You should make a crash course video on types of swords, brief history and what they were used for! Could definitely fill a void for character background.
In my experience, Calimacil makes some of the best swords, but is accepted in the fewest of my local LARPs. Mostly due to the density/heaviness aspect mentioned.
The weight of the calimacil swords is one of my favorite things about them. Bruises build character. I wish more larps accepted them. Not trying to actually hurt anyone, but if you don't like getting hit with one, I guarantee eventually you'll learn how to block or dodge better ;)
I would add for foam swords, in case you are looking to fence, check the balance of the blade if possible, if it's tip heavy or bang in the middle balance, it's going to be tough to apply any fencing techniques with them, look for swords that have a balance towards the hilt, as those are the ones that will perform best when you try to apply any real fencing techniques to them. 👌
Yeah my first larp sword has a weight in the hilt to shift the balance. It is perfect and has ruined all other larp swords for me :D That said it's not wholly accurate for things outside of rapiers or other light bladed complex hilt swords
@@Rasgonras yes, mine brings the weight back a bit and less tip heavy. Essentially the further forward the centre of weight the more effectively it will cut, the further back the more nimble the tip is (especially good for thrusting)
Two other brands worthy of mention: Atelier Nemesis and Wyvern. Nemesis is the highest priced and makes absolutely unique custom swords. Wyvern makes realistic historical museum replica swords.
Atelier is the best of the mass produced weapons.......them and Calli are the best starter swords, but the best are custom makers who can tailor it to suit your requirements
At least here in the UK injection molded weapons like calimacils are hit and miss at getting through safety checks. The issues are 1)there is the possibility of misaligned cores that doesn't happen with traditional latex ones - if the core isn't aligned properly it can become a safety issue. I believe they're a lot better at this than when they started, but don't quote me. 2) the other issue is that when foam is cold - for example in a morning battle after a cold night - the foam isn't just heavier than other weapons it goes *rock solid*. And from a safety perspective you can't rely on everyone remembering to rub the weapons to warm them up, or to realise they're solid and adjust the strength of their blows. In an agreed, one on one fight, bruises are one thing, because everyone knows what you're getting into. But if you're runnig an event and are responsible for other people's safety I can see why you might just reject them. I will agree they look REALLY good though
I had an orcish falchion for a long time, but after being in a larp group for 7 years I splurged and got a calamacil custom. Curved handle, curved blade, (had to wrap the handle to rebalance it the way I liked) but when I first held that thing, I felt like Harry Potter picking up his wand
A couple others have touched on it, but I figured since this is a particular sticking point for me it might be helpful to get more specific with it. If you are going into a lightest touch game it is a bad idea to go for Calimacil, their weapons are very high quality and very aesthetically pleasing, but they are heavy and they are dense, what this means is that it is very, very difficult to actually do lightest touch with them. As a general rule *most* lightest touch systems say that if the person you are hitting says it's too hard, it's too hard, no matter how light you *think* you are hitting, and frankly, different people have different thresholds for acceptability. Personally, I am more sensitive than most, so I am usually the first to call someone on it, and am gonna be the most vocal if someone is way out of line. I have been in this hobby for over a decade now, and I can honestly say I have *never* been hit with a Calimacil weapon in sustained combat and not had to call my opponent out for swinging too hard, either because the weapon makes it impossible to swing lightly enough (even outside of combat conditions in some cases) or because the weight and density mean the line between the lightest you can possibly go and "too hard" is very thin, and the weight also means you will get fatigued faster and thus start failing to pull the blows to a sufficient degree. Training to be better at pulling blows and having better stamina *can* help, to an extent, *if* you happen to have one on the softer side (a minority of Calimacil weapons, in my experience), but the record for the longest fight I've had against a Calimacil before I had to start calling swings too hard was approximately 3 minutes, and that was against a guy that I consider to be one of the best foam fighters I've ever seen, who trains regularly in a broad variety of styles with a broad variety of weapons in a broad variety of games, using any other weapon and I only ever need to call his swings too hard after he's been going hard for well over an hour with no real breaks, but with one of the *softest* Calimacils I've ever encountered, even he was swinging too hard within a few minutes of sparring. Some lightest touch games flat out ban Calimacil weapons entirely, and a lot of them discourage them but allow their usage on a case by case basis. If your game is lightest touch, I would definitely check with them on their policy with Calimacils, and even if they don't have a particular policy I would strongly advise against that brand as a whole. Naturally, if your game isn't lightest touch none of this applies to you, so have fun, but if it is, *even if that isn't a particular sticking point for you personally*, please be respectful of your fellow players who may be less willing to deal with pain in their fantasy play time.
Your videos are always succinct, well edited, aesthetically pleasing, and helpful to a large range of players. I'm a newer viewer (and larper) but greatly enjoy your content. I'm excited to see what you talk about in the future. Thank you for all your hard work.
"We're gonna go ahead and... assume you nothing..." . That's precisely, right, sir. Good guess, and thank you for beginning at Swords 90 instead of Swords 101 (since 101 'beginning' classes seem to actually be fast-paced intermediate classes, anyway).
about sizing: What I'd add is choose for what you are going to use it for, i.e. are you going to be duelling, in a loose skirmish or anti-skirmish line, the centre shieldwall etc. In Drachenfest for instance, if you are going to the shieldwall in a mass battle then anything with a blade length above 80 cm (~31.5') is just going to get in the way. In fact, in many cases I could get away with a dagger&shield since polearms are always going to outreach a sword, and with a shieldwall you are quite literally going to a hand's reach. If you're more into duelling but still preferring one-handed swords, as far as larp-swords go you can get away with anything between 80 to 110 cm blade length (31.5'-43'). For two handed swords, in massed battles I'd say treat them as polearms and get the biggest whopper you can, and for duelling a minimum of 120 cm (47') blade (as said, just my opinions) Great video! I like watching these as there are always tidbits to learn for an experienced player too :)
Not a normal “sword” but for my lightsabers, I tend to go for a 32” blade with any hilt over 10 inches. Im 5’9”. The “standard” blade length is 36”, but I find that I tend to accidentally hit more stuff with that extra length when I’m doing my spins. And I tend to choke up near the emitter, as opposed to holding the grip lower down.
Hi ! Love your video! My LARP gang and I are getting ready to LARP the hit movie "ICE AGE" and we think that you, for some reason, would be perfect to show off your choice faux sword skills as Sid the Sloth.
Very informative and well thought out, like all your videos that I've seen so far. 12:44 Wow, you had just hit 100 subs? I'm writing this 10 months later and you're already over 16,000 subscribers! Congratulations on the awesome channel growth Kramer, keep it up and don't forget what got you to 100,000 subs when you get there :)
Until you just pointed it out, I didn't remember how many subs I had during this video. It's awesome, and very humbling to look back on. Thank you for your support Hayley, I've seen your comments everywhere :)
I got my first one from Lost and found at lorien trust. No one claimed it in the set amount of time to , so it either goes into the prop collection, sold at auction or given to a staff member. Grandad got it and gave it to me for the kids events (i was 5).
Good stuff mate :) I'm glad your letting people know that it's important for people to find the right weapon for them and not what is right for others. I also find when buying a Larp sword at an event, just pick them all up and look at the ones that "sing" in your hand(you'll know when you pick it up), and if it looks a good fit for your character, then that is the one you buy. Also, a note on UK hand made weapons. They tend to be built with either a fibre glass or carbon fibre rod as a core and the really good builders reinforce these weapons very well. They use plastozote rather than evozote in the UK, I think it is more durable, and they also use a varnish called "isoflex primer" to protect the latex(this is a roofing varnish in the UK and very durable). They also very often come with additional weighting either in the handle or pummel to improve the feel. Uk weapons are are made to adhere to pretty much the same safety standards. In the early 90's a festival event started in the UK called the gathering began running and created it's comprehensive weapon safety rules. As this was the only festival of it's kind and all other larps in the UK at that time very small, it set a standard for the professionals to build to. I have not larped in the states or canada, but have done so in germany and Holland and have never had an issue with a UK weapon failing a safety check unless it was already damaged. Due to the UK safety rules, many injection moulded weapons will fail a check. This is due to some of the issues manufactoring injection moulded weapons. Injection moulded weapons can be inconsistent as to the softness or hardness of the foam and therefore it is possible to fail either way. Also, as the foam dryes in the mould it can move the position of the core so that it is too close to and edge and therefore fails many checks in the UK. Injection moulded weapons often have poor balance(but that is just my subjective opinion). If you like the forgotten dreams weapons you will love some of these from: Medlock armouries ( incredible fantasy artwork weapons from the first professional LARP weapon producer in the world) Light armouries (his rapiers are immensely popular in the UK) Craftigan (realistic historical style, great quality and look) Saxon violence (Great historical style and very popular stab safe designs) Offa studios ( great fantasy weapons from a highly experienced and wonderful artist) There are many more good makers, but if you ever want to check these guys out, you won't be disapointed. Anyway, keep going mate, I like your view and approach :)
Thanks for another great video. I have been enjoying going back to watch the older ones. In reference to your wanting to add chapters to the timeline, Make sure that the first timestamp you list starts with 00:00. As soon as you add this to your description, it will put the chapters onto the bottom of the video. eg: 00:00 intro00:26 Starting from scratch 03:39 You know what you want 05:27 Brand Breakdowns 10:24 Handles 12:16 Check you rules
I live in the town Calimacil is located at, my mom went to school with the founder, and my brother in law's brother works there too. We get to go to the fabric and test so many weapons before trying them, they often have days to try out stuff, its great. My main larp dagger is calimacil, although my main sword is epic armory, I just love that new curved blade
Hi five! There are direct replicas if long claw in larp form, both the version from the show and also from the books. You can find them on Medieval Collectibles, but I haven't ever fought with them so I don't know how they handle.
I have a Calimacil Colossal Doppelsoldner great sword, as I am about 6' 2" tall, and have some 16th/17th Century German/Swiss history in my family (can't speak to whether any were Landschneckt, haven't dug further than time periods). It's a beast of a sword, and I'm looking to get something smaller to use in regular duels. My main problem with trying to find a sword is that I have family that I duel against who are allergic to latex, so whenever I shop around for LARP swords, I have to make sure there's no latex in them. I'm thinking of making my own LARP rapier. Great video, by the way.
Fantastic video. Just subscribed. Even though I'm a beginner, you definitely helped me make it easier for me to find the right sword for me. Keep up the good work!
I made a "LARP fitting" set of boffers and practice shields for new players, 8 round shields from 30 to 80 cm and a few different other shapes as well as a variety of swords (based on bamboo with foam and duct tape). This will last you a long time if you care for it.
@@LivingAnachronism I make my own latex ones, but practice with those is a bit wasteful, and for friends to check what they want to build or make for the next game.
I feel quite lucky, I live in southern sweden and from what I know one of the major larp sword producers, Epic armoury has their main origin in copenhagen denmark, which is only about an hour trainride away. so there is a wonderful store there that I can visit and actualy hold the weapons in hand before purchasing them for cheaper than it would be to purchase them online.
Had to cringe: A rule of thumb is : Don't rest a LRP sword point down (especially a foam/latex design) and certainly don't lean on it point down. 1) it can bend/crease the tip, weakening it or even causing the core to push through (depending on design and foam density) 2) in woodlands, you could pick up thorns which could cause others injury. That said: Your kit, your money, but at an event, one of the safety checkers/marshals could pull you aside to do a spot check and warn you - but know your system, know your kit, get some safety advice. And... no, a particular make won't pass safety check just 'cause it is that make. You might be advised against a brand as their kit tends not to meet the system safety standards, but I've had two items come through safety check from the same manufacturer and looked identical but... one was okay, the other was a flat 'no'. They were injection molded and one was hard enough to drive nails into wood. And probably bend the nails, too, without damaging the material of the LRP item. That's another risk of mail order - and another reason Amazon isn't the best place to go (although I have seen items from reputable LRP suppliers on sale via Amazon - but the problem remains: You're gambling on the item meeting the safety standards of the system). But nice video: LRP veteran and I still picked up tips - so thanks!
I do address the point on ground thing in a couple of other videos, but generally you are correct. I am actually not putting any weight on my weapons, it's just for affect, but readily admit in a video for beginner larpers, it sends the wrong message. Thanks for your support!
I was thinking this the whole time I was watching......"stop putting the point of your sword on the ground." "Don't lean on the tip." lol glad I'm not the only one
I started out larping with the cheapest short sword I could find, this didn´t turn out well. However I had the benefit of gainig experience as a fighter before spending a lot on a weapon I didn´t know if it was right for me. Gladly I got to meet a bunch of people that had semi regular fighting trainings where I got to borrow weapons to find out what was best for me. (My favorites are bastard swords and two handed axes btw). About Mytholon: They sell different brands of weapons that also come from different manufactureres like Calimacil or Wyverncrafts (only heard great stuff about them). But I had a lot of bad expirience with the housebrands of them. My whole training team was tempted by the low prices of the battle standard weapons and it ended up being a mistake since we broke all swords within 3-4 month of weekly training. Hammerkunst used to be the low budged brand a few years ago and the weapons also broke quickly (but not as fast as battle standard). I don´t know how good the new weapons are since they got a lot pricier, maybe someone else used a newer hammerkunst weapon and knows.
Finding the right sword is exceptionally difficult in the HEMA community as well. Outside of handling swords of other people in your club, you really don't know how a particular sword or brand of sword is going to perform until it comes in the mail. Point in case: I purchased my first sidesword from purple heart armory. It's decent for the price, but quite heavy and a little clunky. I later purchased another sword from a different company at the same price range, and it was incredibly light and nimble in the hand
Ive wanted to start a Foam Sword fighting club at my school but did not want to do fencing for it requires alot of equiptment. Found out about LARP Swords a few months ago and have not found affordable options that could be sponsered by the school. Nice video, hope epic armoury is good
For me, I'd personally say that it depends. I gravitate towards a halberd, actually, as the reach and the ability to hook and control an opponent's weapon, while having fine control with two hands and a strong stance is best for me. However, for swords, I have a short one-handed sabre, which is better for smaller spaces and the knuckle bow is great, and it's very nimble, but its main disadvantage is reach. I also have a hand-and-a-half sword I mostly use one-handed but can use two-handed, and I use that a bit more regularly than my one-handed sabre, because it's more reach, and being able to hold it two handed allows for better control and stronger parries rather than static blocks. I also have a big two-handed sword, which is great for reach and excellent at parries, but it's most certainly a lot more sluggish than my hand-and-a-half sword. I'm also investing in a rapier, as that's another style I want to try and I keep finding that reach is a serious advantage, but so is nimbleness, so I'm going to experiment to see how I like using a rapier. (Also Calimacil are where I get all of my swords from- Their quality is great, and I've used the custom weapon builders multiple times, and I prefer more realistic historical rather than high fantasy designs)
Yeah it was annoying when I sat down to edit this. Something about my camera or my lens just gets confused whenever I'm in the forest. Like the depth of the trees throws off the auto focus or something. Big sad
In my area people mostly make DIY LARP weapons using pvc pipes, pipe insulation foam, duct tape etc. Sometimes even wood (though I try to stay away from it, since cracked wood can splinter posing a major risk). Compared to store bought swords, these DIY are usually either more floppy (if they're designed with safety in mind), or less safe. But then a common practice is using eye and face protection, decent armor (contact sport or even motorcycle armor is acceptable) and accepting occasional bruises, scrapes and minor cuts. Imagine two dudes in full biker gear smacking each other with insulated pvc pipes. That's my local LARP... xD (also, shields. A board of wood with screwed on handles, and obligatory cute paintings - not the safest thing and possibly as much a source of cuts and bruises as the primary weapon... but hey, it's there to protect you)
Oof you keep jamming your sword into the ground and I'm going in my head "oh no no no that'll ruin the integrity of the tip and make it unsafe!" every time. Though it may be dependent on the LARP to allow stabbing, it's still a bad habit that I was taught to void by other experienced players. Overall, though, nice video! clear and informative, gets all the points you need across quite well. Definitely a nicely shareable video!
Regarding Epic armoury. They also have a hybrid range (a weapon closer to Calimacil in durability and weight), and strongholds (even closer again to Calimacil in durability and weight).
I would add that the weapon rules for the LARP you’re going to also matters. Some LARPs prefer certain manufactures (Calimacil is a very good bet though), and only allow certain lengths for certain fighting styles. For example, I’m mainly a fencer by training, and I’m going to a LARP that allows up to a total length of 44” for a one-handed weapon, and anything above that needs to be wielded in two hands. This rule will influence my sword choice, since if I get a rapier that’s, say, 46”, I wouldn’t be able to use it, with the rules as written at least.
My first "larp" sword was a "saber" style sword from walmart, one of those really really light ones that blows around in the wind. I put ductape on it later when I discovered what larping was to give it more weight, and then not long after, I received my first latex larp sword as a birthday present. A conan the barbarian sword from Windlass. I don't think they make them any more. But I still have that sword!
i recently bought mythalon weapon anf they are pretty good looking but kinda stiff, bought a knight sword and a bastard sword the larp where i go accepted both but they told me to be carefull and if they had any complaint they will not accept them anymore
I'm a little late to the party, having only recently found your channel. Seeing you talking about Calimacil larp weapons I have to wonder if you are aware of another Quebec larp weapon maker by the name of Atelier Nemesis. Their weapons are of the foam and latex variety, but of great quality and extremely custom designs. Check them out.
Welcome to the channel! I am familiar with Atelier Nemesis, they make some really gorgeous weapons! Unfortunately, they've always been a bit out of my price range
You may talk about this in another video. But I’ve always been taught not to rest on a larp sword point down. Do you find you change weapon care between brands?
You are correct on all fronts. My weapon care does change, generally you shouldn't rest any sword on it's point. I talk about this more in my first Q and A video. Long story short, I don't out any weight on my larp swords when I do this, and the forest floor was cushiony enough, I wasn't too worried. But in hind sight, a poor example, as many have commented on this :)
I also tell people, the weapon chooses you, you may think you want something that's a 2 hander, but when you pick some up, you may not like how it feels, when you're at a medieval fayre, and you see one of the larp distributors there, check the weapons out, and the one that speaks to you, is meant for you.
I would not keep putting the tips of the swords into the ground and rolling them around back and forth.. and sticking the tip into the ground .. Even though it is a Calimacil you are still damaging the weapon tip and can stick things into the end that could hurt people when fighting.. Just a FYI
It makes me sad that many american larps don't approve calimacil because those weapons are gorgeous and so fun to use. I have geralts and the belator and I pretty much only get to use them for practice.
what is the name of.that sword.o callimacil? maybe it isnt on sale anymore? i boufht a sword last year and am not pleased about the dimensions the pictures looked like the handle was.large enough to use both hands but it wasnt.. while this one-yours- is perfect! im 5ft 9, for reference ..
It's a sort of baldric. The front strap can hold 3 small pouches and one large one. And the bad has 3 D rings, the plan is to eventually make a back scabbard and a quiver that go with it and are interchangeable with a quick release system. Haven't got around to making those yet
does anyone use egyption Khopesh swords? i would really like to know if anyone has ever seen the Khopesh used in larp and if its possible to use the shieldpull with it?? :D (most elvis swords in an online search for Khopesh larp swords, looks like a mix between the Khopesh (in the curve), the katana (the edge) and the falchion in the edge being a that thicker than the rest)
They are really hard to make because of the way the blade of a khopesh curves; you can't put a core all the way thru the blade; so the second half of the blade will be unsupported. Most larps also frown on using weapons to pull against shields for safety reasons. That all being said, Calamacil is now making weapons with true curved cores instead of the faux curves they had to use in the past; so maybe someday they will be able to figure out how to make an actual khopesh
That's a really broad question. It depends on where you are. If you are in the states, amtgard and dagohir are much more combat focused, little story, roleplay, as far as I can tell. You want to find a larp that is very story driven, sadly I can't help with that since I don't know where you are, but a quick google search might help. You might have to travel if there isn't anything near you. "Bicolline" and "Weekend Warrior" events are two of the biggest larps I am aware of in North America. They use weapons like this.
@@LivingAnachronism thank you this will atleast give me a starting point i love your videos and want to dive into larp but i want full immersive activities and a story
I have been looking on net for years but... For me you just can't buy straight from the net and hit a jackpot mix of , aesthetics + safety + functionality. I have tested friend's larp swrods that looked super great on net but sadly their balancing point was bad when i actualy tested them (for my hands).
Fair enough, buying without getting to feel the weapon is a big risk. There must be some way around this, for those of us who really want to find the perfect weapon in more than looks alone.
I'm in the UK so must euro and American manufacturers is a no, no. But we have alot of custom and English sword makers that make some real gorgeous weapons. Spears and swords, shields and daggers etc. All made from full Eva foam. Basically long story short we can't use injection mould weapons. Like must American manufacturers and Europe ones too Germany mainly
So…the buster sword is roughly five to six feet long and Cloud Strife is 5’7-5’8”. So, 72 inches divided by 68 inches is 1.05 x 63” (my height) is 66.70” alright! I’m ready to wield the Buster sword!
Allow me to recomend Knight Realms. It's in the tristate area. If you search online there are some sites that attempt to tell you what larps are closest to you.
PVC/fiberglass and tape can be a great tool for testing weight and balance for yourself since most sites post length and weight. Trick I picked up when dealing with buying steel swords that transfers well to larp weapons.
Lots of brands have sabre style swords. Depends how heavy you want it. Also, just be prepared for what you know as a fencer to not help you at all in larp combat, depending on where you go. I'm a fencer too. Often times the rule systems of larps encourage people to fight very differently than one would in an actual fight.
I believe the general outline of tests to choose the right length and weight and brand of weapon would work for any larp weapon category. Keep in mind with axes maces, the area of the weapon that you can use to hit your opponent is smaller than a sword blade. Highly recommend recommend a shield for any weapon that can be wielded in one hand.
So, for my character, which is "Based" on a real "person" is the closest to the fantasy "ranger" Medieval yeoman, forest warden. Sp a guy who was charged with loooking after the lord's forests. He'd be a hunter, and tracker. He'd be looking for poachers and bandits hiding out in that forest.I imagine his weapons would be, A bow(long range) a side sword. probably an "arming sword" and his dagger/knife.I'd be looking for a larp arming sword then.
Are these guidelines the same for other weapon types (Maces, hammers, axes, polearms)? I am looking to go for something a little heavier than a sword to start off with. I already have a shield and would be down for any suggestions you may have on a one-handed weapon to use.
The guidelines are generally the same. Keep in mind that with any mace, axe, polearm, or hammer, the area of the weapon that can actually be used to strike someone is technically much smaller than the length of an entire sword blade. They also won't be inherently heavier just because they are an axe, note the brand section where I talk about weight a bit. If you want something heavy, Calimacil is where I would start. You could use a rubber band on both sides of your practice piece to denote the "hit box" area of one of these weapons. 36 inches is probably the long end of 1h axes, etc, try finding a practice weapon around 23-28 inches. An effective strategy I have seen employed, and if you look at the Romans this was done historically as well, use your shield with a polearm/spear for maximum range, and have your back up shorter weapon (axe, mace etc per your preference) quickly accessible for close quarters melee. If you are looking to be historically accurate, base your larp weapon on the weapons found during the period, for example I don't think vikings would use a halberd, but they might use a spear or Dane axe. If you are going pure fantasy and accuracy doesn't matter, the choice comes down to aesthetic preference and brand.
The Edgar handle type he has has always had the chunkiest design even by Cali standards. most actual handles by Cali are more realistic in thikness. Calimacil really should redesign the Edgar handle though.
@@LivingAnachronism it's make my wandering mercenary character want one rather than the thinner witcher replica they made.(love that sword just doesn't feel right for the character) A redesigned Edgar would be a much more robust and comfortable blade for sure.
The last point was 100% the most important. at the larps i play and NPC right now none of those would pass inspection, larps are made up of a lot of small community it happens way to often that some one buys a larp sword and then goes to there first game with out asking about the rules. Or they pay a good amount of money for a sword that wont be competitive in the system
@@Jenjuad If it fits the look and feel you want, there are solutions around the sheath. Since it's a larp weapon, a dagger frog or just tucking it the belt may be fine. If you do a search for some real khopesh sheathes, you might see a design that you can make work.
My experience with mytholon weapons from there own brand. they are not verry good weapons. the paint flinters, the foam rips verry easely, The foam is too hard, the core get loose realy easy. I have had 3 mytholon weapons and they are al broken in some way. Calimacil and wyverncraft weapons are verry good a bit hard for some larps. And if you dont mind the maintenence epic armoury weapons are the softes and the most fun to be hit with becouse they are soft. Thank you for this informationol video!
Not to mention, some of the Calimacil weapons are made in such a way that the sword edge has very near to an actual edge. Ever notice when an item that's been formed in a mold, the item sometimes has some bits of material that flow into the space between the mold's halves, forming a thin ridge? That ridge sometimes gets left on some Cali models, particularly the flatter blades, and when used in-game if the edge hits bare skin (like an arm) can often cause papercuts, causing Cali to occasionally be disallowed from some LARPS.
Heyy Kramer I hope you see this cause i'm super curious! What's the belt thing you wear over your torso? I find it very interesting, you made it yourself? Thinking bout doing kinda the same
Yep I made it. It's a bandolier, will carry pouches in the front, and has D rings behind the shoulder, my plan/hope is eventually to make a scabbard and a quiver that can clip on and off to be interchangeable
@@LivingAnachronism thats actually the first thing that came in my mind! Thinking bout creating the same for the quiver-scabbard-switching-possibility. Guess I'll do some research...! Thank you very much 🙂
At 5:11 I have the formula as .625x57. This should be 67, for 5'7". Rest of the math is correct.
For your chapters you need to start with 0:00 for it to work properally.
You should make a crash course video on types of swords, brief history and what they were used for! Could definitely fill a void for character background.
In my experience, Calimacil makes some of the best swords, but is accepted in the fewest of my local LARPs. Mostly due to the density/heaviness aspect mentioned.
The weight of the calimacil swords is one of my favorite things about them. Bruises build character. I wish more larps accepted them. Not trying to actually hurt anyone, but if you don't like getting hit with one, I guarantee eventually you'll learn how to block or dodge better ;)
@@LivingAnachronism Sounds like if I buy a LARP Sword i am buying Calimacil. No pain no gain.
This is super helpful! After getting cloaks and brooches my boys really want a sword. Now I actually understand what I’m looking at. Thanks!
I would add for foam swords, in case you are looking to fence, check the balance of the blade if possible, if it's tip heavy or bang in the middle balance, it's going to be tough to apply any fencing techniques with them, look for swords that have a balance towards the hilt, as those are the ones that will perform best when you try to apply any real fencing techniques to them. 👌
Yeah my first larp sword has a weight in the hilt to shift the balance. It is perfect and has ruined all other larp swords for me :D
That said it's not wholly accurate for things outside of rapiers or other light bladed complex hilt swords
Actually, tip heavy and middle balance are better for most historical fencing styles.
@@Rasgonras yes, mine brings the weight back a bit and less tip heavy.
Essentially the further forward the centre of weight the more effectively it will cut, the further back the more nimble the tip is (especially good for thrusting)
@Rasgonras depends if it's Sabre or foil/epee
Two other brands worthy of mention: Atelier Nemesis and Wyvern.
Nemesis is the highest priced and makes absolutely unique custom swords.
Wyvern makes realistic historical museum replica swords.
nemesis are the highest pricing for the best weight balance that feel so light and good at the handle but heavy on the blade
Atelier is the best of the mass produced weapons.......them and Calli are the best starter swords, but the best are custom makers who can tailor it to suit your requirements
@@richardcostello360Atelier will absolutely make you a custom weapon or prop...it just might also be very expensive
At least here in the UK injection molded weapons like calimacils are hit and miss at getting through safety checks. The issues are 1)there is the possibility of misaligned cores that doesn't happen with traditional latex ones - if the core isn't aligned properly it can become a safety issue. I believe they're a lot better at this than when they started, but don't quote me.
2) the other issue is that when foam is cold - for example in a morning battle after a cold night - the foam isn't just heavier than other weapons it goes *rock solid*. And from a safety perspective you can't rely on everyone remembering to rub the weapons to warm them up, or to realise they're solid and adjust the strength of their blows.
In an agreed, one on one fight, bruises are one thing, because everyone knows what you're getting into. But if you're runnig an event and are responsible for other people's safety I can see why you might just reject them.
I will agree they look REALLY good though
Good point, thank you. I don't have experience with larps outside of the US, so this is really good to know.
I had an orcish falchion for a long time, but after being in a larp group for 7 years I splurged and got a calamacil custom. Curved handle, curved blade, (had to wrap the handle to rebalance it the way I liked) but when I first held that thing, I felt like Harry Potter picking up his wand
A couple others have touched on it, but I figured since this is a particular sticking point for me it might be helpful to get more specific with it. If you are going into a lightest touch game it is a bad idea to go for Calimacil, their weapons are very high quality and very aesthetically pleasing, but they are heavy and they are dense, what this means is that it is very, very difficult to actually do lightest touch with them.
As a general rule *most* lightest touch systems say that if the person you are hitting says it's too hard, it's too hard, no matter how light you *think* you are hitting, and frankly, different people have different thresholds for acceptability. Personally, I am more sensitive than most, so I am usually the first to call someone on it, and am gonna be the most vocal if someone is way out of line. I have been in this hobby for over a decade now, and I can honestly say I have *never* been hit with a Calimacil weapon in sustained combat and not had to call my opponent out for swinging too hard, either because the weapon makes it impossible to swing lightly enough (even outside of combat conditions in some cases) or because the weight and density mean the line between the lightest you can possibly go and "too hard" is very thin, and the weight also means you will get fatigued faster and thus start failing to pull the blows to a sufficient degree. Training to be better at pulling blows and having better stamina *can* help, to an extent, *if* you happen to have one on the softer side (a minority of Calimacil weapons, in my experience), but the record for the longest fight I've had against a Calimacil before I had to start calling swings too hard was approximately 3 minutes, and that was against a guy that I consider to be one of the best foam fighters I've ever seen, who trains regularly in a broad variety of styles with a broad variety of weapons in a broad variety of games, using any other weapon and I only ever need to call his swings too hard after he's been going hard for well over an hour with no real breaks, but with one of the *softest* Calimacils I've ever encountered, even he was swinging too hard within a few minutes of sparring.
Some lightest touch games flat out ban Calimacil weapons entirely, and a lot of them discourage them but allow their usage on a case by case basis. If your game is lightest touch, I would definitely check with them on their policy with Calimacils, and even if they don't have a particular policy I would strongly advise against that brand as a whole.
Naturally, if your game isn't lightest touch none of this applies to you, so have fun, but if it is, *even if that isn't a particular sticking point for you personally*, please be respectful of your fellow players who may be less willing to deal with pain in their fantasy play time.
Your videos are always succinct, well edited, aesthetically pleasing, and helpful to a large range of players. I'm a newer viewer (and larper) but greatly enjoy your content.
I'm excited to see what you talk about in the future.
Thank you for all your hard work.
"We're gonna go ahead and... assume you nothing..."
.
That's precisely, right, sir. Good guess, and thank you for beginning at Swords 90 instead of Swords 101 (since 101 'beginning' classes seem to actually be fast-paced intermediate classes, anyway).
about sizing: What I'd add is choose for what you are going to use it for, i.e. are you going to be duelling, in a loose skirmish or anti-skirmish line, the centre shieldwall etc. In Drachenfest for instance, if you are going to the shieldwall in a mass battle then anything with a blade length above 80 cm (~31.5') is just going to get in the way. In fact, in many cases I could get away with a dagger&shield since polearms are always going to outreach a sword, and with a shieldwall you are quite literally going to a hand's reach. If you're more into duelling but still preferring one-handed swords, as far as larp-swords go you can get away with anything between 80 to 110 cm blade length (31.5'-43'). For two handed swords, in massed battles I'd say treat them as polearms and get the biggest whopper you can, and for duelling a minimum of 120 cm (47') blade (as said, just my opinions)
Great video! I like watching these as there are always tidbits to learn for an experienced player too :)
Great comment!
Not a normal “sword” but for my lightsabers, I tend to go for a 32” blade with any hilt over 10 inches. Im 5’9”. The “standard” blade length is 36”, but I find that I tend to accidentally hit more stuff with that extra length when I’m doing my spins. And I tend to choke up near the emitter, as opposed to holding the grip lower down.
Hi ! Love your video! My LARP gang and I are getting ready to LARP the hit movie "ICE AGE" and we think that you, for some reason, would be perfect to show off your choice faux sword skills as Sid the Sloth.
Very informative and well thought out, like all your videos that I've seen so far.
12:44 Wow, you had just hit 100 subs? I'm writing this 10 months later and you're already over 16,000 subscribers! Congratulations on the awesome channel growth Kramer, keep it up and don't forget what got you to 100,000 subs when you get there :)
Until you just pointed it out, I didn't remember how many subs I had during this video. It's awesome, and very humbling to look back on. Thank you for your support Hayley, I've seen your comments everywhere :)
@@LivingAnachronism You're very welcome Kramer, and thank you for the fascinating videos 😊
I got my first one from Lost and found at lorien trust.
No one claimed it in the set amount of time to , so it either goes into the prop collection, sold at auction or given to a staff member.
Grandad got it and gave it to me for the kids events (i was 5).
Good stuff mate :) I'm glad your letting people know that it's important for people to find the right weapon for them and not what is right for others. I also find when buying a Larp sword at an event, just pick them all up and look at the ones that "sing" in your hand(you'll know when you pick it up), and if it looks a good fit for your character, then that is the one you buy.
Also, a note on UK hand made weapons. They tend to be built with either a fibre glass or carbon fibre rod as a core and the really good builders reinforce these weapons very well. They use plastozote rather than evozote in the UK, I think it is more durable, and they also use a varnish called "isoflex primer" to protect the latex(this is a roofing varnish in the UK and very durable). They also very often come with additional weighting either in the handle or pummel to improve the feel. Uk weapons are are made to adhere to pretty much the same safety standards. In the early 90's a festival event started in the UK called the gathering began running and created it's comprehensive weapon safety rules. As this was the only festival of it's kind and all other larps in the UK at that time very small, it set a standard for the professionals to build to. I have not larped in the states or canada, but have done so in germany and Holland and have never had an issue with a UK weapon failing a safety check unless it was already damaged. Due to the UK safety rules, many injection moulded weapons will fail a check. This is due to some of the issues manufactoring injection moulded weapons. Injection moulded weapons can be inconsistent as to the softness or hardness of the foam and therefore it is possible to fail either way. Also, as the foam dryes in the mould it can move the position of the core so that it is too close to and edge and therefore fails many checks in the UK. Injection moulded weapons often have poor balance(but that is just my subjective opinion).
If you like the forgotten dreams weapons you will love some of these from:
Medlock armouries ( incredible fantasy artwork weapons from the first professional LARP weapon producer in the world)
Light armouries (his rapiers are immensely popular in the UK)
Craftigan (realistic historical style, great quality and look)
Saxon violence (Great historical style and very popular stab safe designs)
Offa studios ( great fantasy weapons from a highly experienced and wonderful artist)
There are many more good makers, but if you ever want to check these guys out, you won't be disapointed.
Anyway, keep going mate, I like your view and approach :)
Thanks for another great video. I have been enjoying going back to watch the older ones.
In reference to your wanting to add chapters to the timeline, Make sure that the first timestamp you list starts with 00:00. As soon as you add this to your description, it will put the chapters onto the bottom of the video. eg:
00:00 intro00:26 Starting from scratch
03:39 You know what you want
05:27 Brand Breakdowns
10:24 Handles
12:16 Check you rules
I live in the town Calimacil is located at, my mom went to school with the founder, and my brother in law's brother works there too. We get to go to the fabric and test so many weapons before trying them, they often have days to try out stuff, its great. My main larp dagger is calimacil, although my main sword is epic armory, I just love that new curved blade
I came looking for the same type of sword longclaw is, and when you mentioned that you preferred the same, it made me wanna high five you so much
Hi five! There are direct replicas if long claw in larp form, both the version from the show and also from the books. You can find them on Medieval Collectibles, but I haven't ever fought with them so I don't know how they handle.
Very interesting video. I’m thinking of getting into LARP, so this has been very useful. Thank you.
I love hearing about people from other countries recommending Calimacil, it's a brand local to my province :)
They are a great starter sword.......but there are MUCH better cored weapons out there that are more realistic
Dude great job! I really wish I saw something like this when I started LARPing.
Me too! That's why I made it :)
That forgotten dreams sword fits a character I've been working on, it looks enough like the elven swords from the witcher...
I have a Calimacil Colossal Doppelsoldner great sword, as I am about 6' 2" tall, and have some 16th/17th Century German/Swiss history in my family (can't speak to whether any were Landschneckt, haven't dug further than time periods). It's a beast of a sword, and I'm looking to get something smaller to use in regular duels. My main problem with trying to find a sword is that I have family that I duel against who are allergic to latex, so whenever I shop around for LARP swords, I have to make sure there's no latex in them.
I'm thinking of making my own LARP rapier.
Great video, by the way.
Fantastic video. Just subscribed. Even though I'm a beginner, you definitely helped me make it easier for me to find the right sword for me. Keep up the good work!
I been working on A buffer war hammer thing is looking pretty good next step duct tape and wrapping handle
Fantastic stuff, thank you L.A.! New subscriber (Shad sent me), but your channel is incredible. Thank you so much for doing it!
Thank you for checking out the channel and for deciding to stick around!
0:45 he did not figure it out 😂😂
So true, there are timestamps, in the description, but they don't show up in the playback :)
I made a "LARP fitting" set of boffers and practice shields for new players, 8 round shields from 30 to 80 cm and a few different other shapes as well as a variety of swords (based on bamboo with foam and duct tape). This will last you a long time if you care for it.
This was how I started as well. My sword cores were PVC and my shields were just layered cardboard with some rope on them. That was many years ago ;)
@@LivingAnachronism I make my own latex ones, but practice with those is a bit wasteful, and for friends to check what they want to build or make for the next game.
I feel quite lucky, I live in southern sweden and from what I know one of the major larp sword producers, Epic armoury has their main origin in copenhagen denmark, which is only about an hour trainride away. so there is a wonderful store there that I can visit and actualy hold the weapons in hand before purchasing them for cheaper than it would be to purchase them online.
That is really lucky!
@@LivingAnachronism Unfortunately despite the existance of that store, Theres no larps in this part of the country from what I've found....
Had to cringe: A rule of thumb is : Don't rest a LRP sword point down (especially a foam/latex design) and certainly don't lean on it point down.
1) it can bend/crease the tip, weakening it or even causing the core to push through (depending on design and foam density)
2) in woodlands, you could pick up thorns which could cause others injury.
That said: Your kit, your money, but at an event, one of the safety checkers/marshals could pull you aside to do a spot check and warn you - but know your system, know your kit, get some safety advice.
And... no, a particular make won't pass safety check just 'cause it is that make. You might be advised against a brand as their kit tends not to meet the system safety standards, but I've had two items come through safety check from the same manufacturer and looked identical but... one was okay, the other was a flat 'no'. They were injection molded and one was hard enough to drive nails into wood. And probably bend the nails, too, without damaging the material of the LRP item. That's another risk of mail order - and another reason Amazon isn't the best place to go (although I have seen items from reputable LRP suppliers on sale via Amazon - but the problem remains: You're gambling on the item meeting the safety standards of the system).
But nice video: LRP veteran and I still picked up tips - so thanks!
I do address the point on ground thing in a couple of other videos, but generally you are correct. I am actually not putting any weight on my weapons, it's just for affect, but readily admit in a video for beginner larpers, it sends the wrong message. Thanks for your support!
I was thinking this the whole time I was watching......"stop putting the point of your sword on the ground." "Don't lean on the tip." lol glad I'm not the only one
Discovered your Channel and Im loving it! Want to get to larp and looking all your videos ! Eheh 😁
Nice background.
There's a blurry man in the way though.
And good luck to you on your UA-cam adventure! Can't wait for more videos ⚔️
Thank you boots!
I started out larping with the cheapest short sword I could find, this didn´t turn out well. However I had the benefit of gainig experience as a fighter before spending a lot on a weapon I didn´t know if it was right for me. Gladly I got to meet a bunch of people that had semi regular fighting trainings where I got to borrow weapons to find out what was best for me. (My favorites are bastard swords and two handed axes btw).
About Mytholon: They sell different brands of weapons that also come from different manufactureres like Calimacil or Wyverncrafts (only heard great stuff about them). But I had a lot of bad expirience with the housebrands of them. My whole training team was tempted by the low prices of the battle standard weapons and it ended up being a mistake since we broke all swords within 3-4 month of weekly training. Hammerkunst used to be the low budged brand a few years ago and the weapons also broke quickly (but not as fast as battle standard). I don´t know how good the new weapons are since they got a lot pricier, maybe someone else used a newer hammerkunst weapon and knows.
Finding the right sword is exceptionally difficult in the HEMA community as well. Outside of handling swords of other people in your club, you really don't know how a particular sword or brand of sword is going to perform until it comes in the mail. Point in case: I purchased my first sidesword from purple heart armory. It's decent for the price, but quite heavy and a little clunky. I later purchased another sword from a different company at the same price range, and it was incredibly light and nimble in the hand
Great video, have you tried Fake Steel Armoury?
They seems the more realistic of the bunch, you can also bind with guards as they are more rigid.
Ive wanted to start a Foam Sword fighting club at my school but did not want to do fencing for it requires alot of equiptment. Found out about LARP Swords a few months ago and have not found affordable options that could be sponsered by the school. Nice video, hope epic armoury is good
Great video!
Fantastic. Thank you.
For me, I'd personally say that it depends.
I gravitate towards a halberd, actually, as the reach and the ability to hook and control an opponent's weapon, while having fine control with two hands and a strong stance is best for me.
However, for swords, I have a short one-handed sabre, which is better for smaller spaces and the knuckle bow is great, and it's very nimble, but its main disadvantage is reach.
I also have a hand-and-a-half sword I mostly use one-handed but can use two-handed, and I use that a bit more regularly than my one-handed sabre, because it's more reach, and being able to hold it two handed allows for better control and stronger parries rather than static blocks.
I also have a big two-handed sword, which is great for reach and excellent at parries, but it's most certainly a lot more sluggish than my hand-and-a-half sword.
I'm also investing in a rapier, as that's another style I want to try and I keep finding that reach is a serious advantage, but so is nimbleness, so I'm going to experiment to see how I like using a rapier.
(Also Calimacil are where I get all of my swords from- Their quality is great, and I've used the custom weapon builders multiple times, and I prefer more realistic historical rather than high fantasy designs)
Thank you I'm enjoy this video
I love how everything is in focus except him haha still great vidf tho bro!
Yeah it was annoying when I sat down to edit this. Something about my camera or my lens just gets confused whenever I'm in the forest. Like the depth of the trees throws off the auto focus or something. Big sad
In my area people mostly make DIY LARP weapons using pvc pipes, pipe insulation foam, duct tape etc. Sometimes even wood (though I try to stay away from it, since cracked wood can splinter posing a major risk).
Compared to store bought swords, these DIY are usually either more floppy (if they're designed with safety in mind), or less safe. But then a common practice is using eye and face protection, decent armor (contact sport or even motorcycle armor is acceptable) and accepting occasional bruises, scrapes and minor cuts.
Imagine two dudes in full biker gear smacking each other with insulated pvc pipes. That's my local LARP... xD
(also, shields. A board of wood with screwed on handles, and obligatory cute paintings - not the safest thing and possibly as much a source of cuts and bruises as the primary weapon... but hey, it's there to protect you)
This is how I started as well, making my own "boffers" in the garage
Awesome video :)
Oof you keep jamming your sword into the ground and I'm going in my head "oh no no no that'll ruin the integrity of the tip and make it unsafe!" every time. Though it may be dependent on the LARP to allow stabbing, it's still a bad habit that I was taught to void by other experienced players.
Overall, though, nice video! clear and informative, gets all the points you need across quite well. Definitely a nicely shareable video!
Don't worry, you can't see the sword tip hit the ground, but I'm not bending it or anything. It's all for show 😉
resting on the tip is heavily discouraged for latex weapons. every time it was painful.
@@Scampcam not just latex weapons it is really frowned upon with steel aswell
I winced every time the sword tip went into the ground. And looking at the swords resting on their tips in the background
Regarding Epic armoury. They also have a hybrid range (a weapon closer to Calimacil in durability and weight), and strongholds (even closer again to Calimacil in durability and weight).
4:20
"An owl?"
I would add that the weapon rules for the LARP you’re going to also matters. Some LARPs prefer certain manufactures (Calimacil is a very good bet though), and only allow certain lengths for certain fighting styles. For example, I’m mainly a fencer by training, and I’m going to a LARP that allows up to a total length of 44” for a one-handed weapon, and anything above that needs to be wielded in two hands. This rule will influence my sword choice, since if I get a rapier that’s, say, 46”, I wouldn’t be able to use it, with the rules as written at least.
With a rapier at 46 inches I imagine you'd be an absolute beast if you could
I won't lie, my first larp sword was a foam pirate sword I picked up at the dollar store. I also bought a pirate hat there to.
My first "larp" sword was a "saber" style sword from walmart, one of those really really light ones that blows around in the wind. I put ductape on it later when I discovered what larping was to give it more weight, and then not long after, I received my first latex larp sword as a birthday present. A conan the barbarian sword from Windlass. I don't think they make them any more. But I still have that sword!
i recently bought mythalon weapon anf they are pretty good looking but kinda stiff, bought a knight sword and a bastard sword the larp where i go accepted both but they told me to be carefull and if they had any complaint they will not accept them anymore
I'm a little late to the party, having only recently found your channel. Seeing you talking about Calimacil larp weapons I have to wonder if you are aware of another Quebec larp weapon maker by the name of Atelier Nemesis. Their weapons are of the foam and latex variety, but of great quality and extremely custom designs. Check them out.
Welcome to the channel! I am familiar with Atelier Nemesis, they make some really gorgeous weapons! Unfortunately, they've always been a bit out of my price range
You may talk about this in another video. But I’ve always been taught not to rest on a larp sword point down. Do you find you change weapon care between brands?
You are correct on all fronts. My weapon care does change, generally you shouldn't rest any sword on it's point. I talk about this more in my first Q and A video. Long story short, I don't out any weight on my larp swords when I do this, and the forest floor was cushiony enough, I wasn't too worried. But in hind sight, a poor example, as many have commented on this :)
I also tell people, the weapon chooses you, you may think you want something that's a 2 hander, but when you pick some up, you may not like how it feels, when you're at a medieval fayre, and you see one of the larp distributors there, check the weapons out, and the one that speaks to you, is meant for you.
My favorite type of Sword would be a type 18a longsword and well I'm just going to use a traditional Hema long sword style
I would not keep putting the tips of the swords into the ground and rolling them around back and forth.. and sticking the tip into the ground .. Even though it is a Calimacil you are still damaging the weapon tip and can stick things into the end that could hurt people when fighting.. Just a FYI
I would love to find a Polish or hungarian style sabre for LARPing. any recommendations? I train HEMA but I have never LARP'd before.
It makes me sad that many american larps don't approve calimacil because those weapons are gorgeous and so fun to use. I have geralts and the belator and I pretty much only get to use them for practice.
Agreed. We must start our own larps
never larped but dose anyone know if your allowed to bring a katana into a midevil larp
Little late to this but in the Witcher 3 it’s stated that his swords have blade length of 39.5 inches
what is the name of.that sword.o callimacil? maybe it isnt on sale anymore? i boufht a sword last year and am not pleased about the dimensions the pictures looked like the handle was.large enough to use both hands but it wasnt.. while this one-yours- is perfect! im 5ft 9, for reference ..
Part two?
Lol, the owl has never heard of John Snow or Game of Thrones!
I'd really appreciate it if someone could tell me if I can use a katana?
where is that gambeson from?!?!?!
This is me coming back after like 9 months of following you wondering: have you gotten your hands on a mytholon hybrid sword?
Not yet! I don't have any weapons from Mytholon, though I did talk about the hybrid weapons from Epic Armory in another video
The leather you are wearing with the under arm strap. What is it used for
It's a sort of baldric. The front strap can hold 3 small pouches and one large one. And the bad has 3 D rings, the plan is to eventually make a back scabbard and a quiver that go with it and are interchangeable with a quick release system. Haven't got around to making those yet
does anyone use egyption Khopesh swords? i would really like to know if anyone has ever seen the Khopesh used in larp and if its possible to use the shieldpull with it?? :D (most elvis swords in an online search for Khopesh larp swords, looks like a mix between the Khopesh (in the curve), the katana (the edge) and the falchion in the edge being a that thicker than the rest)
They are really hard to make because of the way the blade of a khopesh curves; you can't put a core all the way thru the blade; so the second half of the blade will be unsupported. Most larps also frown on using weapons to pull against shields for safety reasons.
That all being said, Calamacil is now making weapons with true curved cores instead of the faux curves they had to use in the past; so maybe someday they will be able to figure out how to make an actual khopesh
Do you know which style of larp uses these weapons i like this style more then the pool noodle looking boffers the amtgard and dagohir use
That's a really broad question. It depends on where you are. If you are in the states, amtgard and dagohir are much more combat focused, little story, roleplay, as far as I can tell. You want to find a larp that is very story driven, sadly I can't help with that since I don't know where you are, but a quick google search might help. You might have to travel if there isn't anything near you. "Bicolline" and "Weekend Warrior" events are two of the biggest larps I am aware of in North America. They use weapons like this.
@@LivingAnachronism thank you this will atleast give me a starting point i love your videos and want to dive into larp but i want full immersive activities and a story
I have been looking on net for years but...
For me you just can't buy straight from the net and hit a jackpot mix of , aesthetics + safety + functionality. I have tested friend's larp swrods that looked super great on net but sadly their balancing point was bad when i actualy tested them (for my hands).
Fair enough, buying without getting to feel the weapon is a big risk. There must be some way around this, for those of us who really want to find the perfect weapon in more than looks alone.
4:19 (owl)
aaaand then just like that, kramer somehow loses upwards of 6 hours of time ? 🦉 👽
I bought a two handed longsword for like $30 very good but i got kinda abusive and broke the ends of the blade so the rod inside was visible
Bro you're hella charming. Great video!
I love the gambeson you're wearing! Where did you get it?
It's custom
I make my own swords, daggers, knives, and axes out of wood. I don't know if this is allowed, but I would not see why it would not.
Hi, great video. Kind of off topic but I was wondering where you got your gambeson you are wearing in this video?
Hi, thank you. It's a custom piece actually, one of a kind, I'm afraid.
I'm in the UK so must euro and American manufacturers is a no, no. But we have alot of custom and English sword makers that make some real gorgeous weapons. Spears and swords, shields and daggers etc. All made from full Eva foam. Basically long story short we can't use injection mould weapons. Like must American manufacturers and Europe ones too Germany mainly
So…the buster sword is roughly five to six feet long and Cloud Strife is 5’7-5’8”. So, 72 inches divided by 68 inches is 1.05 x 63” (my height) is 66.70” alright! I’m ready to wield the Buster sword!
How do I get into fantasy larp in general? I live in southeast Pennsylvania (Philly area)
Allow me to recomend Knight Realms. It's in the tristate area. If you search online there are some sites that attempt to tell you what larps are closest to you.
@@LivingAnachronism thank you. Just started following you after Shadiversity's recommendation. Great content!!
Seeing your swords reasting on the tip in the background gives me LARPer anxiouty.
1:23 His Parry skills +6
PVC/fiberglass and tape can be a great tool for testing weight and balance for yourself since most sites post length and weight. Trick I picked up when dealing with buying steel swords that transfers well to larp weapons.
Hey, I’m a fencer and was looking for a sword that was similar to a sabre. Any tips? I’m new to larping
Lots of brands have sabre style swords. Depends how heavy you want it. Also, just be prepared for what you know as a fencer to not help you at all in larp combat, depending on where you go. I'm a fencer too. Often times the rule systems of larps encourage people to fight very differently than one would in an actual fight.
Does it have to be a sword could a one handed axe be an option?
I believe the general outline of tests to choose the right length and weight and brand of weapon would work for any larp weapon category. Keep in mind with axes maces, the area of the weapon that you can use to hit your opponent is smaller than a sword blade. Highly recommend recommend a shield for any weapon that can be wielded in one hand.
Kult of Athena
So, for my character, which is "Based" on a real "person" is the closest to the fantasy "ranger" Medieval yeoman, forest warden. Sp a guy who was charged with loooking after the lord's forests. He'd be a hunter, and tracker. He'd be looking for poachers and bandits hiding out in that forest.I imagine his weapons would be, A bow(long range) a side sword. probably an "arming sword" and his dagger/knife.I'd be looking for a larp arming sword then.
I know I'm a little late in commenting but, where did you get that black gambeson you're wearing?
It's a custom piece, one of a kind, I'm afraid
Have you held a mythilon yet
if i may mention in 2024 epic armoury now have hybrid weapons see there stronghold and vangaurd lines
One more option: Find a good LARP Weapon smith. In my experience the best choice and with a good Price and a Unique design.
Are these guidelines the same for other weapon types (Maces, hammers, axes, polearms)? I am looking to go for something a little heavier than a sword to start off with. I already have a shield and would be down for any suggestions you may have on a one-handed weapon to use.
The guidelines are generally the same. Keep in mind that with any mace, axe, polearm, or hammer, the area of the weapon that can actually be used to strike someone is technically much smaller than the length of an entire sword blade. They also won't be inherently heavier just because they are an axe, note the brand section where I talk about weight a bit. If you want something heavy, Calimacil is where I would start. You could use a rubber band on both sides of your practice piece to denote the "hit box" area of one of these weapons. 36 inches is probably the long end of 1h axes, etc, try finding a practice weapon around 23-28 inches. An effective strategy I have seen employed, and if you look at the Romans this was done historically as well, use your shield with a polearm/spear for maximum range, and have your back up shorter weapon (axe, mace etc per your preference) quickly accessible for close quarters melee. If you are looking to be historically accurate, base your larp weapon on the weapons found during the period, for example I don't think vikings would use a halberd, but they might use a spear or Dane axe. If you are going pure fantasy and accuracy doesn't matter, the choice comes down to aesthetic preference and brand.
The Edgar handle type he has has always had the chunkiest design even by Cali standards. most actual handles by Cali are more realistic in thikness. Calimacil really should redesign the Edgar handle though.
I wish they would, I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
@@LivingAnachronism it's make my wandering mercenary character want one rather than the thinner witcher replica they made.(love that sword just doesn't feel right for the character) A redesigned Edgar would be a much more robust and comfortable blade for sure.
Hey, where did you have this nice armless gambeson? :)
It was custom made for me
Where did you find that belt around your chest?
I made it
How did you make it?
The last point was 100% the most important. at the larps i play and NPC right now none of those would pass inspection, larps are made up of a lot of small community it happens way to often that some one buys a larp sword and then goes to there first game with out asking about the rules. Or they pay a good amount of money for a sword that wont be competitive in the system
Anyone have any good larp dagger suggestions?
Depends on what you are looking for
I’m thinking about the Calimacul Khopesh Knife, I like the look but I’m on the fence about if I want a more “classic” dagger or the Calimacil Khopesh.
I just think the Khopesh would be hard to sheath.
@@Jenjuad If it fits the look and feel you want, there are solutions around the sheath. Since it's a larp weapon, a dagger frog or just tucking it the belt may be fine. If you do a search for some real khopesh sheathes, you might see a design that you can make work.
@@LivingAnachronism thanks for the advice!
My experience with mytholon weapons from there own brand. they are not verry good weapons. the paint flinters, the foam rips verry easely, The foam is too hard, the core get loose realy easy. I have had 3 mytholon weapons and they are al broken in some way. Calimacil and wyverncraft weapons are verry good a bit hard for some larps. And if you dont mind the maintenence epic armoury weapons are the softes and the most fun to be hit with becouse they are soft. Thank you for this informationol video!
That's good to know, thank you. I've not heard of Wyverncraft before, but I just looked them up thanks to you and they look STUNNING!
Not to mention, some of the Calimacil weapons are made in such a way that the sword edge has very near to an actual edge. Ever notice when an item that's been formed in a mold, the item sometimes has some bits of material that flow into the space between the mold's halves, forming a thin ridge? That ridge sometimes gets left on some Cali models, particularly the flatter blades, and when used in-game if the edge hits bare skin (like an arm) can often cause papercuts, causing Cali to occasionally be disallowed from some LARPS.
Heyy Kramer I hope you see this cause i'm super curious! What's the belt thing you wear over your torso? I find it very interesting, you made it yourself? Thinking bout doing kinda the same
Yep I made it. It's a bandolier, will carry pouches in the front, and has D rings behind the shoulder, my plan/hope is eventually to make a scabbard and a quiver that can clip on and off to be interchangeable
@@LivingAnachronism thats actually the first thing that came in my mind! Thinking bout creating the same for the quiver-scabbard-switching-possibility. Guess I'll do some research...! Thank you very much 🙂
an Owl!