, if you buy a custom-made piece.
Armour Class is a Scottish swordsmith company that has been producing swords for re-enactment groups for many years, and they have an excellent reputation within that field. Unfortunately, their standard model swords are typically too heavy for HEMA purposes.
However, you can always get in touch with them and commission a custom sword. Their custom work is pretty good, the price remains quite reasonable, and they might complete the project within a year.
Several HEMA clubs in the UK have been using custom swords from Armour Class for many years, and tend to be quite happy with the quality, handling, and durability of these pieces.
If you have the opportunity to buy a custom-made piece, it may be a good investment. If you only have the opportunity to buy their standard models, maybe there are better ways to spend your money for HEMA gear.
Motivation and transparency
I have one of these sharp swords, which I bought for myself, and although I do not have one of the blunt longswords, I did handle several of them over the years during my time in historical re-enactment. I would probably suggest to my students that there are better longswords available for HEMA purposes.
(Edit: this “motivation” section was added on the 9th of March 2019, as part of an effort to improve the transparency of the various reviews on this website.)
Keith Farrell teaches HEMA professionally, often at international events (why not hire me to teach at your event?), and has an interest in coaching instructors to become better teachers. I teach regularly at Liverpool HEMA, and help behind the scenes with running HEMA in Glasgow at the Vanguard Centre.
I have authored Scottish Broadsword and British Singlestick and the award-winning AHA German Longsword Study Guide, and maintain a blog at www.keithfarrell.net where I post regularly.