I have been interested in arms and armor since I was about 6, but serious
interest began when I was about 16, and I really started collecting weapons
then. In the army I spent two years in Germany, where I had a chance to
travel and was able to visit most of the museums in Europe. At that time
there was very little interest in Arms and Armor, so the curators of the
various museums were eager to talk about the subject, and let me examine
many of their finds.
I continued studying and collecting when I came home from Germany,
and I traveled to museums in the US that I could reach.
When the SCA got started in 1966 I found out about it in 1967, and started
a group in Birmingham (Iron Mountain) then traveled to Atlanta where I
helped start the group there, and also helped in getting groups started
in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, while I continued my study of the subject.
Wrote several articles for the early Tournaments Illuminated, and also
showed some of the members how to make wooden curved shields.
I will say that I got tired of the local politics in the SCA and dropped
out about 74-75.
Bill Adams at Atlanta Cutlery and I started Museum Replicas in 1984.
At the time of the startup there were no swords available. But when we
found Del Tin in Italy we were able to bring in good swords at reasonable
prices. Having this access to the swords allowed me to conduct many experiments
on the cutting power and effectiveness of various edged weapons. That gave
me the time to sort out the myth and fantasy from the reality that surrounds
edged weapons.
I wrote a couple of articles on swords for Knives. Plus some minor articles
on Kukris, etc. for Blade Magazine. In the mid to late 80's I met Ewart
Oakeshott and we soon became good friends. I felt that he was one of the
few people who had a real knowledge of swords.
I continued my role as a serious student of arms and armor, with the
emphasis on arms. Having also continued to experiment and test various
bits of armor and arms and continued to spar, including giving various
demonstrations each year a the blade show. This continues till this day,
but at 73 it gets harder and harder.
During this time I started writing a book on swords about 10 years ago,
and could have had it finished but new information kept cropping up. The
book is now almost complete except for a few minor changes and additions.
Bill and I sold Museum Replicas to Windlass Steelcrafts in 1995, and
I stayed on as a consultant for many years. It was obvious that they were
not paying any attention to me, and I left last year.
Recently Eddie Floyd and I have developed two practice swords and are
in the process of getting them to market. Should be a great success, since
they look and feel like swords, and can be weighted to be the same weight
as a real sword, but will not injure anyone with only a minimum of padding.
I don't know whether to mention it or not, but just about all of the
early sword and armor copy in MRL was written by me, but I haven't been
doing any of it for quite some time now.
Added 11/05/07.
Hank left us on 10/30/07 after complications after surgery.
From Clyde Hollis and Generation 2:
"It has been a honor to work with someone the caliber of Hank Reinhardt.
When we (Generation 2) were told by Last Legend that the, THE Hank
Reinhardt wanted to work with us (LL and Gen 2), we were floored!
It took sometime to decide which items we would do first and also to
decide whose foundry would do each items, but once we got going... well
you see the results.
What we do regret is that Hank never made it out of ICU to see the Henry
Vth Sword. He was looking forward to seeing how well we would come
close to the original. We trust we did.
The items we completed right before he passed away were the Henry V
and the Falchion."
Now a word to Hank; "Hank these 2 years
of knowing you and the 1 1/2 years of really working with you has been
a real honor. We will strive to continue to make you proud with the
other items you wanted us to produce.
Rest well my Mentor, I know I have gained much from your mentoring,
and your Friendship. You made a big mark in the sword industry.
Your Mark will be known years down the road."
God Bless,
Clyde Hollis
Generation 2
More credentials and works by Hank Reinhardt:
VIKING SWORD (video)
How to Use the Viking Sword in Real Combat
by Hank Reinhardt
(Video Background) The Vikings were among the most feared warriors in
the history of mankind. In this extraordinary video, renowned historian
and sword expert Hank Reinhardt provides a rare insight into the sword
fighting tactics of the Viking raiders. Reinhardt spent decades analyzing
archaeological relics, the Icelandic sagas and other historical materials
to develop a theoretical blueprint of the Vikings’ fearsome style of sword
combat. He then put his theory to the test through countless hours of full-contact
sparring with reproduction weapons. Through dramatic fights featuring swordsmen
in authentic period costume, this video presents a graphic analysis of
all four major styles of Viking sword combat (sword vs. sword, sword and
shield without armor, sword and shield with minimal armor, and sword and
shield with full armor) and teaches you the most reliable, combat-proven
tactics of each.
MYTH OF THE SWORD (video)
by Hank Reinhardt
(Video Background) In this original Paladin production, world-renowned
sword expert Hank Reinhardt pulls aside the veil of myth and fantasy to
expose the realities of swords and sword combat. Often controversial, sometimes
provocative, but never boring, Reinhardt presents a detailed history of
swords, their evolution and their use in both warfare and individual combat
around the globe. Reinhardt also answers the most commonly asked questions
on dueling, ancient and medieval warfare and modern-day care of swords.
Finally, through dramatic cutting demonstrations on armored and un-armored
targets, he demonstrates the proper use and awesome power of a variety
of swords, from Japanese katanas to medieval broadswords.
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
|
"Historical Recreations"
(History Lives) Page 2
|
"Stage Combat Line"
|
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 |
