FYI: This was the first venture into the world of serious martial arts using
the Knighthawk Armoury line of products. I was not at all sure that the
testing was even worth the time, but I was convinced to send some used weapons
as samples.
The end result was as follows, but be sure to read the entire saga; it
is QUITE interesting! Especially the Test Results !
Dear Olan,
Sorry it took so long to get back to you! I've had a hell of a week
here. We are the Central Coast Western Martial Arts Association (CCWMAA),
and please feel free to post the letter on your website! There's not much
point in only endorsing a product to the producer, is there?
The practice weapons have held up beautifully, but the Crusader's hilt is
proving problematic. The Latex has frayed and almost come off, but it's
nothing a little duct tape and love won't fix. With that in mind, I can only
approve of the Knighthawk weapons for light to mid-contact sparring, but for
these purposes they are nothing short of excellent.
All the best,
Benjamin Brown
Benjamin -
The hilt on the Crusader was broken and repaired even before it was sent
to you, so I expected it not to stand up to the level of stress you were applying
to it. You might try using Aleene's Tacky Glue on it; that's what I used initially
to repair the initial break.
ANY of the weapons will stand up very well as long as their hilts are not stressed.
The hilt is the weak point on each of these swords. The basket hilts hold up much
better, and I'd love to be able to have the cross-hilts supported with some kind
of integrated core - but that's just not going to happen.
Thank you for the official endorsement. I understand that your initial letter
was intended for public consumption, but I did not wish to assume permission -
thus my request! :)
Later -
Olan
Here's the start of our correspondence and the results of the
testing done in the dojo.
Dear Mr. Brown -
THANK YOU for your interest in the Knighthawk Armoury line of latex-foam weapons.
These items are perfect for LARP use, but WILL NOT stand up to full-contact combat;
the foam is simply too soft.
<...snip...>
Sincerely,
Olan
Dear Mr. Knight,
It's hard NOT to be interested in the Knighthawk line. To
clarify my point (and because I still hold to a
shred of hope these can be
used) the actionflex swords we train with are very
soft, and we wear no armour at all. The softness of the foam would be a
positive boon to us.
We do not plan on mixing Knighthawk weapons with our other sparring
equipment. If your blades can stand hard contact with eachother, flesh, and
one or two scrapes with minimal damage, then they have met all of our
qualifications. The reason we do not train with harder weapons is primarily,
the heavy cost of armour, and secondly, the lack of mobility it incurrs.
We train with soft weapons without armour, and do so two to three times a
week. This is the other benefit of soft weapon training - no serious
injuries. It leaves us free to drill with live steel swords so we don't
become complacent due to the lightness of our weapons. I'm sure you can see
why the idea of your Knighthawk weapons is so appealing to us. We currently
train with these:
http://store.yahoo.com/actionflex/ch40insw2.html
and have five of them. This number will grow as our new
members purchase their own and we branch out into other weapons. They leave
a lot to be desired, however, give the dull look and lack of a true edge or hilt.
We train in duel bouts, with one combatant taking on one or two opponants in
five to ten minute rounds. If your swords will stand up to this, I can see a
trend catching on in our group. If not, be assured that you will have early
adopters for your more durable line.
Thank you,
Benjamin Brown
Dear Mr. Brown -
I have actually tested two of my swords in a full combat test, and I ran
into two problems:
One: The latex covering. The latex makes each
weapon waterproof and gives it that way cool, smooth
surface look. However, when two of these swords hit
each other really, really hard, the latex can
stretch
and deform; after all, the latex is simply a layered
coating on the foam underneath.
Two: if you hit hard enough, the foam underneath
can collapse. It's rare, but I've seen permanent
dents
formed by too-heavy contact.
The products you use (I checked out the link)
look
like they are using a neoprene product over a simple
core. Neoprene is soft, will take a real beating,
and
bounce right back; it just looks like....neoprene.
As much as I'd LOVE to have another group as
customers, I really think that you'd be unhappy with
the products after a few sessions. However, if you
REALLY want to test them.....
One final thought. If you do decide to test two
swords, then start off at one-quarter contact, then
if
everything looks cool move to half-contact, and so
on
up to what you would normally do. Perhaps you will
find a point that is acaceptable for training but
will
not damage the swords.
Anyway, please let me know what you want to do!
Later -
Olan
Dear Mr. Knight,
<...snip...>
If you would like to send us two
test items, we would be
more than happy to put them through the paces, from
quarter speed to full.
If we are happy with them, I will pay full retail
price for both items, and
can commit to further purchases as early as August.
If not, I will ship the
swords back to you at my cost with a full written
report of how they held up
to the sparring, exactly what was done with them,
and what could be done to
make them more durable.
Thank you,
Benjamin Brown
Benjamin -
(Enough with the "Mr" this and "Mr" that! :)
Let me ponder this. I'm also considering sending
you two items whose hilts were damaged but whose
blades are perfect. Naturally these items are not
sellable, and I've got three or four of these damaged
swords. I do use them as demo items, but hmmm....
Later -
Olan
Olan -
You Americans. No respect for formality. :) The damaged weapons
would be ideal. I'd feel bad putting two perfectly good swords through
the paces if they could otherwise be sold. I'd be much happier with just
two damaged swords. If they are unsellable, then that suits our purposes
much
better.
If you want to ship them, we will put them through our tests, and if
they perform as I hope, at least two other members will purchase swords
within the next month, I suspect. One of them has been hungrily eyeing the
Crusader since I sent him your site, while I have been sizing up the Mercenary's
longsword and arming sword, and the shield.
With thanks,
Benjamin Brown
Test Results
Dear Olan,
WOW! Mr. Knight, you need more faith in your products! From
barely tapping blades to full contact swinging, the only damage
sustained
was a slight crease to the side of the Saber. We even put the Crusader
in
the hands of our resident lunatic and even his wild swings couldn't
damage
it.
For the most part, our group is comprised of serious and dedicated
martial
artists. I've studied Kendo, Budokan Ninjutsu, Iaido, some fencing
(which
left me cold, I can tell you!) and I'm branching into WMA now, which is
by
far my favorite. Your products allow for quick handling and PERCEPTION,
which is vital in learning swordplay. With the Actionflex weapons, you
simply can't tell if a parry is edge-on-edge and thus a bad habit, or
if
you've just tried to cut someone with the flat of your blade. If you
were
curious, only four of the group members (there's around ten of us -
only six
hard core, though) train with wasters and only myself and Aaron enjoy
fighting with steel (Hanwei's Practical line gets my vote for that, for
quality, endurance and sheer affordability).
Your weapons are sturdy, attractive, and well formed. When my sparring
partner Aaron and I train with our wasters, we obviously focus far more
on
defensive swordplay and pulled shots (though I have a lump the size of
a
grape on my forehead right now), but with the Knighthawk weapons,
although
the weight difference is a little off-putting (and allows for some
unrealistic moves!) the quality of training rises tenfold.
I promised you a detailed report, but I am afraid I must back out of
that
oath. I assure you, it would be dull reading indeed - no matter what we
did
to those beauties, they held firm and strong. While they lacked the
balance
and weight of our wasters, and the belligerent invulnerability of our
Actionflex weapons, they struck a perfect counterpoint between them.
While
the Actionflex weapons lend themselves well to hurling yourself into
battle
with abandon, and the wasters invariably lead to probing strikes,
parries
and heavy focus on footwork and avoidance, the Knighthawk weapons
elegantly
allow for calculated feints, ripostes and attacks, showing both
partners
where the blade is at all times, making for a highly effective and safe
sparring weapon. I can see these weapons easily becoming an integral
part of
our training regime.
As to the durability of these, I have encountered absolutely no
problems,
and this includes two of our newer members going at it like lunatics
and
scraping the poor tips on the concrete floor. Aside from that extreme,
the
reality of sword combat is that if a blade is parried edge on edge, it
will
nick and damage the blade, and if the blow is hard enough, shear clean
through. While your foam weapons may not be as hard and durable as wood
or
steel, we have both of those at our disposal, so I certainly feel that
these
weapons will be a fine and useful addition to our collective armory.
I have fallen madly in love with the Saber, and as soon as my balance
refills (should be next week) I will be purchasing a new one for
myself.
Everyone else was very impressed with the way the swords handled, and I
would not be at all surprised if each one of them bought their own. If
I
could suggest anything to improve your product, it would be stiffer
quillions, possibly with a thick core over foam? I can foresee those
catching a blow and flying off. A stiffer core in the blade itself
would, of
course, lend to durability - or perhaps more flexible foam and a more
flexible core? But rigid seems to be an easier, and more broadly
appealing
way to go. Finally, and this is just a silly thing, some kind of
latex-safe
oil to lightly coat the blades with to simulate the slipping and
sliding of
live steal combat. The difference between the somewhat tactile latex
and the
smooth surfaces of our swords and wasters is suprisingly evident.
I would like to purchase the sample weapons from you as well, if
possible.
Some of our group members are not terribly wealthy but are enamored of
your
products, so if I could pay something to allow us to keep them, I'm
sure
they would be thrilled.
The handwritten note you included just cements my opinion of you as a
dedicated an honorable man, and you really have gone the extra ten
miles for
your clients. I can't decide which impresses me more: the product, or
the
person selling it! For what it's worth, please accept the ringing
endorsement of myself and everyone who has tested these weapons.
Yours faithfully,
Benjamin Brown.
PS. In case you were wondering, we fought maybe 5 bouts of ten rounds
each,
so fifty odd duels total. In one night. We put those swords through
their
paces, and my god, they performed beyond my highest expectations.