RIP Hank Reinhardt

[puppetmaker]

I was a teenager the first time I met Hank and he had a sword in his hand. The last time I saw him, he had a sword in his hand. But that was Hank. He knew more about bladed weapons and the practical use of a sword than anyone in my acquaintance. And he was passionate about the subject.

He started Museum Replicas Limited to bring good historically accurate swords to the public that could be used in real combat. This was before the explosion of Renaissance Faire and other venues like it. He made a business of it and did pretty well with it. He was quite the salesman. He had to explain why his swords were more expensive than another vendors time and time again to customers (because his were made for combat not just show. My favorite example of this was when he took a blade that had been bought for under $100 at a show and one of his blades which was about $170 as I remember to a demo and about six swings in the cheaper blade shattered just above the hilt and Hank showed us the tang and how badly made it was.)

I went to their shop a couple of times. I don't know if they have a store front any more. I would find Hank there and we would talk about what we had been up to and swords and fantasy movies and anything else that came to mind. That was the nice thing about Hank, he could talk about just about any subject.

When I was younger, I would see him at conventions usually in the dealer's room or doing a demo for the convention. In later years, he would be a guest of the convention although there were still a couple that he would set up shop at and did quite well. I always enjoyed my time talking to Hank. I did get to introduce him to Caroline. He had been a part of my convention going for just about as long as I have been going to conventions.

I'll miss you Hank.

My sympathies go out to his wife Toni (a really neat person in her own right) and the rest of his family and his extended family.

He was one of a kind.

I think I am going to pull out my sword that a friend made me from parts that he got at Hank's shop today and hang it up in the living room.

I am grateful that I knew Hank as long as I did.

Comments

[kradical.livejournal.com]

I, too, have many fond memories of chatting with Hank, usually about swordfighting. In fact, I think the first time I met him was my first Dragon*Con in 1998 -- Toni introduced us at a Baen Books party she was throwing, and we talked for ages about swordfighting.

Last time I saw him was on the excellent "Fightin' and Writin'" panel at this year's D*C, which also included David Drake, Robert Aspirin, and others. He was, of course, smart and knowledgeable and acerbic, like usual.

He will be missed.