An active fighting swordsman's take.

by Dylan Asbury
(Virginia)

Strongblade was the first sword maker i bought from and I'll say I was very satisfied at first. The swords were beautiful and the blades are extremely durable. I bought the Ambergale and Stormblade rapiers about a year ago and overall the experience was a positive one. The negative aspects are primarily concerning the handle. The guards on both swords are broken in places and this creates vulnerability to the hand that I can't allow in my style of swordsmanship. (Italian rapier in Fabris tradition.) The swords DID however stand up to a lot of punishment in the six to eight months I was using them. I mean daily, full-blade action fighting against a Katana guy and a rough, dirty brawler. All in all, the blades are roughly suitable for full combat. The handle tends to loosen but can be re-tightened UNTIL the wood core is bored out by the tang. Once this happens, the blade and handle will spin continuously on the tang and parrying becomes impossible. This started about three months in (with lots of fighting along the way) and only became a problem about five or six months in.

Bottom line: Considering the price, They are great swords for a fighter. For a display piece they are gorgeous. If you're out to get dirty and slug it out, I'd tentatively recommend Strongblade. Just don't expect it to last five years or anything like that. The swords WILL server well for a time though. Again, overall a positive experience. I just don't think the makers had intended for it the kind of beating I mean to put my blades through. If you're shopping for a solid piece that is aesthetically pleasing and can snap a stainless steel wall hanger katana in two (Yes, i have done this) Strongblade is a great option considering the prices are a steal.