20140703 Edited to add: Alfie was rehomed in June. He now lives with a charming HEMA couple who treat him with the respect he deserves.
Swords get named when they’re special, and Alfie is special because he’s pretty damned rare. He’s named for the man who developed this type of training sabre (and it’s style of use), Alfred HUTTON [External Link]. Alfie himself may not an original Hutton training sabre, but he is definitely of the Hutton school. I found him by chance. I didn’t even know what he was until my instructor told me.
Hutton Training Sabre
The current, rough hilt and guard may be a replacement, as the wood and metal are not that smooth and there’s a hemp grip. However, he feels great in the hand and is definitely better than the Hanwei Hutton training sabre [External Link] I was going to order. Unfortunately, I am not good enough at fencing to make it a good idea to use him for regular practice. I don’t make use of Alfie against an opponent in case I damage what is effectively an antique.
Alfie's Hilt (1)
Some basic stats: Alfie has a blade length of 34 1/4 inches (87cm) and his hilt is 5 1/2 inches (14cm), giving an overall length of 39 3/4 inches (101cm). Compare that against the Hanwei version. If nothing else, he has a much more Mouse sized hilt! I’m a size 7 1/2 but have to wear a size 8 glove (still tiny) as I have difficulty finding gloves small enough.
Alfie's Hilt (2)