Can be used for offensive and defensive . If your your a prepper and looking for something light weight protection from blades or bats. Great review 👏 has the historical facts that my review was lacking.
If you folks want any Cold Steel training equipment or swords, buy them NOW. Cold Steel was just sold to GSM Outdoors on Tuesday, and word from former Cold Steel employees is that they'll be discontinuing their swords and training equipment, and will be focusing more on hunting and outdoor equipment (makes sense with the new owners being an outdoor company). Long story short, if you want anything even remotely related to martial arts from Cold Steel, get it before January 1st.
@@VanguardArmament Both actually. One is an acquaintance of mine. The other is a group on Facebook for Cold Steel products and trades. Several employees are there and told everyone what happened (the group is called Cold Steel Nation). There was also a public announcement that GSM bought them.
One concern you didn't mention is it's size will go in the back seat of a car (With a golf bag full of swords) to drive out to the field, if you don't have a sparring gym available. Compared with a center grip bossed roundshield, of the Migration Era. (Basically the "Viking Shield," but everyone was using something like that, even the Romans had an oval version of it.) This is a major reason why you don't see pole-arms as much in just pick-up fooling around with your friends, as opposed to Historical Re-enactments. It's just not that easy to throw a clutch of Pikes in the back of your car, and drive out to the woods, where you can do that sort of thing. (When we can do that sort of thing again, of course.)
Oh plenty of people used such things. In the Ancient world, center-gripped medium-sized round shields were very common, used by Iberians (caetrati+cavalry), Romans (cavalry+standard bearers), and British/Germanic/Celtics used them as well, either for light infantry, skirmishers, and/or cavalry. And that's just antiquity/iron age. Which is all I know all that well.
For the record too, there are few things of an even relatively 'large' size from Cold Steel I would ever recommend. Just about 100% of their larger 'practice' weapons/tools are hugely overweight and just ridiculously forward heavy. But these stand out as pretty ideal weighted for what they are, and thanks to being polyprop., are night-indestructible. If cold steel made a practice spear out of polyprop., it'd be eight pounds and two inches thick.
Thanks for the review, I've had my eye on those for a while. If you're taking requests, I would like an update on your Superior Fencing gear after a few years. I'm curious how it has held up
I've had my eye on this for a while, thinking of using it to simulate a Roman Parma Shield or Small Viking Shield. EDIT: After now having one and playing around with it for a while, my only complaint is that the handle needs to be rotated 90 degrees so that its parallel instead of perpendicular. It's very uncomfortable to hold the shield out as you should be.
This isn't exactly a request for a review, although I would like to ask you about your opinion on Arms and Armor rapiers, considering you're an experienced rapierist and have handled a number of the originals. A lot of people seem to like their rapiers while others say they're overly flexible( this also brings in another question as to how rigid were the originals: were they flexible or were they really stiff with some flex, being as long as they are). If I'm not mistaken, they seem to start at 6mm or 0.25 inches thick at the base, which to my inexperienced mind seems a bit thin for a rapier. Would love to hear your opinion and excellent review, Nick. Cheers!
I haven't no, but the specification is really odd. It's basically going to handle like an overly long spadroon, in which case you'd be better off with their economy spadroon. Roworth's system was for all cut and thrust swords of the time, but the problem with that budget sabre is it doesn't really match any swords used at the time.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing thanks for the response, i am looking for a stirrup hilt that wont break the bank since all i have are later more complex guards more inline with italian dueling sabers. What would you recommend
The only good stirrup hilts that represent infantry sabres are made by Black Fencer, which you can get through resellers like Southcoast swords, but I know stock can be an issue. Kvetun also make stirrup hilts (see the options on the Easton sabre) but you have to ask them to make shorter blade length (which they will) as they will be too long as standard for this type. Beyond this there is nothing really ideal, though the budget options are well filled by synthetics.
As a rule very few people from Castille in Europe as their prices are pretty high already compared to the competition, and then shipping and duties make it far worse. Though I don't have any complete swords from them, I do have Kraken swords with castille blades. I can say without a doubt that Castille makes very high quality kit. Though they are overpriced.
I wish they would make a Roman rectangle shield to go with the Roman Gladius!
Yeah really, I want aspis and scutums made with this tough cheap material
That would be sick
YES
Can be used for offensive and defensive . If your your a prepper and looking for something light weight protection from blades or bats. Great review 👏 has the historical facts that my review was lacking.
I really want an aspis and scutum with this material
Having played around with the small buckler it should be trivial to drill a few holes in it and convert it to a strap and handgrip small shield.
If you folks want any Cold Steel training equipment or swords, buy them NOW. Cold Steel was just sold to GSM Outdoors on Tuesday, and word from former Cold Steel employees is that they'll be discontinuing their swords and training equipment, and will be focusing more on hunting and outdoor equipment (makes sense with the new owners being an outdoor company).
Long story short, if you want anything even remotely related to martial arts from Cold Steel, get it before January 1st.
Did you see the Cold Steel employees posting in a forum or do you know some personally that told you?
@@VanguardArmament Both actually. One is an acquaintance of mine. The other is a group on Facebook for Cold Steel products and trades. Several employees are there and told everyone what happened (the group is called Cold Steel Nation). There was also a public announcement that GSM bought them.
That is terrible news, but thanks for the intel.
Funnily enough, what I really want most is....a 1917 cutlass.
@@segrientboar5954 No worries, and you have excellent taste haha.
@@1917cutlass Likewise mate.
One concern you didn't mention is it's size will go in the back seat of a car (With a golf bag full of swords) to drive out to the field, if you don't have a sparring gym available. Compared with a center grip bossed roundshield, of the Migration Era. (Basically the "Viking Shield," but everyone was using something like that, even the Romans had an oval version of it.) This is a major reason why you don't see pole-arms as much in just pick-up fooling around with your friends, as opposed to Historical Re-enactments. It's just not that easy to throw a clutch of Pikes in the back of your car, and drive out to the woods, where you can do that sort of thing. (When we can do that sort of thing again, of course.)
Oh plenty of people used such things. In the Ancient world, center-gripped medium-sized round shields were very common, used by Iberians (caetrati+cavalry), Romans (cavalry+standard bearers), and British/Germanic/Celtics used them as well, either for light infantry, skirmishers, and/or cavalry.
And that's just antiquity/iron age. Which is all I know all that well.
Greek Peltasts and Roman Velites would have carried something of a similar size. Slingers and javelin light infantry.
As I kobudo fan I can't wait to use this with the right spear as a tinbe rochin
This is exactly my plan! Though I admit I’m not a practitioner
Yep agree. I painted mine, looks good, handles nice.
4:08 That buckler it's difficult to tell whether it is curved facing in or out.
For the record too, there are few things of an even relatively 'large' size from Cold Steel I would ever recommend. Just about 100% of their larger 'practice' weapons/tools are hugely overweight and just ridiculously forward heavy. But these stand out as pretty ideal weighted for what they are, and thanks to being polyprop., are night-indestructible.
If cold steel made a practice spear out of polyprop., it'd be eight pounds and two inches thick.
I bought one of these a couple months back and they are a lot of fun, but they do wear your arms and shoulder out!
Thanks for the review, I've had my eye on those for a while.
If you're taking requests, I would like an update on your Superior Fencing gear after a few years. I'm curious how it has held up
I've had my eye on this for a while, thinking of using it to simulate a Roman Parma Shield or Small Viking Shield.
EDIT: After now having one and playing around with it for a while, my only complaint is that the handle needs to be rotated 90 degrees so that its parallel instead of perpendicular. It's very uncomfortable to hold the shield out as you should be.
What do you use to simulate a viking/roman sword?
@@stevenpremmel4116 I use a synthetic gladius and spatha from Purpleheart Armory.
This isn't exactly a request for a review, although I would like to ask you about your opinion on Arms and Armor rapiers, considering you're an experienced rapierist and have handled a number of the originals. A lot of people seem to like their rapiers while others say they're overly flexible( this also brings in another question as to how rigid were the originals: were they flexible or were they really stiff with some flex, being as long as they are). If I'm not mistaken, they seem to start at 6mm or 0.25 inches thick at the base, which to my inexperienced mind seems a bit thin for a rapier.
Would love to hear your opinion and excellent review, Nick. Cheers!
I didn't realize they made a larger one now. Have the buckler and like it, so I may add this targe just for kicks, lol
I want one but I feel like it’s overpriced
Thanks for the review man, waiting for mine, will see if I can modify it to include a belt
I love that the message here is basically “big and strong and fun and big and strong and fun”.
I like the Targe, but the buckler fits well in my EDC bag.
for me, it looks like a caetra, so it works nicely with cold steel gladius or a falcata.
were bucklers ever modified in to helmets?
Sombrero
Two of my favourite items
Have you handled Castille Armorys budget saber? Would it be good for Roworths system and if you have access to one could you do a review?
I haven't no, but the specification is really odd. It's basically going to handle like an overly long spadroon, in which case you'd be better off with their economy spadroon. Roworth's system was for all cut and thrust swords of the time, but the problem with that budget sabre is it doesn't really match any swords used at the time.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing thanks for the response, i am looking for a stirrup hilt that wont break the bank since all i have are later more complex guards more inline with italian dueling sabers. What would you recommend
The only good stirrup hilts that represent infantry sabres are made by Black Fencer, which you can get through resellers like Southcoast swords, but I know stock can be an issue. Kvetun also make stirrup hilts (see the options on the Easton sabre) but you have to ask them to make shorter blade length (which they will) as they will be too long as standard for this type.
Beyond this there is nothing really ideal, though the budget options are well filled by synthetics.
Why didn't they also make a Rotella? Honestly coldsteel training gear is hit and miss but I'll probably grab two of these for my club.
their buckler is solid, and nearly bulletproof(see blood and irons review)
That's almost as big as my rotella and heavier.
Would you use a targe with a basket hilted broadsword?
targe and basket hilt was the famed combo in Highland warfare in the 18th century
@@CDKohmy Thank you. I'm studying sidesword myself, hence the rotella
small shields were convergently invented by various different cultures in history.
Because Europe, I doubt it, but do you have experience with Castille Armoury swords?
As a rule very few people from Castille in Europe as their prices are pretty high already compared to the competition, and then shipping and duties make it far worse. Though I don't have any complete swords from them, I do have Kraken swords with castille blades. I can say without a doubt that Castille makes very high quality kit. Though they are overpriced.
I love my one.
Buckler for really big people 😂😂😂