My most prized HEMA fencing sword is the schiavona that Jesse Belsky made, based off Bill Grandy's antique and mirrored for a left-handed fencer. He was very good to work with, and at Lord Baltimore's College he noticed I was wearing a jacket of a major theatrical lighting manufacturer, so we got to talk shop about lighting design too. Just a pleasant human with incredible skill and talent in creation.
Also to add, that your Schiavona has issues, like being made for the wrong hand for me to use ;), but I love the ricasso on the blade (so good choice for the blade), and the weight, POB and blade length are spot on with original pieces. The fact that the basket is made for HEMA is also quite impressive.
Have you tried to fence fingering the cross-guard (so more like a sidesword or rapier) while using the thumb ring at the same time? I am still intrigued if some Schiavonas were used that way (in the end, Schiavonas cover such a broad type of swords when it comes to function).
I usually do grip it with index over crossguard with thumb in ring. I'm not sure if they were made for that, or this Type 2 specifically, but I feel most comfortable using it that way with Bolognese-influenced techniques.
Type 2 and so on refer to the basket. That's the problem we have with classifying the Schiavona. We see the same basket being used on broad blades, or narrow side-sword or rapier like blades (the latter is later on). Based on blade lengths and type, think a Schiavona could be used as an infantry sword or as a cavalry sword. I saw originals with cutting focused blades over 95cm long; so more of a pallasch role. The thumb ring solidifies the pallasch like role in use.
However, I always believed that the type you have, looking at photos of the original, should be more of a side-sword. And the thumb ring just helps with the fine control (like the role played by longer langets we see on some sideswords). So the way you are using it sound perfect to me for your particular piece.
And the fact that you can finger the guard on a Schiavona is what makes it a true Italian sword ;)... as opposed to the British basket-hilts that don't allow for that. I was told that Italians complained that the British basket-swords (around the time of George Silver) cannot be used with the finger over the guard.
I loved your review, I just want to add that Jesse has been easy to work with when I wanted to change out the grip and pommel on my rapier to match the daggers he made for us and also to fix the blade and make new grip and pommel for my sidesword after the blade (from another provider) broke at the tang.
I want to write my point of view from afar... my initial reaction was to dismiss his work as fantasy, especially since I read aluminium blades next to the first embellished sword I saw on his website. But then, I actually got to see more of his work and respect that he uses different blades for different projects. If I am not wrong, he's skill set in the old day would have been that of a cutler, the person that designed and made the hilts rather than the blades for a sword. I actually like this approach quite a lot, and I would love if more makers would offer bare blades (sharps or for HEMA) for these type of projects.
My most prized HEMA fencing sword is the schiavona that Jesse Belsky made, based off Bill Grandy's antique and mirrored for a left-handed fencer. He was very good to work with, and at Lord Baltimore's College he noticed I was wearing a jacket of a major theatrical lighting manufacturer, so we got to talk shop about lighting design too. Just a pleasant human with incredible skill and talent in creation.
(link to my schiavona for the curious: https://jesse-belsky-stageswords.squarespace.com/sold-schiavona/schiavona14)
As a Schiavona owner (a replica; different maker), I agree that Jesse Belsky makes some nice looking basket-hilt pieces.
Also to add, that your Schiavona has issues, like being made for the wrong hand for me to use ;), but I love the ricasso on the blade (so good choice for the blade), and the weight, POB and blade length are spot on with original pieces. The fact that the basket is made for HEMA is also quite impressive.
Have you tried to fence fingering the cross-guard (so more like a sidesword or rapier) while using the thumb ring at the same time? I am still intrigued if some Schiavonas were used that way (in the end, Schiavonas cover such a broad type of swords when it comes to function).
I usually do grip it with index over crossguard with thumb in ring. I'm not sure if they were made for that, or this Type 2 specifically, but I feel most comfortable using it that way with Bolognese-influenced techniques.
Type 2 and so on refer to the basket. That's the problem we have with classifying the Schiavona. We see the same basket being used on broad blades, or narrow side-sword or rapier like blades (the latter is later on). Based on blade lengths and type, think a Schiavona could be used as an infantry sword or as a cavalry sword. I saw originals with cutting focused blades over 95cm long; so more of a pallasch role. The thumb ring solidifies the pallasch like role in use.
However, I always believed that the type you have, looking at photos of the original, should be more of a side-sword. And the thumb ring just helps with the fine control (like the role played by longer langets we see on some sideswords). So the way you are using it sound perfect to me for your particular piece.
And the fact that you can finger the guard on a Schiavona is what makes it a true Italian sword ;)... as opposed to the British basket-hilts that don't allow for that. I was told that Italians complained that the British basket-swords (around the time of George Silver) cannot be used with the finger over the guard.
I loved your review, I just want to add that Jesse has been easy to work with when I wanted to change out the grip and pommel on my rapier to match the daggers he made for us and also to fix the blade and make new grip and pommel for my sidesword after the blade (from another provider) broke at the tang.
I always enjoy working with Jesse! His hilt decoration is off the chain nowdays, aspirational stuff.
I want to write my point of view from afar... my initial reaction was to dismiss his work as fantasy, especially since I read aluminium blades next to the first embellished sword I saw on his website. But then, I actually got to see more of his work and respect that he uses different blades for different projects. If I am not wrong, he's skill set in the old day would have been that of a cutler, the person that designed and made the hilts rather than the blades for a sword. I actually like this approach quite a lot, and I would love if more makers would offer bare blades (sharps or for HEMA) for these type of projects.
I think yeah, a cutler or hilt/furniture maker is the best way to describe Jesse's work in a historical bent.