As a humble pilgrim, I have no weapons, just this 7-foot walking stick. -- What? No, of course that isn't blood! Old man, walking stick, perfectly innocent!
I have two LARP swords. One from Epic Armory (and old "battleworn" single-edged shortsword with the round suede grip) and a Belator II from Calimacil. Both spend most of their time on a pair of coat hooks on the wall. I've had them for about 10 years and recently I discovered that the Calimacil, which is hung by the cross-guard, has started showing splitting along the guard due to the pressure placed on them. The Epic Armory was hung by the "false edge" (as there is no cross-guard) and while there's no tearing, the latex paint does show some spots where the black foam underneath is exposed. Mind that neither sword has had any maintenance or upkeep done on them EVER.
Thank YOU! I've used your business for much longer than I've been on UA-cam, always recommended to my friends, happy to recommend you to the channel. I actually sent you an email a couple months ago, I'd love to work with you at some point!
AT205 can be used for maintenance and repair on those swords. It's an automotive material purchased in bottles on Amazon. It pours like water looks like water and can be sprayed from a spray bottle like water. However it's poured into the engine to mix with oil in the engine to refurbish seals and gaskets to prevent and stop minor leaks. It is actually a polymer and can be used to repair and do maintenance and prevent dry rotting in any rubber, silicone or latex material. You can also spray it on your car tires after you clean them to make them look like brand new and prevent dry rotting. :)
I borrowed the Bellator for the last battle at Reckoning, and it felt amazing. I would absolutely say I preferred the feeling of it to my Epic Armoury sword
interesting that many larps are moving toward latex weapons. When I was more active, the latex weapons were always the ones you were watching out for [for larps that allowed them] as they always hit way harder then a standard 5/8" padding/ducktape boffer
Many LARPs today have adopted a medium to light touch striking system as well. It's less about a player "winning" and more about the role play experience.
@@callsigngrimdoll it was lightest touch even with the boffers.. but when you swing a weapon 100s, probably 1000s of time in one weekend, the occasional over swing happens - or someone moves 'unexpectedly' I prefer a bit more softness in the weapons (but that might also because I started with a style of fighting that is closer to 'real' then the wrist flicking that I see happen with some of the really light weapons). for groups that have a harder hitting style, they typically use a solid 1" (or more) of foam and those weapons you can hit yourself rather hard and they just bounce off and it is rather hard to hurt someone even if your swinging with some force.
You would be suprised but Latex weapons are in europe especially germany for over 15 years standard with no tape boffers. There are also manufacturer going further than latex like Wyverns Replica series which manages pretty slim blades without risking transferring to much energy.
I've actually had my eye on the epic armoury ranger sword for a while now so it was great to see so much about it! Definitely going to get that one eventually. Great video!
Good to see you here, missed your videos. Not a larper, but considering that some metal is too heavy for some of my friends to not get fatigued when at a Renn Faire I have been looking at larp armor and weapons for them. Thanks for the info.
He mentioned medieval collectibles to buy epic armory swords from. While usually used for selling actual steel weapons, Kult of Athena does have a pretty decent larp section as well. While I believe they used to carry others, they now only have epic armory swords.
16:40 As a HEMA tournament guy this is a point of equipment comparison that comes up almost every fight. A friend of mine has a Bloss Paratschwert, I have an Ensifer Kron. The Bloss has a thin, flared blade and a tapering grip while the Ensifer is just all around more substantial, with thicker edges and a longer, heavier blade. Accordingly, the Bloss is much easier to maneuver from a dead stop. Fast, rotating cuts can pop out of unassuming guards extremely quickly, and it feints extremely well. The Ensifer is, predictably, somewhat more slow to start, but once things actually *start* - parrying and ripsoting, messing with tempo, etc - it's just as fasst, if not even faster than its lighter contemporary. It's like the Ensifer itself wants to complete the cuts you send it on. Just goes to show that a "good" sword depends more on the preference of its user.
Ah, glad you’re back! I’ve loved a lot of your videos about writing and storytelling, as well as the few you’ve done analyzing or simply recommending movies or shows, I always look out for those in particular.
Swords are just universally awesome. All 3 swords have an interesting look. Hope to see more great content like this, keep on rocking. Big, strong and fluffy dragon hug for you.
Yes! One thing they do that I don't see a lot of other LARP swords do is having a crossguard core in addition to a blade core. I bought a few Hektor swords and although the paint jobs on them was far from good quality, they were sturdy and the crossguards were rigid enough to block powerful strikes and actually do some manipulation of an opponent's blade.
Awesome video :) I'm considering getting a nice new not cheap LARP sword in the near future, I needed to see this, thank you as for that "cuff" on the epic armory swords, it looks to me like that only needs to be there because (unlike Calimacil) the blade and cross guard are not the same material so they won't be able to be neatly glued together (adhesive comparability and all that) to form a tidy invisible seam, so the join needs to be hidden by something
I agree about the joinery. I gave it a bit more credit than it was due. But wanted to share the fact that I was wrong, so hopefully people who which this video don't end up thinking the same thing as me ;)
@@LivingAnachronism cool, your theory was good to though, and is probably true to a certain extent because adding the collar will make the cross guard structurally stronger because there's more material, even if it still wasn't a match for your epic swordsmanship 😀
I have one of the Epic Armoury Ranger swords (the same one as in the video) and it's an excellent weapon, smooth and responsive. Veru much a hand and a half size, but usable both in one handed dueling, two handed use at a pinch, and sword and sheild fighting.
Great vid man, great work! Curiously the word _calimacil_ came from Tolkien and means "sword of light", "light sword" or "shining sword" with _cala_ meaning light and _macil_ sword
I can't believe I didn't realize that! Makes me like their weapons even more now. Just waiting for them to have replicas of the swords from Peter Jackson's movies, like they do for the Witcher Games.
Awesome video, can't wait to hear about your experience at the larp. I've used epic armory for years and like you said, not only are they made very well but they will pass for most LARPs. I just got my hands on the stronghold arming sword and it is wonderful. A really nice profile and even better balance than the hybrid.
Great review. Thanks for the comparison. It should help people understand what they are getting, and hopefully help people understand that just because they all get called 'boffer swords', they aren't all built alike. If you get a chance you should check out B3is swords as well. They are quickly becoming the sword favored by New England and Quebec larpers for competitive swords. The construction is more like a really advanced boffer sword, than a latex or Calimacil sword. Plenty of people will complain about how B3 swords look, but non complain about the performance. They are like the rapiers of the larp world. Fast, accurate, and forceful without being painful when struck. Also the Athena Line from Ateliers Nemesis is definitely worth checking out. They are expensive, but amazing swords. The balance is better than EA or Calimacil.
Of course these are all hella cool-looking pieces, and they come with affordable prices too, and they are safe to dork around with. But I'm an axe and shield man, so it's hard for me to get excited about swords. And I am a little averse to foam rubber gear because it doesn't handle the same as steel, and its forgiving nature enables and encourages people to develop bad habits that steel never would. People start swooshing foam swords around faster than they ever could with steel, and they shrug off hits from foam weaps because they don't hurt the same. This isn't realistic. It's denial of the painfulness and lethality of true medieval weaps. I don't want people actually getting seriously hurt, but I do want substantial enough gear that it keeps people honest with each other and with themselves. If you can find a circle of friends who will follow the honor system and fall out when smote down, then cool. But for the majority of peeps who shrug it off and just keep going anyway, I do want to strike them hard enough to knock some sense into them. Perhaps I'm speaking out of ignorance, but I can't see foam accomplishing that. That said, I still totally just used the Calimicil custom staff builder to work up an axe style that makes my heart go pitter-patter. Too bad they force me to choose between 27 and 39 inches for the haft length; I need 30-32 for my personal comfort.
I am in agreement with you. I don't want people getting seriously injured of course, but I prefer larp combat to be as realistic as possible. And as a result that sort of means if you can't take a hit, you shouldn't be fighting. Reckoning had an honor system in addition to combat rules and I was very thankful for that. But I've definitely been in games where people just tap you with zero effort or force, like they aren't even trying to fight. Sparring is a different matter though, calimacils are great if you have friends that will really let you hit them and vice versa.
Definitely recommend the stronghold line, they're fantastic My warband here at Melbourne SC bought the marauder swords in bulk and got about 20 of them Only one had a defect, and that was due to the postal workers dropping the box, the manufacturer replaced it for free regardless They're not too whippy, not too badly balanced, they look fantastic and don't break easily
Great video, as always! Good info for someone like me, who's never been to an actual LARP event. I've been wanting to get my first LARP sword, and I'm intrigued by the Tannenberg Longsword by the German company Mytholon. Just worried it wouldn't pass inspection here in Sweden due to the hilt apparently being some sort of plastic. I've no idea if it's flexible or how it handles, I just really like the design of it.
Another incredible brand I go through is Wyverncraft. They have heaps of Historically inspired swords which fits more reenactment LARP kits. They also are super durable and decently soft.
Excellent video sar! Useful info too. I think I like your sword best for the most part, certainly for fighting, though I might import some of the asthetics of the battle worn footman sword.
After the larp I realized my scabbard had left a little indentation in my sword. At first Iw as a little upset, then I realized it looked more battle worn, and I actually like that look a lot now.
The reason the custom calamacil sword feels more responsive is because of where the balance is. Having it so close to the hand let's you more easily change what it's doing. I can nerd out on the engineering explaination of why that is, but that's the short version. The aerodynamics of the blade will have practically no impact on the handling your experiencing.
I remember looking at Calimacil purely for the "Custom Weapon" section. Even if I don't have any LARP group nearby, it'd be nice to just have one of those!
Try to take a look at the Stronghold Bastard sword blade from epic Armoury it is 96 cm long, the blade is 65 cm, and it weigt is 449 grams. It is maintance free, and made without latex. I own both Calamacil and epic armoury swords the both make Very good weapons.
It would be interesting to see some weapons from both lines that are different than swords. I have a pretty hefty mace that came from Calimacil that I normally grab when heading to my larp of choice, and I also have an axe that I got from Epic Armory that I use on occasion. The Mace is solid, and actually could hurt if you werent good at pulling your swings, while the axe is light and fast, but feels a bit squishy and unrealistic in my hand.
Useless crossguards is the main reason I don't use LARP swords with crossguards (despite loving them). The inability to rely on the defensive ability of the crossguards is majorly off putting. The only LARP sword I even own atm is a Viking style sword woth no real guard to speak off. But I mostly use my Mace or War Hammer as my sidearm at events. I have been thinking about getting a LARP sword with a knuckle bow or basket hilt. Since they should be more reliable in defense.
I definitely like the look of the Epic Armory swords. I was wanting to get something like this, looked at Calimacil first, but I play Amtgard and we can't use them. I really wish we could. Lol
Yeah I was looking at these for Amtgard(ish) but those edges and points are a no-go. Amtgard goes too hard to make these weapons safe, but probably okay for a less aggressive LARP.
@@vikingshark2634 Amtgard is one of the least aggressive LARPs, at least in my area. They are just really hard on the safety rules so non of these types are Ampt-legal.
@@Matsudai It's a lot softer now than it used to be (circa 1998) when shields were padded wood, weapons were upholstery foam over pvc wrapped in duct tape and there was such a thing as Light hits.
I presume that the Hybrid in name disappeared as in the german Larp section another manufacturer (Freyhand) also had a line marketed as hybrid. But instead of Sandwiched latexed EVA with a PU Handle it was 2 EVA foams of different hardness for the blade, a standard EVA for most of the blade and a softer one for the edges. From what I handled as similiar weapons like Calimacil and some Products from Mytholon I am not quite convinced by the handling. The pro to some older Swords with EVA also for the handle the huge pro is that you cant "damage" the handle due to tight grip. I had a sword from Epic I think where the leatherband on the hilt loosened because the EVA was permanently compressed.
Epic armoury stronghold line of swords, are latex free. You wont regret buying One of them. Epic armoury is a Danish company, the New sword series in the Stronghold line is in my Ryes, the Best larp swords you Can buy right now.
I plan to start a local LARP in the comming months. Would you recommend buying a few of the RFB swords as loaners or just going for the the hybrid lines. I ask because I've never handled any latex weapons. When I ran a LARP last it was 15 years ago and we made all of our weapons out of 1" pvc and camping mats.
Nothing really, they’re both just foam around a thin core. Only major difference is build and material quality; a good larp sword will have a more sturdy construction and higher quality foam. This can also make proper larp swords safer because nerf foam deteriorates faster which can expose the core or cause pieces of foam to break off during a fight. So nerf swords and the other weapons can definitely be used for larp, just ask if your game will allow them and make sure yours fits the game, a lot of the nerf swords either have a modern “tacticool” design or are some garish neon colour or both. You might also be under a bit more scrutiny during a safety check. Disclaimer: While I have used nerf swords, more of my experience with their foam melee weapons has been with the axes.
I don't have experience with any of the newer models of Nerf Swords. The older ones were.....ok. They are going to break down very quickly by comparison. And their cores are not as sturdy, meaning they will wip around a lot when you swing them. If you are planning on going to a larp event, I'd say stay away unless you want to reach out to people who run the larp and ask them in advance. Depending what event you go to, they might have a sword you can borrow instead.
Yea but the selection of swords from epic armoury to calimacil is different as well. For example, I'm trying to get that witcher 3 sword, iris I think it's called, and Calimacil has it but I haven't found it anywhere else except Amazon and ali express. Prolly not the same quality but it's tempting to go cheaper. I just don't know if I can spend almost 300 on a calimacil.....is it REALLY worth it?
Another thing is that the Hybrid range isn't all that bad, I've been using the Hybrid Small Sword for what, 5 years now? Never had a breakage, never had any issues. It's weighted like a crowbar but it's easy to make that work for you. Just because it's cheap doesn't make it shit.
Calimacil are great and look the best. But at least the 1st gen ones fall apart into crumbles after 6-8 years. This is regardless of usage and storage conditions. Calimacil took the swedish larp scene by storm when they launched at most larpers switched to Calimacil, no pretty much all of those gen 1 swords have fallen apart.
The stronghold weapons are great, and comparable to calimacil in all aspects but one. The paint does not last as long, and gets marked up significantly. Personally I still like the look, it just looks battle worn but something to keep in mind
@@LivingAnachronism Darn! If they have an etsy or any website where they make and sell them, i’d love to look into it. Have you made a video before highlighting some of your favorite outfits or set ups? It would be entertaining to see as well.
@@joshluttner No etsy at the moment, I am afraid, but I think Epic Armory sells a similar lengthed gambeson, if you're in the market. I haven't done a video like that yet, it's definitely on the list
calimacil : stone mace all the way kinda guy lol BUT if you wanna perform the best and have a weapon thats gonna carry you. take a saber polearm. anything that has reach will make you win fights
I Think you should take a look at wyvern crafts from germany. Blades are similar hardness/toughness and an athletic blade version is slimmer. The entire hilt is cast from real swords.
For a wall hanger, not to use in combat, Calimacil paint will be fine. It doesn't crack, though with constant use it can dull or rub off, needing to be repainted. But if you only plan to display the sword, it will be fine. Though take into account that since it is made out of foam, if you are balancing it on hooks, the weight of the sword will cause the contact points on the blade to indent, perhaps permanently depending on how long you leave the sword up there.
Made by a family member. There are many comparable options from various manufactures out there. medieval collectibles is a good place to start. Both Mytholon and Epic armory make some too I think
The mold seams? You might get away with using a light grit sand paper, but you will likely have to do a paint touch up. If you mean that hilt "cuff" on the epic armory swords, no those have to stay.
I can attest that Calmacil hurts reasonable more on impact. Luckily we usually fight theathrically, but still, if you are an npc and know there's a pc using a Calimacil weapon, you're already dreading the confrontation. Then again, more realism I guess?
Your sword looked better, in my opinion. As for weapon weight, I made a training sword from an iron stake, when I was younger. I never sparred with it. I only used it when practicing my forms. It was very heavy, and made handling other swords much easier.
Hate to say it but I recently bought two Epic Armouries weapons: One sword, one dagger. I'm one of those annoying weapons inspectors for a fairly large LRP system in the UK - have been for some years and... both the Epic's fail. The dagger has been cut too close on the one side so the core tip has next to no padding (latex thickness + 1-2 mm max) and the sword... erg... the tip of the core is almost touching the blade edge. I've not yet returned them but 2 brand new weapons, both fails, both should have been picked up on QC. Am really hoping I just got unlucky as I really do like the styles, feel and handling of both...
Fun fact, Epic armory and Calimacil are all made here in the province of Québec ;) You might want to try Nemesis swords though. Even though Calimacil and Epic Armory look slightly better because of their hilt details and thinner blades, it turns out all swordmasters here use Nemesis because their weight and balance is simply better, almost 20% faster in my experience. I switched 10 years ago and have always found the others to be inferior whenever I try them in stores. Oh, and Nemesis hurt less as wel :D
Epic armory hybrid swords isn't their own idea either. Palnatoke had this ready to launch in 2014. But palnatoke went bankrupt before that happened, apparently to unknown reasons in trouble with epic armory. And so they continued working on that. Also several employees had gone from palnatoke and over to epic armory 🤷
Might just be me, but I think people have grown a little too sensitive. Especially if they cannot take a hit from a prop weapon made of foam. I'm sure there were some people that got bruised and even broke some fingers due to some Calimacil props, but when you're larping and rough housing with each other, accidents are bound to happen. Only thing I would really worry about if I ever decided to go larping at a big event is being trampled in a battle scene. Say I trip and it isn't noticed by anyone, so I get trampled by a stampede of nerds. (I probably wouldn't even notice Kramer stomping on me with how light he is)
Hehe. I agree, I personally think things have swung to far towards the safety direction. I think people should be reasonable, but I also want to fight in a system that encourages people that don't know how to fight or can't take a hit not to fight, or learn to actually get better, rather than watering the combat down. Everyone bought tickets, you draw that sword, you know what you are signing up for.
I just came back from a 4000+ event and the trampling is not really an issue- people will shriek away and pull you up, don't worry. If you let yourself fall and want to die dramatically in a tight spot with loads of people and you get trampled on, oh well, you stupid. Arms up, sword up, get away from the troubles and die dramatically outside of the shield walls please. Also, helmets, gambeson and hand protection are the most useful kinds of armour to steal away the work from the paramedics and let the healers have some play. On the other hand if your army gets crushed against an actual wooden fence and the game organisators don't ensure the usual emergency exit into the "off" or call a "stop" to let everyone step 2 meters away... well you get an enraged green camp at Drachenfest 2022. The smaller, light armoured and probably less experienced players instinctivally kneeled down to not be squeezed by their armoured friends who themselves tried not to step on the others and leaned over them while they got hit by our foes... no. And since there were some people "only" panicking and nobody "really hurt" there was no "stop" or "down" order...
That is truly an Epic video :) ( Sorry for the 2 year delay in the "thank you so much for the shout out" ) All the best from the team at Epic Armoury
Hey! That was my tree in that shot! Great video my man!
That actually WAS the Skill Tree in the background
As a humble pilgrim, I have no weapons, just this 7-foot walking stick. -- What? No, of course that isn't blood! Old man, walking stick, perfectly innocent!
"You wouldn't part an old man from his walking stick?"-Gandalf the White, Two Towers (Film)
Ah, the Pilgrim's staff, a weapon so fearful that it was featured in a nightmare in Wuthering Heights 😂
I’m reminded of the WoT when described that a one of the best swordsman only lost once to a farmer with a bow staff. Paraphrasing obviously
I have two LARP swords. One from Epic Armory (and old "battleworn" single-edged shortsword with the round suede grip) and a Belator II from Calimacil. Both spend most of their time on a pair of coat hooks on the wall. I've had them for about 10 years and recently I discovered that the Calimacil, which is hung by the cross-guard, has started showing splitting along the guard due to the pressure placed on them. The Epic Armory was hung by the "false edge" (as there is no cross-guard) and while there's no tearing, the latex paint does show some spots where the black foam underneath is exposed. Mind that neither sword has had any maintenance or upkeep done on them EVER.
Thanks for the shout-out! We really appreciate it! 😄 Happy adventuring! ⚔
Thank YOU! I've used your business for much longer than I've been on UA-cam, always recommended to my friends, happy to recommend you to the channel. I actually sent you an email a couple months ago, I'd love to work with you at some point!
Would like to point out that even a real sword is not immune to damage especially when focused repeatedly across a small area.
Very true
AT205 can be used for maintenance and repair on those swords. It's an automotive material purchased in bottles on Amazon. It pours like water looks like water and can be sprayed from a spray bottle like water. However it's poured into the engine to mix with oil in the engine to refurbish seals and gaskets to prevent and stop minor leaks. It is actually a polymer and can be used to repair and do maintenance and prevent dry rotting in any rubber, silicone or latex material.
You can also spray it on your car tires after you clean them to make them look like brand new and prevent dry rotting. :)
I borrowed the Bellator for the last battle at Reckoning, and it felt amazing. I would absolutely say I preferred the feeling of it to my Epic Armoury sword
I remember you, my friend! I thought that Belletor was yours! It fit your armor aesthetic very well!
@@LivingAnachronism I appreciate that, I will definitely be getting one in the near future! It was good meeting you!
It should say latex hybrid in the description on epic armory’s website
Glad to have you back! I missed your videos
Glad to have you back! Looking forward to the promised collaboration with kit and madi
interesting that many larps are moving toward latex weapons. When I was more active, the latex weapons were always the ones you were watching out for [for larps that allowed them] as they always hit way harder then a standard 5/8" padding/ducktape boffer
Many LARPs today have adopted a medium to light touch striking system as well. It's less about a player "winning" and more about the role play experience.
@@callsigngrimdoll it was lightest touch even with the boffers.. but when you swing a weapon 100s, probably 1000s of time in one weekend, the occasional over swing happens - or someone moves 'unexpectedly' I prefer a bit more softness in the weapons (but that might also because I started with a style of fighting that is closer to 'real' then the wrist flicking that I see happen with some of the really light weapons).
for groups that have a harder hitting style, they typically use a solid 1" (or more) of foam and those weapons you can hit yourself rather hard and they just bounce off and it is rather hard to hurt someone even if your swinging with some force.
You would be suprised but Latex weapons are in europe especially germany for over 15 years standard with no tape boffers. There are also manufacturer going further than latex like Wyverns Replica series which manages pretty slim blades without risking transferring to much energy.
I've actually had my eye on the epic armoury ranger sword for a while now so it was great to see so much about it! Definitely going to get that one eventually. Great video!
Good to see you here, missed your videos. Not a larper, but considering that some metal is too heavy for some of my friends to not get fatigued when at a Renn Faire I have been looking at larp armor and weapons for them. Thanks for the info.
Larp sword UA-cam is better than coffee as a start to the day
I'll have to disagree
Coffee is essential.
Both…
Both is good
@@rcxdries8584 I concur.
He mentioned medieval collectibles to buy epic armory swords from. While usually used for selling actual steel weapons, Kult of Athena does have a pretty decent larp section as well. While I believe they used to carry others, they now only have epic armory swords.
16:40
As a HEMA tournament guy this is a point of equipment comparison that comes up almost every fight. A friend of mine has a Bloss Paratschwert, I have an Ensifer Kron. The Bloss has a thin, flared blade and a tapering grip while the Ensifer is just all around more substantial, with thicker edges and a longer, heavier blade. Accordingly, the Bloss is much easier to maneuver from a dead stop. Fast, rotating cuts can pop out of unassuming guards extremely quickly, and it feints extremely well. The Ensifer is, predictably, somewhat more slow to start, but once things actually *start* - parrying and ripsoting, messing with tempo, etc - it's just as fasst, if not even faster than its lighter contemporary. It's like the Ensifer itself wants to complete the cuts you send it on.
Just goes to show that a "good" sword depends more on the preference of its user.
Hallo Kramer good to see you back again, interesting video, glad that you had fun at the LARP
Ah, glad you’re back! I’ve loved a lot of your videos about writing and storytelling, as well as the few you’ve done analyzing or simply recommending movies or shows, I always look out for those in particular.
Love the look of that ranger sword!
Swords are just universally awesome. All 3 swords have an interesting look.
Hope to see more great content like this, keep on rocking.
Big, strong and fluffy dragon hug for you.
The ranger definitely looks best with your aesthetic in my opinion
Welcome back! That was super neat!!!
You should check out the "battle standard" line from Mytholon. Budget LARP weapons that still look pretty good.
I'll look into them
Yes! One thing they do that I don't see a lot of other LARP swords do is having a crossguard core in addition to a blade core.
I bought a few Hektor swords and although the paint jobs on them was far from good quality, they were sturdy and the crossguards were rigid enough to block powerful strikes and actually do some manipulation of an opponent's blade.
Awesome video :) I'm considering getting a nice new not cheap LARP sword in the near future, I needed to see this, thank you
as for that "cuff" on the epic armory swords, it looks to me like that only needs to be there because (unlike Calimacil) the blade and cross guard are not the same material so they won't be able to be neatly glued together (adhesive comparability and all that) to form a tidy invisible seam, so the join needs to be hidden by something
I agree about the joinery. I gave it a bit more credit than it was due. But wanted to share the fact that I was wrong, so hopefully people who which this video don't end up thinking the same thing as me ;)
@@LivingAnachronism cool, your theory was good to though, and is probably true to a certain extent because adding the collar will make the cross guard structurally stronger because there's more material, even if it still wasn't a match for your epic swordsmanship 😀
I have one of the Epic Armoury Ranger swords (the same one as in the video) and it's an excellent weapon, smooth and responsive. Veru much a hand and a half size, but usable both in one handed dueling, two handed use at a pinch, and sword and sheild fighting.
Great vid man, great work! Curiously the word _calimacil_ came from Tolkien and means "sword of light", "light sword" or "shining sword" with _cala_ meaning light and _macil_ sword
I always wondered where the name it came from.
I can't believe I didn't realize that! Makes me like their weapons even more now. Just waiting for them to have replicas of the swords from Peter Jackson's movies, like they do for the Witcher Games.
While I have seen the Rob Stark GoT sword they have, I would like to see "dawn", and the valeryan steel swords from the series from calamacil.
@@LivingAnachronism ok, i didnt know i NEEDED those until now, pardon me while i go cry in a corner for being broke and them not existing
This made a rather dull saturday into a great one, good to see you back.
Awesome video, can't wait to hear about your experience at the larp. I've used epic armory for years and like you said, not only are they made very well but they will pass for most LARPs. I just got my hands on the stronghold arming sword and it is wonderful. A really nice profile and even better balance than the hybrid.
Are the stronghold weapons latex too? Or are they fully cast? It's difficult to tell from the pictures.
you should check out wyvern lamp swords, they make historical replicas and they look absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend them
I’m probably gonna add that to my collection, looks awesome! Nice informative vid man.
Enjoyed the video Brother! always enjoy the videos
Great review. Thanks for the comparison. It should help people understand what they are getting, and hopefully help people understand that just because they all get called 'boffer swords', they aren't all built alike.
If you get a chance you should check out B3is swords as well. They are quickly becoming the sword favored by New England and Quebec larpers for competitive swords. The construction is more like a really advanced boffer sword, than a latex or Calimacil sword. Plenty of people will complain about how B3 swords look, but non complain about the performance. They are like the rapiers of the larp world. Fast, accurate, and forceful without being painful when struck.
Also the Athena Line from Ateliers Nemesis is definitely worth checking out. They are expensive, but amazing swords. The balance is better than EA or Calimacil.
Of course these are all hella cool-looking pieces, and they come with affordable prices too, and they are safe to dork around with.
But I'm an axe and shield man, so it's hard for me to get excited about swords.
And I am a little averse to foam rubber gear because it doesn't handle the same as steel, and its forgiving nature enables and encourages people to develop bad habits that steel never would. People start swooshing foam swords around faster than they ever could with steel, and they shrug off hits from foam weaps because they don't hurt the same. This isn't realistic. It's denial of the painfulness and lethality of true medieval weaps. I don't want people actually getting seriously hurt, but I do want substantial enough gear that it keeps people honest with each other and with themselves. If you can find a circle of friends who will follow the honor system and fall out when smote down, then cool. But for the majority of peeps who shrug it off and just keep going anyway, I do want to strike them hard enough to knock some sense into them. Perhaps I'm speaking out of ignorance, but I can't see foam accomplishing that.
That said, I still totally just used the Calimicil custom staff builder to work up an axe style that makes my heart go pitter-patter. Too bad they force me to choose between 27 and 39 inches for the haft length; I need 30-32 for my personal comfort.
I am in agreement with you. I don't want people getting seriously injured of course, but I prefer larp combat to be as realistic as possible. And as a result that sort of means if you can't take a hit, you shouldn't be fighting. Reckoning had an honor system in addition to combat rules and I was very thankful for that. But I've definitely been in games where people just tap you with zero effort or force, like they aren't even trying to fight. Sparring is a different matter though, calimacils are great if you have friends that will really let you hit them and vice versa.
FYI Epic Armory is a danish company, so for EU there is no extra tax.
Another enjoyable video. Very informative. Thank you!
Another great review video.
Definitely recommend the stronghold line, they're fantastic
My warband here at Melbourne SC bought the marauder swords in bulk and got about 20 of them
Only one had a defect, and that was due to the postal workers dropping the box, the manufacturer replaced it for free regardless
They're not too whippy, not too badly balanced, they look fantastic and don't break easily
Great fun! Thanks.
Great video, as always! Good info for someone like me, who's never been to an actual LARP event. I've been wanting to get my first LARP sword, and I'm intrigued by the Tannenberg Longsword by the German company Mytholon. Just worried it wouldn't pass inspection here in Sweden due to the hilt apparently being some sort of plastic. I've no idea if it's flexible or how it handles, I just really like the design of it.
Another incredible brand I go through is Wyverncraft. They have heaps of Historically inspired swords which fits more reenactment LARP kits. They also are super durable and decently soft.
Go for the longsword length Ranger sword from Epic. Have fun Kramer.
Excellent video sar! Useful info too. I think I like your sword best for the most part, certainly for fighting, though I might import some of the asthetics of the battle worn footman sword.
After the larp I realized my scabbard had left a little indentation in my sword. At first Iw as a little upset, then I realized it looked more battle worn, and I actually like that look a lot now.
@@LivingAnachronism Ha, one of those unforseen incidental perks. Nice.
The reason the custom calamacil sword feels more responsive is because of where the balance is. Having it so close to the hand let's you more easily change what it's doing. I can nerd out on the engineering explaination of why that is, but that's the short version. The aerodynamics of the blade will have practically no impact on the handling your experiencing.
You should try out the Wyvern Replica brand, much like calimacil - I just feel the quality is a bit better.
Thank you.
I remember looking at Calimacil purely for the "Custom Weapon" section. Even if I don't have any LARP group nearby, it'd be nice to just have one of those!
Great video again! I'd love to see you do a camping video in character. That would be really cool.
The ranger does look good on you I can't lie
Awesome video.
Try to take a look at the Stronghold Bastard sword blade from epic Armoury it is 96 cm long, the blade is 65 cm, and it weigt is 449 grams. It is maintance free, and made without latex. I own both Calamacil and epic armoury swords the both make Very good weapons.
That one looks really good, I definitely want to try it out one day
It would be interesting to see some weapons from both lines that are different than swords. I have a pretty hefty mace that came from Calimacil that I normally grab when heading to my larp of choice, and I also have an axe that I got from Epic Armory that I use on occasion. The Mace is solid, and actually could hurt if you werent good at pulling your swings, while the axe is light and fast, but feels a bit squishy and unrealistic in my hand.
Nice to see the pat on the back to Skill Tree. He sent me here to see you !!
Kit and Madi are good people and they make awesome content!
just subscribed to skilltree, hes got interesting content
Useless crossguards is the main reason I don't use LARP swords with crossguards (despite loving them). The inability to rely on the defensive ability of the crossguards is majorly off putting.
The only LARP sword I even own atm is a Viking style sword woth no real guard to speak off. But I mostly use my Mace or War Hammer as my sidearm at events.
I have been thinking about getting a LARP sword with a knuckle bow or basket hilt. Since they should be more reliable in defense.
The hilts on my cutlesses are still pretty soft, and I totally feel you on usless crossguards. The Bellator handle is honestly quite good, thankfully.
I definitely like the look of the Epic Armory swords. I was wanting to get something like this, looked at Calimacil first, but I play Amtgard and we can't use them. I really wish we could. Lol
Yeah I was looking at these for Amtgard(ish) but those edges and points are a no-go. Amtgard goes too hard to make these weapons safe, but probably okay for a less aggressive LARP.
@@vikingshark2634 Amtgard is one of the least aggressive LARPs, at least in my area. They are just really hard on the safety rules so non of these types are Ampt-legal.
@@Matsudai It's a lot softer now than it used to be (circa 1998) when shields were padded wood, weapons were upholstery foam over pvc wrapped in duct tape and there was such a thing as Light hits.
I presume that the Hybrid in name disappeared as in the german Larp section another manufacturer (Freyhand) also had a line marketed as hybrid. But instead of Sandwiched latexed EVA with a PU Handle it was 2 EVA foams of different hardness for the blade, a standard EVA for most of the blade and a softer one for the edges.
From what I handled as similiar weapons like Calimacil and some Products from Mytholon I am not quite convinced by the handling. The pro to some older Swords with EVA also for the handle the huge pro is that you cant "damage" the handle due to tight grip. I had a sword from Epic I think where the leatherband on the hilt loosened because the EVA was permanently compressed.
Epic armoury stronghold line of swords, are latex free. You wont regret buying One of them. Epic armoury is a Danish company, the New sword series in the Stronghold line is in my Ryes, the Best larp swords you Can buy right now.
Now I really want to get my hands on one of the stronghold weapons so I can compare!
I plan to start a local LARP in the comming months. Would you recommend buying a few of the RFB swords as loaners or just going for the the hybrid lines.
I ask because I've never handled any latex weapons. When I ran a LARP last it was 15 years ago and we made all of our weapons out of 1" pvc and camping mats.
Personally, I would go for those cheaper RFB's for loaners
being new to LARP community I would like to know the difference between a proper LARP sword and a Nerf sword.
Nothing really, they’re both just foam around a thin core. Only major difference is build and material quality; a good larp sword will have a more sturdy construction and higher quality foam. This can also make proper larp swords safer because nerf foam deteriorates faster which can expose the core or cause pieces of foam to break off during a fight. So nerf swords and the other weapons can definitely be used for larp, just ask if your game will allow them and make sure yours fits the game, a lot of the nerf swords either have a modern “tacticool” design or are some garish neon colour or both. You might also be under a bit more scrutiny during a safety check.
Disclaimer: While I have used nerf swords, more of my experience with their foam melee weapons has been with the axes.
I don't have experience with any of the newer models of Nerf Swords. The older ones were.....ok. They are going to break down very quickly by comparison. And their cores are not as sturdy, meaning they will wip around a lot when you swing them. If you are planning on going to a larp event, I'd say stay away unless you want to reach out to people who run the larp and ask them in advance. Depending what event you go to, they might have a sword you can borrow instead.
love your videos
I live in the city Calimacil is based in. What do you think people use here? We got to support our own and buy local!
Yea but the selection of swords from epic armoury to calimacil is different as well. For example, I'm trying to get that witcher 3 sword, iris I think it's called, and Calimacil has it but I haven't found it anywhere else except Amazon and ali express. Prolly not the same quality but it's tempting to go cheaper. I just don't know if I can spend almost 300 on a calimacil.....is it REALLY worth it?
Another thing is that the Hybrid range isn't all that bad, I've been using the Hybrid Small Sword for what, 5 years now?
Never had a breakage, never had any issues.
It's weighted like a crowbar but it's easy to make that work for you.
Just because it's cheap doesn't make it shit.
These look great for renfest cast fights
Calimacil are great and look the best. But at least the 1st gen ones fall apart into crumbles after 6-8 years. This is regardless of usage and storage conditions.
Calimacil took the swedish larp scene by storm when they launched at most larpers switched to Calimacil, no pretty much all of those gen 1 swords have fallen apart.
The stronghold weapons are great, and comparable to calimacil in all aspects but one. The paint does not last as long, and gets marked up significantly. Personally I still like the look, it just looks battle worn but something to keep in mind
Looks like they are starting to make more oval handles.
Where did you get that long coat/ gambeson?!
Would fit the look im visioning for my outfit pretty well. It looks light weight and comfortable.
It was made for me by a family member, one of a kind I am afraid
@@LivingAnachronism Darn! If they have an etsy or any website where they make and sell them, i’d love to look into it.
Have you made a video before highlighting some of your favorite outfits or set ups? It would be entertaining to see as well.
@@joshluttner No etsy at the moment, I am afraid, but I think Epic Armory sells a similar lengthed gambeson, if you're in the market. I haven't done a video like that yet, it's definitely on the list
Somebody else who cares about edge alignment? i like this person.
calimacil : stone mace all the way kinda guy lol
BUT if you wanna perform the best and have a weapon thats gonna carry you. take a saber polearm. anything that has reach will make you win fights
You should take a look at Nemesis Workshop; here in Québec (where we can found Calimacil) they are knowned as the best.
I have never held one of their blades (can't afford rn) but I would love to have one. They are beautiful
How long are those swords?
I like your sword the best.👍
I Think you should take a look at wyvern crafts from germany. Blades are similar hardness/toughness and an athletic blade version is slimmer. The entire hilt is cast from real swords.
Thr foot man's sword gives more of a ranger look. (Totally not biased because I have that weapon as well haha)
Commenting for the algorithm
Looking for a wall hanger, can a Calimacil sword last a lifetime or will the paint eventually crack
For a wall hanger, not to use in combat, Calimacil paint will be fine. It doesn't crack, though with constant use it can dull or rub off, needing to be repainted. But if you only plan to display the sword, it will be fine. Though take into account that since it is made out of foam, if you are balancing it on hooks, the weight of the sword will cause the contact points on the blade to indent, perhaps permanently depending on how long you leave the sword up there.
Thanks Kramer. Love your content
Not sword related but whered you get your amazing gambeson?
Made by a family member. There are many comparable options from various manufactures out there. medieval collectibles is a good place to start. Both Mytholon and Epic armory make some too I think
Is there any way to remove those seams? They're kind of an eyesore
The mold seams? You might get away with using a light grit sand paper, but you will likely have to do a paint touch up. If you mean that hilt "cuff" on the epic armory swords, no those have to stay.
I can attest that Calmacil hurts reasonable more on impact. Luckily we usually fight theathrically, but still, if you are an npc and know there's a pc using a Calimacil weapon, you're already dreading the confrontation. Then again, more realism I guess?
Have you been hit with a Wyvern realistic line sword? That tends to hurt a lot compared to the calimacil swords. But it is wanted here in Europe
@@alexanderlumsden7223 don't think I have, no and definitely not looking forward to that if what you're saying is correct..
Where abouts in India was this event ? Genuinely interested
South East Indiana, next event will be in Moores Hill, the website for Reckoning is linking in the description.
as a prospective larper and a practicing cheapskate, this video helps....
me to not buy either new because its too damn expensive.
hey man just a little correction, epicarmoury is based in denmark
hmmm depends on the character in all honesty. for your ranger kit id say the ranger sword.
Your sword looked better, in my opinion.
As for weapon weight, I made a training sword from an iron stake, when I was younger. I never sparred with it. I only used it when practicing my forms. It was very heavy, and made handling other swords much easier.
I see the way you hold that bellator and how you're thumbing your blade.
I want to spar against you so bad.
The "battle damaged" sword would go with your battle damaged armor.
Def. the custom Calimacil is the way to go for you, sir. That thing looks absolutely amazing.
Calimacil.
I like your sword best. It looks less like a foam fantasy sword.
Hate to say it but I recently bought two Epic Armouries weapons: One sword, one dagger. I'm one of those annoying weapons inspectors for a fairly large LRP system in the UK - have been for some years and... both the Epic's fail. The dagger has been cut too close on the one side so the core tip has next to no padding (latex thickness + 1-2 mm max) and the sword... erg... the tip of the core is almost touching the blade edge. I've not yet returned them but 2 brand new weapons, both fails, both should have been picked up on QC.
Am really hoping I just got unlucky as I really do like the styles, feel and handling of both...
Fun fact, Epic armory and Calimacil are all made here in the province of Québec ;)
You might want to try Nemesis swords though.
Even though Calimacil and Epic Armory look slightly better because of their hilt details and thinner blades, it turns out all swordmasters here use Nemesis because their weight and balance is simply better, almost 20% faster in my experience. I switched 10 years ago and have always found the others to be inferior whenever I try them in stores.
Oh, and Nemesis hurt less as wel :D
Someone might have already pointed this out, but the hybrids are called Stronghold weapons.
LARPers complaining about getting hurt. Pfft. It's part of the role play. Toughen up.
Epic armory hybrid swords isn't their own idea either. Palnatoke had this ready to launch in 2014. But palnatoke went bankrupt before that happened, apparently to unknown reasons in trouble with epic armory. And so they continued working on that. Also several employees had gone from palnatoke and over to epic armory 🤷
Might just be me, but I think people have grown a little too sensitive. Especially if they cannot take a hit from a prop weapon made of foam. I'm sure there were some people that got bruised and even broke some fingers due to some Calimacil props, but when you're larping and rough housing with each other, accidents are bound to happen. Only thing I would really worry about if I ever decided to go larping at a big event is being trampled in a battle scene. Say I trip and it isn't noticed by anyone, so I get trampled by a stampede of nerds. (I probably wouldn't even notice Kramer stomping on me with how light he is)
Hehe. I agree, I personally think things have swung to far towards the safety direction. I think people should be reasonable, but I also want to fight in a system that encourages people that don't know how to fight or can't take a hit not to fight, or learn to actually get better, rather than watering the combat down. Everyone bought tickets, you draw that sword, you know what you are signing up for.
I just came back from a 4000+ event and the trampling is not really an issue- people will shriek away and pull you up, don't worry. If you let yourself fall and want to die dramatically in a tight spot with loads of people and you get trampled on, oh well, you stupid. Arms up, sword up, get away from the troubles and die dramatically outside of the shield walls please.
Also, helmets, gambeson and hand protection are the most useful kinds of armour to steal away the work from the paramedics and let the healers have some play.
On the other hand if your army gets crushed against an actual wooden fence and the game organisators don't ensure the usual emergency exit into the "off" or call a "stop" to let everyone step 2 meters away... well you get an enraged green camp at Drachenfest 2022. The smaller, light armoured and probably less experienced players instinctivally kneeled down to not be squeezed by their armoured friends who themselves tried not to step on the others and leaned over them while they got hit by our foes... no. And since there were some people "only" panicking and nobody "really hurt" there was no "stop" or "down" order...