Deepeeka Pre-Production Viking Swords: PRS417 & PRS419
Nov 27, 2020 0:59:53 GMT
Post by Jash on Nov 27, 2020 0:59:53 GMT
1) PRS-417 Gnezdovo C-2 “D”
2) PRS-419 Gnezdovo L-13 "E2"
Introduction
This is my first official review, so apologies ahead of time. The reason I decided to make this review is to shed some light on 2 Deepeeka threads I’ve been involved in. One is “Deepeeka Gems…?”, on the lookout for budget friendly swords that exceed expectations; as well as seeing just how much Deepeeka have improved. The other being "Pre-Production Swords from Indian Co on eBay”, in order to test the quality of Deepeeka Pre-Production pieces. I like swords with a story, and a bit of bling. Something that when someone comes over, the sword catches their eye, and I can bore them with the story behind it (historical and/or production company). I chose 2 Viking swords that are soon to be released on Deepeeka’s Primus (PRS) line – they can be seen on their website under “New and Improved”. Both are replicas of museum pieces from the Gnezdovo site in Russia. The first is a Peterson Type “D” sword from site “C-2”, which is Deepeeka’s model PRS417. The second is a Peterson Type “E2” sword from site “L-13”, which is Deepeeka’s model PRS419. Combined they were $450 usd shipped (to Canada). So, I think of them as $225 usd or $300 cad each. I thought it best to review these 2 together.
Historical Overview
PRS417 “D” C2:
From Deepeeka’s website: “The D Type sword was found in 1950 by D.A. Avdusin during the excavation of Central Barrow Group in present day Russia, associated with a double cremation burial. The sword, bent and broken, was in a pit under a funeral pyre. The pommel is two-parted, the tang of the hilt passes through both parts of it and is riveted. On one side of the blade there is an O-shaped symbol, on the other side there are remains of a cross. It is unclear whether these signs were autonomous, or a part of composite marks of the manufacturer. J. Peterson dates these swords to the 9th c., however, F.A. Androschuk broadens the date of this type to be the 1st half of the 10th c.”
PRS419 “E2” L13:
From Deepeeka’s website: “The sword is a Deepeeka replica found in 1949 by D.A. Avdusin during the excavation of Barrow L-13 (Forest Barrow Group) with a double cremation burial. The sword was broken and then stuck in the ground. It is classified as Variant E-2. The cross guard and pommel are ornamented with pits in chequer wise manner. There is a twisted wire going through these pits in shape of a loop. On one side of the blade there is a figure of a man, and on the other side there are two crutched crosses, with a helix situated between them.” Estimated between 920 to 950 CE.
Upon further research, I came across an article discussing the hilt fittings and how the wire was done. I shall save this for further down in the review.
Full Disclosure
I purchased these swords with my own money. I have no affiliation with Deepeeka or the eBay seller. I am no expert in Viking Style Swords. I also do not have much experience with owning Deepeeka. I handled a few of their swords 10 to 20 years ago. My first Deepeeka I cannot count, as it was a Munitions Grade project purchase. I have 3 more Deepeeka’s ordered prior to this, but they are stuck across the closed border. So, technically, these are my 2nd and 3rd examples of a newer made Deepeeka.
Initial Impressions
Ordering these swords from the eBay seller was smooth and professional. I have ordered from him before, so knew what to expect. Swords were ordered on Nov 6th, but seller was out of town that weekend, so they did not ship out until Nov 10th. The 11th was Remembrance / Veterans Day… so they didn’t get moving until Nov 12th. I live in Central Canada, so, as expected, a package from the US took 2 weeks to arrive (yesterday). They were packaged well in 1 box. Each piece (the 2 swords and 2 scabbards) were wrapped individually. Sufficient bubble wrap was used. Care was taken to wrap the brass fittings on the scabbard and hilt separately – protecting them from the oil used to coat the blades. All in all, well packaged. Everything arrived safely and in great condition. Upon opening:
PRS417 “D” C2: Beautifully wrapped grip. Agile. Love the scabbard setup, and especially the buckle.
PRS419 “E2” L13: It’s a beast! Very wide blade. The twisted wire inside the hilt is just amazing; thinking of the time required to do that. Scabbard is no joke – solidly built.
Statistics
I could not find measurements of these specific museum pieces. The closest I could find were:
1) A similar sized “E3” model from the same Gnezdovo site. Those stats are:
Overall Length – 94.6 cm.
Blade Length – 78.4 cm. (Others 74 to 85 cm)
Blade Width at guard – 55 mm. (Others 52 to 57 mm)
Reproduction Weight – 1370 grams.
[*Added*]
Blade width at 30mm from point - 30 mm.
Fuller width - 23 mm.
Cross guard width at widest point - 90 mm.
Cross guard height - 20 mm.
Pommel guard width - 80 mm.
Pommel guard height - 20 mm.
Pommel cap height - 46 mm.
2) [*Added*] Using the key from the scaled L-13 drawing above, I estimated what the hilt should be:
Blade Width at guard - 60 mm.
Cross guard width at widest point - 100 mm.
Cross guard width at base - 95 mm.
Cross guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel guard width at widest point - 90 mm.
Pommel guard width at base - 80 mm.
Pommel guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel cap height - 40 mm.
*** Keep in mind these are Estimates done by using a ruler on a picture on a computer - LOTS of room for errors!
3) A custom made “C2”, having stats:
Overall Length – 96 cm.
Blade Length – 80 cm.
Blade Width at guard – 50 cm.
Weight – 1500 grams.
POB – 8 cm from guard.
[*Added* - using the "9.5cm" cross guard as a guide, I estimated the other values using a scaled drawing of the antique]
Cross guard width - 95 mm.
Cross guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel guard width - 85 mm.
Pommel guard height - 30 mm.
Pommel cap height - 30 mm.
*** Keep in mind these are Estimates done by using a ruler on a picture on a computer - LOTS of room for errors!
PRS417 “D” C2:
Overall Length – 97 cm. [38 ¼”]
Blade Length – 78.5 cm. [31”]
Grip Length – 10 ¼ cm. [4”]
Blade width at guard – 48 mm. [1 15/16”]
Weight – 1367 grams. [3 lbs.]
POB – 14.5 cm. [5 ¾”] from guard
[*ADDED*]
Cross guard width - 90 mm.
Cross guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel guard width at widest point - 80 mm.
Pommel guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel cap height - 30 mm.
PRS419 “E2” L13:
Overall Length – 98 cm. [38 ½”]
Blade Length – 79 cm. [31.1”]
Grip Length – 10 cm. [3 15/16”]
Blade width at guard – 58 mm. [2.3”]
Weight – 1457 grams. [3 lb. 3 oz]
POB – 16.5 cm. [6.5”] from guard
[*ADDED*]
Blade width at 30 mm from tip - 30 mm.
Blade fuller width - 20 mm.
Cross guard width at widest point - 110 mm.
Cross guard width at base - 95 mm.
Cross guard height - 27 mm.
Pommel guard width at widest point - 90 mm.
Pommel guard width at base - 80 mm.
Pommel guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel cap height - 35 mm.
Components
The Blade
[*Added*] - According to Deepeeka, they heat treat their blades to a Rockwell of 50, and "We test all the blades before shipping."
PRS417 “D” C2: First and foremost, this blade is better than others I’ve seen from Deepeeka, especially their standard line offerings. That being said, there are issues. There’s the standard forged “waviness” on the edges. The fullers aren’t as symmetrical as I would like. And I think, maybe, there’s a slight warp / twist in the blade. I’m not sure if it’s there, or it’s my eyes playing tricks on me with the uneven surface finish hitting the light. Regardless, these issues, while present, are still a LOT better than the Deepeeka most people think off; and even better than swords I’ve seen from other entry level manufacturers. The fullers I believe end a little short of the tip. On the plus side, the blade geometry after the fuller is almost lenticular, or at least a very low-profile diamond. There is also good flex to this blade, bent it in both directions and it went back to true, multiple times.
PRS419 “E2” L13: Comparatively, this blade is almost perfect. Good fuller length, decent flex. Very minimal waves, with a nice even finish. The blade after fuller to the tip is diamond in cross section. This is a wide blade at 58mm / 2.3”, so a lot of metal. This blade is a bit stiffer. It still flexed and went back to true, but did not flex as much as the narrower "C2" blade.
The Handle
PRS417 “D” C2: The brass wire wrap is very nicely done. No gaps. No discoloration. Contrasts the hilt fittings well. The only thing I wish is the shape was more oval, and a little less “boxy”.
PRS419 “E2” L13: Thin leather strips. Nothing to excite you lol. But glad to see the handle taper a little towards the pommel.
BOTH – I find both grips to be a bit on the long side (especially the wire wrapped one). After talking to the seller and to Deepeeka… the intent, as with most Deepeeka swords, is to make them as historical as possible. The issue is Deepeeka’s distributers/buyers always insist on a “10 cm” grip.
The Guard
PRS417 “D” C2: Solid brass with a Bronze finish. Good detail for the price point. The area where the blade enters the guard is better than I expected, better than the picture makes it seem to be. I have seen bigger gaps in swords twice this price. There are also engraved details on either side of the guard, which is a nice feature towards being truer to the antique. The felt liner between the guard and scabbard is easy to remove.
PRS419 “E2” L13: Solid brass. Twisted wire crossings recessed into the guard. The area where the blade enters the guard is… weird. One side is nice and flush. The other side has a cut out rectangular area. Not sure why this was done. Might leave the felt on this one to hide that fact.
The Pommel
PRS417 “D” C2: Peterson type “D”. Two-part construction. Solid brass with a Bronze finish. Really well done, looks like bronze. There is a SLIGHT gap between the two pieces, but I like this as it shows the two parts are separate. Again, engraved details on the bottom of the pommel near the grip.
PRS419 “E2” L13: Peterson type “E 2”. Solid brass, hollowed out in order to do the twisted wire crossings inside. I cannot remember if this one is 2-piece construction. I’ll edit this review later once I take another look. The main issue I find is the pommel and guard don’t line up perfectly. It’s weird. It’s not as if one is twisted / rotated a little. But more as if one of the ovals (guard or pommel) isn’t completely symmetrical or matching the other. When one point of the pommel and guard lineup, on the other side only 1 of them is not straight across. Again, this is minor, but it’s there. In terms of historical accuracy : I have read 2 ideas to how these twisted wires were implemented. One school of thought is they were on the outside of the hilt components. The other is that the hilts were actually two parts – think a base with the wires crossing on top, and then a “cover” with holes going over the base. This to reproduce would be very difficult and thus increase the price. I’m not saying Deepeeka cannot make this, but keep in mind they have to stay within a price range. I personally think this “recessed” idea, with the top surface of the hilt being just above the wires, is a great compromise. It keeps the essence of the antique sword, while making it practical to reproduce for an entry level manufacturer.
The Scabbard
PRS417 “D” C2: The scabbard itself is standard. Leather over wood. Solid brass chape. The belts have a (printed?) design, adding a bit of unique flare. Keep in mind both belts are not attached to the scabbard itself. I tried wearing it, and it was still comfortable. I have no idea how European scabbards should be, so not sure if the unattached belts are acceptable or not. My only issue with the belts is that they are too big for me (and I’m a big guy…). Time to puncture some holes! To be fair, I fell in love with the double dragon head buckle. Honestly, this alone is why I love this scabbard. Good fit, no rattle.
PRS419 “E2” L13: Leather over wood. Solid brass chape and looped holder (sorry, do not know the proper term for this part). Very tight fit. Still useable, but takes some effort to sheath and unsheathe. Little rattle near the bottom. Overall, very solid scabbard, better than scabbards I’ve had from other entry level swords… by far.
Handling Characteristics
I’m going to mention both together since they’re very similar. These are not nimble swords. They’re what you’d think of when you want a good sword during a shield wall. Not unwieldly, just a little on the tip heavy side. Strike and recover requires some strength, but when you use the sword’s weight to move into other cuts – it “sings”. The POB’s are both near 6” from the guard – so inline with a lot of other production Viking swords in the entry and mid-level price ranges. Keep in mind these come with Deepeeka’s 2mm thick edges. I think once sharpened it will help reduce weight a bit… as that’s 62” of 2mm steel that can be removed per sword! Unfortunately, I have no method of easily measuring distal taper.
Test Cutting (if applicable)
Probably won’t get a chance until Spring / Summer to put an edge on these.
Conclusions
PRS417 “D” C2: I love this sword. Sure, there needs to be a bit more Q/C for the blade. I wish the handle was a bit shorter (on both), and the fuller a bit longer, wider, and deeper. I think with a better fuller and sharpened edge this will be a very well-balanced Viking sword. As a package, definitely worth the price I paid.
PRS419 “E2” L13: It’s a beast. Huge blade and huge hilt. And yet, true to the antique! The part that stands out the most is the twisted wire inside the guard and pommel. To my knowledge there is no other replica of these types (besides maybe a handful of custom pieces). For a sword of this size, it’s decent in the hand, and looks great on display.
Pros
PRS417 “D” C2:
- Historical fittings & construction.
- Scabbard with Belts.
- Brass wire grip.
PRS419 “E2” L13:
- Unique replica of a rare sword.
- Historical fittings & construction.
- Great fit and finish.
Cons
PRS417 “D” C2:
- Poor blade finish.
- Fuller could use more work.
- Grip too long.
PRS419 “E2” L13:
- Fuller could use more work.
- Scabbard could be a better fit to the blade.
- Grip could have more than leather strips.
The Bottom Line
As stated, I bought these swords because I find them unique. They’re fancy enough to stand out on a wall, and they have enough history to tell a story. For those reasons, these swords are exactly what I wanted. I know these are Deepeeka, and they have an “iffy” reputation amongst most collectors; but these swords prove that Deepeeka have improved a lot, and continue to do so. For the $450 shipped for both, you’re getting solid brass fittings, decent blades, full scabbards, historical construction, and these are actually modelled after antique pieces. That is a lot for the price. It’s easy to say “a little more will buy you a better sword”, but last a I checked, there are no other companies making replicas of these 2 archeological finds….
[More Pics to Follow - ran out of room!]
2) PRS-419 Gnezdovo L-13 "E2"
Introduction
This is my first official review, so apologies ahead of time. The reason I decided to make this review is to shed some light on 2 Deepeeka threads I’ve been involved in. One is “Deepeeka Gems…?”, on the lookout for budget friendly swords that exceed expectations; as well as seeing just how much Deepeeka have improved. The other being "Pre-Production Swords from Indian Co on eBay”, in order to test the quality of Deepeeka Pre-Production pieces. I like swords with a story, and a bit of bling. Something that when someone comes over, the sword catches their eye, and I can bore them with the story behind it (historical and/or production company). I chose 2 Viking swords that are soon to be released on Deepeeka’s Primus (PRS) line – they can be seen on their website under “New and Improved”. Both are replicas of museum pieces from the Gnezdovo site in Russia. The first is a Peterson Type “D” sword from site “C-2”, which is Deepeeka’s model PRS417. The second is a Peterson Type “E2” sword from site “L-13”, which is Deepeeka’s model PRS419. Combined they were $450 usd shipped (to Canada). So, I think of them as $225 usd or $300 cad each. I thought it best to review these 2 together.
Historical Overview
PRS417 “D” C2:
From Deepeeka’s website: “The D Type sword was found in 1950 by D.A. Avdusin during the excavation of Central Barrow Group in present day Russia, associated with a double cremation burial. The sword, bent and broken, was in a pit under a funeral pyre. The pommel is two-parted, the tang of the hilt passes through both parts of it and is riveted. On one side of the blade there is an O-shaped symbol, on the other side there are remains of a cross. It is unclear whether these signs were autonomous, or a part of composite marks of the manufacturer. J. Peterson dates these swords to the 9th c., however, F.A. Androschuk broadens the date of this type to be the 1st half of the 10th c.”
PRS419 “E2” L13:
From Deepeeka’s website: “The sword is a Deepeeka replica found in 1949 by D.A. Avdusin during the excavation of Barrow L-13 (Forest Barrow Group) with a double cremation burial. The sword was broken and then stuck in the ground. It is classified as Variant E-2. The cross guard and pommel are ornamented with pits in chequer wise manner. There is a twisted wire going through these pits in shape of a loop. On one side of the blade there is a figure of a man, and on the other side there are two crutched crosses, with a helix situated between them.” Estimated between 920 to 950 CE.
Upon further research, I came across an article discussing the hilt fittings and how the wire was done. I shall save this for further down in the review.
Full Disclosure
I purchased these swords with my own money. I have no affiliation with Deepeeka or the eBay seller. I am no expert in Viking Style Swords. I also do not have much experience with owning Deepeeka. I handled a few of their swords 10 to 20 years ago. My first Deepeeka I cannot count, as it was a Munitions Grade project purchase. I have 3 more Deepeeka’s ordered prior to this, but they are stuck across the closed border. So, technically, these are my 2nd and 3rd examples of a newer made Deepeeka.
Initial Impressions
Ordering these swords from the eBay seller was smooth and professional. I have ordered from him before, so knew what to expect. Swords were ordered on Nov 6th, but seller was out of town that weekend, so they did not ship out until Nov 10th. The 11th was Remembrance / Veterans Day… so they didn’t get moving until Nov 12th. I live in Central Canada, so, as expected, a package from the US took 2 weeks to arrive (yesterday). They were packaged well in 1 box. Each piece (the 2 swords and 2 scabbards) were wrapped individually. Sufficient bubble wrap was used. Care was taken to wrap the brass fittings on the scabbard and hilt separately – protecting them from the oil used to coat the blades. All in all, well packaged. Everything arrived safely and in great condition. Upon opening:
PRS417 “D” C2: Beautifully wrapped grip. Agile. Love the scabbard setup, and especially the buckle.
PRS419 “E2” L13: It’s a beast! Very wide blade. The twisted wire inside the hilt is just amazing; thinking of the time required to do that. Scabbard is no joke – solidly built.
Statistics
I could not find measurements of these specific museum pieces. The closest I could find were:
1) A similar sized “E3” model from the same Gnezdovo site. Those stats are:
Overall Length – 94.6 cm.
Blade Length – 78.4 cm. (Others 74 to 85 cm)
Blade Width at guard – 55 mm. (Others 52 to 57 mm)
Reproduction Weight – 1370 grams.
[*Added*]
Blade width at 30mm from point - 30 mm.
Fuller width - 23 mm.
Cross guard width at widest point - 90 mm.
Cross guard height - 20 mm.
Pommel guard width - 80 mm.
Pommel guard height - 20 mm.
Pommel cap height - 46 mm.
2) [*Added*] Using the key from the scaled L-13 drawing above, I estimated what the hilt should be:
Blade Width at guard - 60 mm.
Cross guard width at widest point - 100 mm.
Cross guard width at base - 95 mm.
Cross guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel guard width at widest point - 90 mm.
Pommel guard width at base - 80 mm.
Pommel guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel cap height - 40 mm.
*** Keep in mind these are Estimates done by using a ruler on a picture on a computer - LOTS of room for errors!
3) A custom made “C2”, having stats:
Overall Length – 96 cm.
Blade Length – 80 cm.
Blade Width at guard – 50 cm.
Weight – 1500 grams.
POB – 8 cm from guard.
[*Added* - using the "9.5cm" cross guard as a guide, I estimated the other values using a scaled drawing of the antique]
Cross guard width - 95 mm.
Cross guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel guard width - 85 mm.
Pommel guard height - 30 mm.
Pommel cap height - 30 mm.
*** Keep in mind these are Estimates done by using a ruler on a picture on a computer - LOTS of room for errors!
PRS417 “D” C2:
Overall Length – 97 cm. [38 ¼”]
Blade Length – 78.5 cm. [31”]
Grip Length – 10 ¼ cm. [4”]
Blade width at guard – 48 mm. [1 15/16”]
Weight – 1367 grams. [3 lbs.]
POB – 14.5 cm. [5 ¾”] from guard
[*ADDED*]
Cross guard width - 90 mm.
Cross guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel guard width at widest point - 80 mm.
Pommel guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel cap height - 30 mm.
PRS419 “E2” L13:
Overall Length – 98 cm. [38 ½”]
Blade Length – 79 cm. [31.1”]
Grip Length – 10 cm. [3 15/16”]
Blade width at guard – 58 mm. [2.3”]
Weight – 1457 grams. [3 lb. 3 oz]
POB – 16.5 cm. [6.5”] from guard
[*ADDED*]
Blade width at 30 mm from tip - 30 mm.
Blade fuller width - 20 mm.
Cross guard width at widest point - 110 mm.
Cross guard width at base - 95 mm.
Cross guard height - 27 mm.
Pommel guard width at widest point - 90 mm.
Pommel guard width at base - 80 mm.
Pommel guard height - 25 mm.
Pommel cap height - 35 mm.
Components
The Blade
[*Added*] - According to Deepeeka, they heat treat their blades to a Rockwell of 50, and "We test all the blades before shipping."
PRS417 “D” C2: First and foremost, this blade is better than others I’ve seen from Deepeeka, especially their standard line offerings. That being said, there are issues. There’s the standard forged “waviness” on the edges. The fullers aren’t as symmetrical as I would like. And I think, maybe, there’s a slight warp / twist in the blade. I’m not sure if it’s there, or it’s my eyes playing tricks on me with the uneven surface finish hitting the light. Regardless, these issues, while present, are still a LOT better than the Deepeeka most people think off; and even better than swords I’ve seen from other entry level manufacturers. The fullers I believe end a little short of the tip. On the plus side, the blade geometry after the fuller is almost lenticular, or at least a very low-profile diamond. There is also good flex to this blade, bent it in both directions and it went back to true, multiple times.
PRS419 “E2” L13: Comparatively, this blade is almost perfect. Good fuller length, decent flex. Very minimal waves, with a nice even finish. The blade after fuller to the tip is diamond in cross section. This is a wide blade at 58mm / 2.3”, so a lot of metal. This blade is a bit stiffer. It still flexed and went back to true, but did not flex as much as the narrower "C2" blade.
The Handle
PRS417 “D” C2: The brass wire wrap is very nicely done. No gaps. No discoloration. Contrasts the hilt fittings well. The only thing I wish is the shape was more oval, and a little less “boxy”.
PRS419 “E2” L13: Thin leather strips. Nothing to excite you lol. But glad to see the handle taper a little towards the pommel.
BOTH – I find both grips to be a bit on the long side (especially the wire wrapped one). After talking to the seller and to Deepeeka… the intent, as with most Deepeeka swords, is to make them as historical as possible. The issue is Deepeeka’s distributers/buyers always insist on a “10 cm” grip.
The Guard
PRS417 “D” C2: Solid brass with a Bronze finish. Good detail for the price point. The area where the blade enters the guard is better than I expected, better than the picture makes it seem to be. I have seen bigger gaps in swords twice this price. There are also engraved details on either side of the guard, which is a nice feature towards being truer to the antique. The felt liner between the guard and scabbard is easy to remove.
PRS419 “E2” L13: Solid brass. Twisted wire crossings recessed into the guard. The area where the blade enters the guard is… weird. One side is nice and flush. The other side has a cut out rectangular area. Not sure why this was done. Might leave the felt on this one to hide that fact.
The Pommel
PRS417 “D” C2: Peterson type “D”. Two-part construction. Solid brass with a Bronze finish. Really well done, looks like bronze. There is a SLIGHT gap between the two pieces, but I like this as it shows the two parts are separate. Again, engraved details on the bottom of the pommel near the grip.
PRS419 “E2” L13: Peterson type “E 2”. Solid brass, hollowed out in order to do the twisted wire crossings inside. I cannot remember if this one is 2-piece construction. I’ll edit this review later once I take another look. The main issue I find is the pommel and guard don’t line up perfectly. It’s weird. It’s not as if one is twisted / rotated a little. But more as if one of the ovals (guard or pommel) isn’t completely symmetrical or matching the other. When one point of the pommel and guard lineup, on the other side only 1 of them is not straight across. Again, this is minor, but it’s there. In terms of historical accuracy : I have read 2 ideas to how these twisted wires were implemented. One school of thought is they were on the outside of the hilt components. The other is that the hilts were actually two parts – think a base with the wires crossing on top, and then a “cover” with holes going over the base. This to reproduce would be very difficult and thus increase the price. I’m not saying Deepeeka cannot make this, but keep in mind they have to stay within a price range. I personally think this “recessed” idea, with the top surface of the hilt being just above the wires, is a great compromise. It keeps the essence of the antique sword, while making it practical to reproduce for an entry level manufacturer.
The Scabbard
PRS417 “D” C2: The scabbard itself is standard. Leather over wood. Solid brass chape. The belts have a (printed?) design, adding a bit of unique flare. Keep in mind both belts are not attached to the scabbard itself. I tried wearing it, and it was still comfortable. I have no idea how European scabbards should be, so not sure if the unattached belts are acceptable or not. My only issue with the belts is that they are too big for me (and I’m a big guy…). Time to puncture some holes! To be fair, I fell in love with the double dragon head buckle. Honestly, this alone is why I love this scabbard. Good fit, no rattle.
PRS419 “E2” L13: Leather over wood. Solid brass chape and looped holder (sorry, do not know the proper term for this part). Very tight fit. Still useable, but takes some effort to sheath and unsheathe. Little rattle near the bottom. Overall, very solid scabbard, better than scabbards I’ve had from other entry level swords… by far.
Handling Characteristics
I’m going to mention both together since they’re very similar. These are not nimble swords. They’re what you’d think of when you want a good sword during a shield wall. Not unwieldly, just a little on the tip heavy side. Strike and recover requires some strength, but when you use the sword’s weight to move into other cuts – it “sings”. The POB’s are both near 6” from the guard – so inline with a lot of other production Viking swords in the entry and mid-level price ranges. Keep in mind these come with Deepeeka’s 2mm thick edges. I think once sharpened it will help reduce weight a bit… as that’s 62” of 2mm steel that can be removed per sword! Unfortunately, I have no method of easily measuring distal taper.
Test Cutting (if applicable)
Probably won’t get a chance until Spring / Summer to put an edge on these.
Conclusions
PRS417 “D” C2: I love this sword. Sure, there needs to be a bit more Q/C for the blade. I wish the handle was a bit shorter (on both), and the fuller a bit longer, wider, and deeper. I think with a better fuller and sharpened edge this will be a very well-balanced Viking sword. As a package, definitely worth the price I paid.
PRS419 “E2” L13: It’s a beast. Huge blade and huge hilt. And yet, true to the antique! The part that stands out the most is the twisted wire inside the guard and pommel. To my knowledge there is no other replica of these types (besides maybe a handful of custom pieces). For a sword of this size, it’s decent in the hand, and looks great on display.
Pros
PRS417 “D” C2:
- Historical fittings & construction.
- Scabbard with Belts.
- Brass wire grip.
PRS419 “E2” L13:
- Unique replica of a rare sword.
- Historical fittings & construction.
- Great fit and finish.
Cons
PRS417 “D” C2:
- Poor blade finish.
- Fuller could use more work.
- Grip too long.
PRS419 “E2” L13:
- Fuller could use more work.
- Scabbard could be a better fit to the blade.
- Grip could have more than leather strips.
The Bottom Line
As stated, I bought these swords because I find them unique. They’re fancy enough to stand out on a wall, and they have enough history to tell a story. For those reasons, these swords are exactly what I wanted. I know these are Deepeeka, and they have an “iffy” reputation amongst most collectors; but these swords prove that Deepeeka have improved a lot, and continue to do so. For the $450 shipped for both, you’re getting solid brass fittings, decent blades, full scabbards, historical construction, and these are actually modelled after antique pieces. That is a lot for the price. It’s easy to say “a little more will buy you a better sword”, but last a I checked, there are no other companies making replicas of these 2 archeological finds….
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