Your comments are right on point. Thanks!
For someone wanting an accurate reproduction I’d also recommend my current favorite: Albion. It took me a while to decide to pull the trigger but I’ve finally ordered a couple of theirs. Don’t have them yet. They’re still several weeks out. One is the blunt Lichtenauer, for sparring and the other is the sharp Baron, with a period scabbard. I can hardly wait.
They’re here: http://www.albion-swords.com
I’ve handled their Lichtenauer that a friend owns, and... wow. The difference between it and my Hanwei blunt is clear. The Hanwei works OK, nothing is really wrong with it other than it’s a little whippy in the blade, but the Albion instantly just “feels right”. Huge difference. Gotta have one. :-)
I’ve heard of the Albions from WMA folk in Britain, but haven’t seen any. They do have a good rep, from what I hear. It’s amazing the difference a quality blade makes in what you can do with it.
I’m more into the later Italian rapier forms than the German longsword work, although I’ve done an I33 sword and buckler workshop that was a hoot.
(ps: I read your earlier thread. Don’t take Silver as too much gospel; he had an axe to grind. He was basically saying “Take yer furrin’ rapier thingies and get off my lawn. If English sword and buckler was good enough for Dad, it’s good enough for me! My Kung Fu is better than your decadent Karate!”)
Albion makes very good reproductions. They are a great bunch of guys, and I would agree that you will get your moneys worth buying from them. They also do a lot of fantasy stuff and one of their workers (can’t remember his name...) does very good quality helms. My son and I were graciously granted a factory tour last spring. You medieval enthusiasts would love these guys! They look like they just leapt out from medieval times... :)
If you get up near New Glarus, Wisconsin be sure to drop in...New Glarus is a great little town in it’s own right as well.
Oh, one last thing, for the interested, Albion does a lot of the movie swords...they have quite a list of movies they provided swords for. Some are big money movies.