Beginning students do not need to own any equipment, except for a fencing mask (as noted below). NYHFA will provide you with everything you need until you decide if you want to commit to the study of HES, at which point you will hardly need encouragement to obtain your own equipment.
UPDATE: All NYHFA members who wish to engage in practice are required to own their own fencing mask. A loaner mask will be available to new people who attend an introductory practice session. Three weapon masks are highly recommended, and required for bouting.
Jump to recommended vendors list - Swords
Jump to recommended vendors list -Miscellaneous Equipment
Wasters
The most essential training tool for beginners is the “waster”, a training sword made of a durable hardwood, usually hickory but also more exotic woods like Jatoba, Purpleheart or Ironwood. Purchasing a high quality waster is essential; cheap imitations may appear the same in a small website photo, but will not last long when put into contact with the real thing.
Blunts
When a practitioner has gained a good measure of control handling a waster, he or she will be ready to step up to the use of rebated steel or aluminum training swords. These swords, especially those made of steel, behave much more like real swords than do wasters. They are not simply dulled versions of sharp swords, but are designed from the ground up for safe use in drills and bouting (with heavy protective gear). The reason that blunts are reserved for advanced students is that an accidental strike from a sword, even a blunt one, can lead to serious injury.
Sharps
The word “sharps” is sometimes used to refer to real (e.g. sharp) swords. Although useful only for solo practice and test cutting, the handling of a real sword instills respect and a deeper understanding of the principles of swordsmanship. The use of a real sword requires the utmost control, respect, discipline and attention to detail. NYHFA does not engage in or condone any form of partnered drills or bouting with sharp swords, and doing so, even on your own time, is grounds for dismissal from the group.
Bouting (Sparring) Simulators
NYHFA engages in occasional bouting, for which we use a variety of weapon simulators. Among them are modified shinai, padded swords and steel blunts. NYHFA members are not required to have their own weapon simulators. Bouting is optional and only those members who wish to participate should do so.
Safety Equipment
Initially, safety equipment is not required, though you may wear whatever makes you comfortable. As you progress to the use of blunts, a pair of leather gloves is highly recommended, as is a quality fencing mask and gambeson. For bouting, the type of equipment used will depend on the weapon simulator you are bouting with, and ranges from fencing masks and leather gloves to full harness (plate armor).
Recommended Equipment Vendors
We are fortunate in this day and age to have a wide variety of quality equipment available at reasonable prices. Here you will find links to recommended equipment manufacturers and retailers with whom our members have had favorable dealings. There are many other artisans, retailers and manufacturers that offer excellent products and services, but only those that we have personal experience with will be listed here.
Swords
Albion Swords – manufacturers and retailers of high quality recreation swords and armor. Albion swords are designed by world renowned sword smith and researched Peter Johnsson for an unparalleled degree of authenticity. These are some of the finest production swords available today and are highly recommended by NYHFA as both weapons for the martial artist and show pieces for the serious collector. The sword in the top left banner of our website is an Albion Talhoffer.
Angus Trim Swords – Angus Trim designs, manufactures and retails high performance swords for the serious martial artist and collector. These high quality weapons epitomize the ideals of balance, handling and cutting performance. While not historically correct in appeareance, they are correct in feel and handling and are highly recommended as martial arts tools.
Arms and Armor – manufacturers and retailers of high quality reproduction weapons and armor. Arms and Armor offers a large selection of superb swords, daggers and pole arms and are willing to take on custom projects. NYHFA currently uses their Fechterspiel longsword trainers and we are very fond of them and recommend them highly.
Christian Fletcher – Christian is an extremely talented cutler (hilt and scabbard maker) and a retailer for customized Angus Trim and Albion swords. Swords with Christian Fletcher hilts and scabbards are highly sought after and command very high prices on the used sword market. Christian has a reputation for some of the finest custom sword work available today, and his prices are extremely reasonable and competitive. His work is highly recommended by NYHFA.
Michael “Tinker” Pearce – Tinker is a custom sword maker that produces very high quality one of a kind swords, both custom commissions and his own designs. He is known for light, superb handling swords that are differentially hardened. His swords are priced very competitively and are some of the least expensive and highest quality custom swords available today. A rare combination, and highly recommended by NYHFA.
Museum Replicas Limited – retailers for Windless Steelcrafts Ltd, an Indian company that manufactures inexpensive replicas of swords, daggers, spears, pole arms and more. Although their quality can sometimes vary, we believe they are best bet for sword collectors and martial artists on a budget. Their swords are known to be whippy (overly flexible), but if you’re looking for a sword in 200 dollar range, you would be hard pressed to find a better alternative.
Miscellaneous Equipment
Purpleheart Armoury – manufacturers and retailers of the some of the best wasters (wooden swords) on the market. For NYHFA members just starting out in their training, a Purpleheart waster is a must have item. Although you can find cheaper alternatives that may look the same to the untrained eye, there is no substitute for a good waster. Purpleheart Armory is highly recommended by NYHFA.
Revival Clothing – makers and retailers of high quality medieval style clothing and arming wear. Revival clothing makes what is commonly believed to be the best off-the-rack gambesons on the market today. Their linen gambeson is highly recommended by NYHFA as both part of a reenactment kit and for protection during drills and bouting.
