I have bought a couple of antique swords from Richard Wales at Bygone Blades, an antique dealer in Scotland, and have only the best things to say about his knowledge, helpfulness, and the ease of doing business with him. …
Is your art really “a killing art”?
Back in September, Kaja Sadowski posted quite an interesting question to Facebook for discussion by her friends and colleagues: Honest question for my HEMA friends: if you consider the totality of the sources you work from, to what extent is the …
Using lighter swords in training
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 25th March 2016. It has been edited and improved for posting here. I often hear the advice that you should train with a heavier sword, in order to improve your strength, balance, …
Some thoughts about tricks and systems in HEMA
I believe that there is a difference between a system and a bag of tricks, where historical martial arts are concerned. Both are effective, and both are important to have in your repertoire; the greatest skill, however, the greatest skill comes with …
Approaching the study of Viking sword and shield
Many people are interested in the practice of Viking sword and shield, and expect that other HEMA clubs will share their interest in this system. It can result in surprise and confusion when other people and clubs then have very little interest in …
Initial thoughts about the proposed Offensive Weapons Bill 2018
Since October last year, Matt Easton and Keith Farrell have been working hard to mobilise the UK HEMA community to respond to the government consultation on the proposed Offensive Weapons Bill. Now that the wording of the proposed bill has become …
Initial thoughts about the proposed Offensive Weapons Bill 2018Read More
Should I buy a Viktor Berbekucz feder?
Question: Is a Viktor Berbekucz feder worth buying? My verdict: Yes - it’s not bad, you can’t go too far wrong with it. …
Should I buy an Albion Meyer?
Question: Is an Albion Meyer worth buying? My verdict: Yes, if you live in North America; otherwise, unfortunately, probably not. …
What sabre system should you study?
If you have been intrigued by the idea of starting to fence with the sabre, then a common question is what sabre system to study? There are so many different systems that have been written about, so what sabre system is good for a beginner? …
Should I buy an Albion Liechtenauer?
Question: Is an Albion Liechtenauer worth buying? My verdict: Yes, definitely, if you live in North America; otherwise, unfortunately, probably not. …
Should I buy an Armour Class longsword?
Question: Is an Armour Class longsword worth buying? My verdict: Yes, if you buy a custom-made piece. …
Should I buy a Regenyei Armory feder?
Question: Is a Regenyei Armory feder worth buying? My verdict: Yes, do it. …
Should I have siderings on my feder?
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 13th November 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here. "Should I have siderings on my feder?" is a common question that people ask when contemplating the purchase of a new …
Should I buy a Tinker Pearce longsword?
Question: Is a Tinker Pearce longsword worth buying? My verdict: Yes, if you are interested in using them for solo practice; unfortunately, for practice with other people, probably not. …
Synthetic and steel, or a question of intensity
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 5th June 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here. When HEMA practitioners discuss protective gear, and for which kind of activity it is most suitable, someone usually says that …
Should I buy a Hanwei federschwert?
Question: Is a Hanwei federschwert worth buying? My verdict: No, definitely not. Just don’t. …
Buying your first feder from Regenyei Armory
This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 17th April 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here. Many longsword practitioners choose to buy their first feder or training sword from Péter Regenyei at Regenyei Armory. …
Should I buy a Kingston Arms federschwert?
Question: Is a Kingston Arms federschwert worth buying? My verdict: No, probably not. …
Review: Stryker singlestick from Purpleheart Armoury
The Stryker singlestick is a rattan stick with a plastic basket for fencers who want to train with singlesticks. Leather baskets, although traditional, can be prohibitively expensive, and don't always provide enough protection against impacts to the …
Review: Stryker singlestick from Purpleheart ArmouryRead More
Responsibility to our training partners
Marc and Alex performing an exercise during a lesson at Liverpool HEMA. Photo by Keith Farrell, 2017. This article was originally posted on Encased in Steel on 27th February 2015. It has been edited and improved for posting here. We often take …