I've been using the Gymnasium variant for some time and I've really enjoyed it. For the price it's fantastic and has held up well, even with mixed weapon sparring. My previous saber was a SIGI with the "curved" option and while it was aesthetically a very pleasing saber it was nowhere near as lively in the hand. Overall I'm very pleased with my VB, it's even held up to pretty intense pell practices as well!
Yep, I see what you mean. In all honesty, I think the SIGI Pro only works well with the slightly curved blade and it's definitely a heavier sabre than this.
@historyandsabre I want to love the SIGI Pro as I think it's one of the most beautiful sabers on the market it's just a beast to swing lol. Maybe they'll make a light variant now that they've done so with their longswords!
I've had one of these for a few years - since before I bought my Kvetun slot hilt. Although I use the Kvetun more at my club (because we do a lot of British military sabre), This comes out regularly and its light weight and agility make me look better than I really am. The speed and balance let me get away with parries that wouldn't work as well with the heavier sword. I take a M/L in Thokk and that fits nicely. The Supfen gloves (size L) are a bit tight though 😁
Yep, exactly. It's a secondary tool for me aswell but I have a feeling I'll end up using it for sparring quite a bit. Thanks for the sizing info aswell. Cheers.
Great model. I prefeer the balance foward, but actually I’m recommending it to the new students at the club alongside with Regenyei’s light trainning. Both are amazing for spanish infantry sabre.
But the problem is that a Light saber, aka "infantry saber", should be well balanced and definitely not too forward. As I explained it in a separate comment, the distal tapering of the fullered blade is not gradual, but you have one thickness (and its very thick) for the first 2/3 of the blade and then another, decreased, for the last 1/3 of the balde. The decrease in blade thickness happens in a matter of just 2 cm of blade length. So in other words there is to much mass in the second half of the blade, specifically from the mid point to the beginning of the last third, where the narrowing happens.
Good review! I can also recommend it I have been using it for 2 years (and have now two for some reason). I had with my first one the problem that the threat broke of.. but I like the sword too much, so asked for the warranty and got it back. (this was in oktober 2022) For sabre gloves I can recommend for cuphilt sabres: White company gloves from Sergey Volkov, Secondary: HF-Armory Firestone, I find the Fenice gloves and your Thokks too heavy for cup hilt sabre. I cannot hold them properly with those gloves.
I've been looking to upgrade from my fairly basic hanwei sabre, but i get away with using that with a sparring glove. I own some red dragons, but do you happen to know if the cup style sparring glove will fit this grip? Thank you
Love saber, i made one singlestick but guard on hand, and train by watching saber solo training. I wish this HEMA can penetrate malaysia. Because i like to combine this with malaysia/indonesia martial arts silat.
It's definitely a bit stiffer than some of the newer manufacturers and only really flexed in the last third at all. However, I don't think its unsafe or worrisome. It's ok.
As far as the difference between the fullered and the non fullered blade, and I am looking at a fullered version right next to my desk as I am typing this, is the following. The problem is the distal tapering of the blade. I don't know why did Victor had to make this difference while making the different blade versions but the difference is substantial. My school got two VB Light Sabers with fullers and one without and with a straight blade. The straight blade saber had a very gradual distal taper that makes the blade loose mass progressively by making it thinner as you go to the tip, as you would expect it. I am guessing by the comments from the presenter of this clip that this is true for the curved non fullered version as well. On the other hand, the fullered version doesn't have a gradual distal taper, but the blade has generally one thickness and then at the begging of the last third it decreases thickness in a matter of 2cm of length to a smaller one that it keeps to about 1cm before the very tip. So basically one thickness for the first 2/3 of the blade and then another one (decreased) for the last 1/3. I don't want to you to get the wrong idea these are still some of the best value, all round sabers on the market and the steel is very good, not soft, well made and assembled, good quality on all parts. My HEAVY HEMA Saber from VB is going strong now for almost 2 years, and still looks bad ass. Just be aware that the non fullered version handles better and is cheaper but it DOESN'T look better, and that is important, like it or not. A saber is a weapon that's very simple in design after all, and it's esthetics depend on a few elements and the fuller is definitely one of them. So it's unfortunate that he version that really looks right handles not as good but still adequate.
How different is this model that the VB gymnasium saber? I believe its the v5 im referring to that purpleheart armory has in stock. Just curious if the one i just perchased is this one that you had high praises for or a different model. Thanks!!
I've bought sigi bow saber. It's cool, but extremly bendy. Not great for parrying unless you can take a hit exactly on the cutting edge. Cool "weapon" for fast fighters though.
@@historyandsabre I think the only difference is a hilt. Obviously it' easier to get hit in hand with bow-type one. Also my blade is curved with fuller. SIGI has recently introduced a bigger hilt type, for mitten-like gloves. Im using SG mittens and they're a very close fit. I wouldn't recommend this saber to new fencers or for tournaments.
Hello!!! I'm looking for my first sabre, something that I can use to practice the Spanish styles (Frias-Merelo). My main doubt is between the VB light and the new S6 model from Kruger as I want a tool with a good quality-price ratio. As for Regenyei I think that the light model may be too light and the tournament model too heavy...in my school it is not a weapon that we work a lot so I would not use it intensively, only in occasional classes and events. Based on this information I hope you can help me. Thanks in advance!!!
I don't know a lot about Spanish sabre to be honest but I think you already narrowed it down quite well. The A6 and the VB light are both good options. If you're on a tight budget, I'd choose based on price and availabiliy between the two.
I've been using the Gymnasium variant for some time and I've really enjoyed it. For the price it's fantastic and has held up well, even with mixed weapon sparring.
My previous saber was a SIGI with the "curved" option and while it was aesthetically a very pleasing saber it was nowhere near as lively in the hand. Overall I'm very pleased with my VB, it's even held up to pretty intense pell practices as well!
Yep, I see what you mean. In all honesty, I think the SIGI Pro only works well with the slightly curved blade and it's definitely a heavier sabre than this.
@historyandsabre I want to love the SIGI Pro as I think it's one of the most beautiful sabers on the market it's just a beast to swing lol. Maybe they'll make a light variant now that they've done so with their longswords!
I've had one of these for a few years - since before I bought my Kvetun slot hilt. Although I use the Kvetun more at my club (because we do a lot of British military sabre), This comes out regularly and its light weight and agility make me look better than I really am. The speed and balance let me get away with parries that wouldn't work as well with the heavier sword. I take a M/L in Thokk and that fits nicely. The Supfen gloves (size L) are a bit tight though 😁
Yep, exactly. It's a secondary tool for me aswell but I have a feeling I'll end up using it for sparring quite a bit.
Thanks for the sizing info aswell. Cheers.
I picked one of these up based on your review and I liked it so much I bought another- thanks!
Oh cool, this is very nice to hear. Happy fencing!
Thanks for the review! I’m in the market for a lighter sabre to complement my kvetun- this one looks perfect!
Not a problem!
Great model. I prefeer the balance foward, but actually I’m recommending it to the new students at the club alongside with Regenyei’s light trainning. Both are amazing for spanish infantry sabre.
Fair enough, they're similar offerings at the core! I clearly prefer the VB but then again that's subjective.
But the problem is that a Light saber, aka "infantry saber", should be well balanced and definitely not too forward. As I explained it in a separate comment, the distal tapering of the fullered blade is not gradual, but you have one thickness (and its very thick) for the first 2/3 of the blade and then another, decreased, for the last 1/3 of the balde. The decrease in blade thickness happens in a matter of just 2 cm of blade length. So in other words there is to much mass in the second half of the blade, specifically from the mid point to the beginning of the last third, where the narrowing happens.
Good review!
I can also recommend it I have been using it for 2 years (and have now two for some reason).
I had with my first one the problem that the threat broke of.. but I like the sword too much, so asked for the warranty and got it back. (this was in oktober 2022)
For sabre gloves I can recommend for cuphilt sabres: White company gloves from Sergey Volkov,
Secondary: HF-Armory Firestone,
I find the Fenice gloves and your Thokks too heavy for cup hilt sabre. I cannot hold them properly with those gloves.
I've been looking to upgrade from my fairly basic hanwei sabre, but i get away with using that with a sparring glove. I own some red dragons, but do you happen to know if the cup style sparring glove will fit this grip? Thank you
Love saber, i made one singlestick but guard on hand, and train by watching saber solo training. I wish this HEMA can penetrate malaysia. Because i like to combine this with malaysia/indonesia martial arts silat.
First like and first comment 🗡🗡👍👍
How is the flexibility in the thrust? A few friends of mine have VB longwswords but they’re a little stiff
It's definitely a bit stiffer than some of the newer manufacturers and only really flexed in the last third at all. However, I don't think its unsafe or worrisome. It's ok.
Thanks- I appreciate it
hello what polish sabre do you reccomend?
Check out Silk Fencing from Poland!
As far as the difference between the fullered and the non fullered blade, and I am looking at a fullered version right next to my desk as I am typing this, is the following. The problem is the distal tapering of the blade. I don't know why did Victor had to make this difference while making the different blade versions but the difference is substantial. My school got two VB Light Sabers with fullers and one without and with a straight blade.
The straight blade saber had a very gradual distal taper that makes the blade loose mass progressively by making it thinner as you go to the tip, as you would expect it. I am guessing by the comments from the presenter of this clip that this is true for the curved non fullered version as well.
On the other hand, the fullered version doesn't have a gradual distal taper, but the blade has generally one thickness and then at the begging of the last third it decreases thickness in a matter of 2cm of length to a smaller one that it keeps to about 1cm before the very tip. So basically one thickness for the first 2/3 of the blade and then another one (decreased) for the last 1/3.
I don't want to you to get the wrong idea these are still some of the best value, all round sabers on the market and the steel is very good, not soft, well made and assembled, good quality on all parts. My HEAVY HEMA Saber from VB is going strong now for almost 2 years, and still looks bad ass.
Just be aware that the non fullered version handles better and is cheaper but it DOESN'T look better, and that is important, like it or not. A saber is a weapon that's very simple in design after all, and it's esthetics depend on a few elements and the fuller is definitely one of them. So it's unfortunate that he version that really looks right handles not as good but still adequate.
How different is this model that the VB gymnasium saber? I believe its the v5 im referring to that purpleheart armory has in stock. Just curious if the one i just perchased is this one that you had high praises for or a different model. Thanks!!
That model name doesn't exist in Europe but it looks pretty much like the Heavy Sabre on the VB website. It's a different model that I haven't used.
Does anyone make a good, not to heavy, American Calvary Saber?
I've bought sigi bow saber. It's cool, but extremly bendy. Not great for parrying unless you can take a hit exactly on the cutting edge. Cool "weapon" for fast fighters though.
Interesting, thanks for sharing. I haven't tried the SIGI bow, so I cant say how it differs from the Pro.
@@historyandsabre I think the only difference is a hilt. Obviously it' easier to get hit in hand with bow-type one. Also my blade is curved with fuller. SIGI has recently introduced a bigger hilt type, for mitten-like gloves. Im using SG mittens and they're a very close fit. I wouldn't recommend this saber to new fencers or for tournaments.
Could you spell out the name of the weapon gloves for me please 🙏
These are the Red Dragon gloves and the Thokk WeaponMaster Gauntlets!
@historyandsabre Thanks
Hello!!! I'm looking for my first sabre, something that I can use to practice the Spanish styles (Frias-Merelo).
My main doubt is between the VB light and the new S6 model from Kruger as I want a tool with a good quality-price ratio. As for Regenyei I think that the light model may be too light and the tournament model too heavy...in my school it is not a weapon that we work a lot so I would not use it intensively, only in occasional classes and events. Based on this information I hope you can help me. Thanks in advance!!!
I don't know a lot about Spanish sabre to be honest but I think you already narrowed it down quite well. The A6 and the VB light are both good options. If you're on a tight budget, I'd choose based on price and availabiliy between the two.
You look rajput asf do you have indian ancestry?