About our Swords and Their Manufacturer
These swords are hand forged in the Philippines. Many of you may remember
that in the past I would not used swords made in the Philippines as they
were all case hardened and not fully tempered.
This has changed, and drastically so.
5160 is a very tough steel and is noted for being difficult to
work. In our efforts to improve our swords, we experimented with several
heat treating methods, and have found one that works quite well. This is
proprietary information, so don’t bother asking.
Swords are designed and heat treated for a specific purpose. A thrusting
rapier must be rigid in order to penetrate. Regardless of the fiction spread
by books and movies, a rapier that would bend so far as to have the point
touch the pommel would be useless as a weapon. I have one at home, and
it cannot penetrate a piece of cardboard, and if you try to cut, why it
flaps all over the place. But the rapier, and the small sword, must have
enough flex to take the shock of a parry without breaking.
Katanas and scimitars are prevented from being very flexible by their
shape, but like the rapier they must have enough resilience to take the
shock of a blow on armor or shield as well as the opponent.
Viking and medieval swords were often designed to be able to flex about
3-5 inches and return to true. This allowed the blade to flex, and yet
the edge to remain hard enough to cut mail and bone. Swords that will flex
one or two feet out of line are essentially springs, and thus the edges
are not very hard.
I have had people question me regarding the affiliation with Generation
2 swords, since I never carried any Filipino made swords at MRL. The answer
is very simple. The swords we looked at were case hardened and not fully
tempered. Case hardening is where the surface of the steel is treated with
carbon. The metal is heated up and soaked, and then quenched. This leaves
a hard edge, but the interior of the sword is soft. After being sharpened
a few times, the hard portion is worn away, and only soft metal remains.
More importantly, the body of the sword is not tempered.
However the Gen 2 swords are fully heated treated (tempered) all
the way through. The swords I have looked at have all be a good quality
sword, made with good steel and capable of being used. In reality they
are better than the original, since the metal and the heat treating more
consistent than swordmakers were able to get in the past.
So what you get are good quality swords at an affordable price.
In addition, the fit and finish that I have seen is better than a
large majority of swords from other sources.
The swords, and the sword prices, should speak for themselves, and
they do.
Hank Reinhardt
Click on the picture above to go
to the Hank Reinhardt Collection
The Forging of Generation 2
More great pages of Generation 2 (Now known as
Gen 2 for short), click below.
"Historical Recreations"
(History Lives) Page 1
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"Historical Recreations"
(History Lives) Page 2
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"Stage Combat Line"
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What's new with Generation 2?
Thursday, June 22, 2006
So every one has been wondering what is going on with Generation 2.
Well let me tell you we are busy, very busy. Not only do we have new
a Generation 2 Bowie Knife in the works but also 2 new Stage Combat Line
swords coming as well.
We are teaming up with Last Legend to make Pro Sword. How does that
work you ask? Well mostly Last Legend will make the oriental portion of
Pro Sword and Generation 2 will make the medieval aspect.
But, there is also in the works and I am sure many are busting to find
out if it is true, but Last Legend, Generation 2 and Pro sword has the
Hank Reinhart, yes the Hank Reinhart sending us desings to make a "Hank
Reinhart" collection. Both Last Legend and Generation2 have 3 drawings
to start with.
Does this mean this deal is in the bag? No, we have to first make the
proto-types and Hank has to approve. I will tell you he was impressed by
our Crusader sword we sent to to inspect.
Also if you want to know more about how well Generation 2 swods are
made and to read an interview I had with Paul Southren from Sword Buyers
Guide www.sword-buyers-guide.com/ezine.html
Click on the link. You will have to subscribe to his newsletter. But it
is free.
Well that is all I have for now. But as new items or news come in you
will find it posted on our website and posted here.
Clyde Hollis |
