Legacy Arms Generation 2 Swords

Originally called Generation 2 swords, and now Legacy Arms, this sword company was sold to Cas Iberia in 2013 by it’s owner and founder, Clyde Hollis.

Produced in the Philippines, their swords have been refined over the years with a constant and continuing process of improvement that has lightened the blades to within historically accurate tolerances yet maintained an overall level of durability that typically greatly surpasses the originals they are based upon.

In the latter years of Clyde’s direction the company collaborated with the late, great Hank Reinhardt and later Bruce Brookhart before the company was sold to Cas Iberia.

Price range on these swords is from US$129 to $299.

MAIN PRODUCT LINES

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EUROPEAN AND FANTASY SWORDS

Made from 5160 Spring Steel, their standard European and Fantasy Sword line are hand forged and fitted with high quality, 100% natural components and offer some exceptional value for money, though to protect their value a strictly enforced MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) is in force. Yet prices remain more or less the same over the years.

Swords range from original fantasy designs to functional LoTR (Lord of the Rings) replicas, Ancient Roman swords and a variety of medieval arming, long and two handed swords.

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HANK REINHARDT COLLECTION

His final project and legacy to the sword industry, the Hank Reinhardt Collection is a series of swords based on actual antiques that were been made to the exacting specifications of the late Sword and Arms Historian, Hank Reinhardt.

The originals have either been in Hanks own collection or have been reconstructed by sketches given to him by his personal friend, the late, great sword Scholar Ewart Oakeshott.

THE BROOKHARDT COLLECTION

Bruce A. Brookhardt previously worked as the primary sword designer for Museum Replicas Ltd in the 1990s, worked alongside Hank Reinhardt for 17 years, and in late 2012/early 2013 turned his considerable talents to designing a range of Teutonic and Templar themed swords for Legacy Arms.

Swords from this line focus on being both historically accurate yet very strong.

HOW THEY ARE MADE

Generation 2 swords were made in the Philippines until the early 2020s when their forge could not remain open during COVD related policies and their designs were transferred to a larger Chinese based forge which much higher production capacity and more consistently made products.

While value for money is even better than before, many miss the old fashioned style they used to bring to the anvil, with their simple forge using the occassional wooden lathe for making the handles, everything else was done the hard, traditional way.

While the production processes may have changed and been refined, the original concept to use NO sythetic materials in the swords construction, sharpen with a proper appleseed bevel for extra BITE, are all peened for maxium strength and the fit and finish looks like a sword several times the price.

KNOWN ISSUES

The earliest incarnation of Generation 2 swords were rather typical of the era, having overly heavy, poorly balanced – yet very durable blades 'sharpened crowbars' as they were lovingly referred to.

This was fun for a while, but in 2006 a concerted effort was made to lighten and re-balance the blades to be more in line with the historical originals. However some of the thinner blades suffered from poor tempering due to seasonal temperature variations in the Philippines and it took them some considerable time and effort to find the right balance between durability and handling - and when they finally did, they changed their name to Legacy Arms.

Despite fixing the issues, internet rumors would not let those early experiments go, and in 2013 the forge was sold to CAS IBERIA, who slowly but surely started overhauling and improving each model even further in the 2020s without an increase in price.

At a glance, the differences are quite noticable. But get up close to see just how much better they have been made, the attention to detail and overall build quality is so much better it really is hard to believe they are the same price they were back in 2006-07..

Interview with Clyde Hollis 2006

Interview with Clyde Hollis 2007

WHERE TO BUY GENERATION 2 SWORDS

Gen 2/Legacy Arms swords are subject to a strictly enforced MAP, so price shopping is generally not an option with this line. The full line up is available HERE at Kult of Athena

OFFICIAL SBG REVIEWS

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I hope this information on Generation 2 swords has been helpful. To return to the Sword Manufacturers Dossier from Generation 2 swords, click here