Their fencing and HEMA equipment is, yes - which is not what I was commenting on, as the thread creator is looking for a steel sword, not a waster or fencing masks.
Their metal stuff is exactly what dozens of other shops sell, like this shield:
http://rautaportti.fi/helmets_armor_and_shields/shields/knightly_steel_shield_for_reenactment
Look at it. I can link you to a dozen of other shops selling the exact same and completely ahistorical shield (just an example: http://www.battlemerchant.com/Shields/Heater-Shields/Shield-from-Steel-with-Padding::3067.html). Nothing in the pictures makes sense:
The shield is out of place, as shields werenât used along with plate armour, the sword from a much earlier century, and the harness itself seems oversized and not well-fitted.
Theyâre NOT all selling the same crap because they use the same model from history (Most donât even accurately USE models from history), but because stocking up from India is bloody cheap.
Most of their swords are apparently made by Windlass, in India: http://rautaportti.fi/index.php?main_page=page_4 - Not Windlass is basicly the same as Kovex, budget, just that they focus on sharps more than blunts. Theyâre âokayâ products, but not great products. Sadly, the rest of the gear (like the shield) isnât even at that âokayâ level of quality.
Please donât try to use âhistoricalâ arguments if you only know so much about it.
That the shop you linked is selling ONE decent brand of good HEMA equipment doesnât negate that. Iâd still absolutely avoid the shop if youâre looking for steel, non HEMA equipment.
I apologise for coming across so hostile, but I just canât take people downplaying how bad the horrible mass-produced garbage is, and especially not trying to justify it with historical arguments.
@Takiosan
Sending you a pm today. 