Andy54Hawken
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Mine's a tale that can't be told. My freedom I hold dear.
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Post by Andy54Hawken on Aug 8, 2021 13:58:05 GMT
I just wanted to say thank you for the forum and web site.
Its nice to get information about swords , that "cuts" through a lot of the BS and misinformation that is out there on the internet. Also the articles on the site and threads here in the forum...seem to get to the "point" and are very helpful , as well as fun to read.
Sorry for the puns...well okay not really... 
In any event... I just ordered my first sword , it is the Balaur Arms Single Edge Viking Sword from Kult of Athena. I am looking forward to getting the sword...and learning how to "use" it...things like practice cutting and the like...
Without this site or forum...my choice would have been a lot more difficult to make... So thank you again. Andy
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AndiTheBarvarian
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"Lord of the Memes"
Bavarianbarbarian - Semper Semprini
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Aug 8, 2021 14:04:51 GMT
Hi Andy and welcome to the forum!
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Andy54Hawken
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Mine's a tale that can't be told. My freedom I hold dear.
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Post by Andy54Hawken on Aug 8, 2021 14:11:58 GMT
Hi Andy and welcome to the forum! Thank you for the welcome AndiTheBarvarian. I hope to learn a lot here...and perhaps add some of my knowledge , if I can. Andy |
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 8, 2021 15:40:24 GMT
Balaur Arms Single Edge Viking Sword I've been out of the Euro market for a few years and had to go look this one up. Last time I was keen on the idea, only Albion was making one. Hmm... |
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Andy54Hawken
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Mine's a tale that can't be told. My freedom I hold dear.
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Post by Andy54Hawken on Aug 8, 2021 15:50:13 GMT
Balaur Arms Single Edge Viking Sword I've been out of the Euro market for a few years and had to go look this one up. Last time I was keen on the idea, only Albion was making one. Hmm... I like the Albion offering of the "Berserkr"...but at over $1,000 , I just can't afford that...especially as a first sword. I'd hate to spend my money , just to find out that I didn't like the sword , or didn't want to get into sword collecting ( GASP )
I'm sure its a fine sword...Just not for me as a beginner.
Balaur Swords seem to get good reviews and sure look to be a good choice for a "first sword"...at least from what I have read online. Andy
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 8, 2021 16:32:03 GMT
I never bought the Albion for the same reason.  Shoot, I haven't bought any sword in years. Several I've thought about picking up, if I had the spare cash, but that's not happened yet. Seems this one is very new to the market. Might see who else picks one up and what they have to say about them... |
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Andy54Hawken
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Mine's a tale that can't be told. My freedom I hold dear.
Posts: 115
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Post by Andy54Hawken on Aug 8, 2021 16:55:28 GMT
I never bought the Albion for the same reason. Shoot, I haven't bought any sword in years. Several I've thought about picking up, if I had the spare cash, but that's not happened yet. Seems this one is very new to the market. Might see who else picks one up and what they have to say about them... Yep...very new for sure...I am hoping that being new....I don't get stuck with a dud that has design flaws or "bugs"..seeing as how this is its first run. Luckily its from Kult of Athena and they get good reviews for products and customer service.
Be that as it may...I am excited to get my first sword and will be posting pictures as well as my thoughts on it. Hesitant to call it a "review" as I don't have any experience to compare it to. But my thoughts on just what I have and how it feels to me...may be of interest to some. Andy
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Post by alientude on Aug 8, 2021 17:01:45 GMT
Can't wait to see your pictures of it. I'm very curious about that sword myself. Don't worry about your experience - you're completely free to give whatever thoughts you have on it. Just be up front that you're a beginner and nobody worth their salt will give you any grief.
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Andy54Hawken
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Mine's a tale that can't be told. My freedom I hold dear.
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Post by Andy54Hawken on Aug 8, 2021 17:10:25 GMT
Can't wait to see your pictures of it. I'm very curious about that sword myself. Don't worry about your experience - you're completely free to give whatever thoughts you have on it. Just be up front that you're a beginner and nobody worth their salt will give you any grief. Thank you alientude....that is good to know.
I put some thought into this and like anything new ...it is both exciting and "scary" at the same time. I say scary as I am a history buff and already have a expensive addiction to antique muzzle loaders or well crafted replicas thereof... So getting a new item to research , learn about and use...well can be scary on the wallet to say the least...LOL
That said history is time well spent...and I am looking forward to posting pictures and thoughts of my first sword. Andy
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Post by alientude on Aug 8, 2021 17:14:48 GMT
Sword collecting is addictive and unforgiving to the bank account, that's for sure! FYI, the sword you chose is one that might not be immediately intuitive about how to use, especially with the grip. There's been a ton of debate about the proper way to grip a Viking sword, so you might want to look into it. This thread on MyArmoury is a long discussion, featuring some very prominent historians and sword makers. |
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Andy54Hawken
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Mine's a tale that can't be told. My freedom I hold dear.
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Post by Andy54Hawken on Aug 8, 2021 17:29:49 GMT
Thanks for the link alientude....I will take a look at it for sure.
As far as use goes...first I want to use and care for it safely...
Then with practice...learn to use it period correctly..as much as I can know about that at least.
Understanding that there will be debate over use , grip selection , etc....
Andy
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Andy54Hawken
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Mine's a tale that can't be told. My freedom I hold dear.
Posts: 115
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Post by Andy54Hawken on Aug 8, 2021 17:41:33 GMT
Hmmm...
It seems like I'll have to get a grip one way or the other.
I will have to see which works the best for me when I hold this sword....
Then see which works best when swinging , chopping , cutting , thrusting , etc...
Can't wait to get my sword and see for myself.
Andy
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 8, 2021 18:15:40 GMT
I'm slightly cautious for you as the product is very new to the market, though the brand has mostly good history, but the biggest concern I have is the "new" Kult of Athena. They're having some problems, but here's hoping you don't.
Speaking of grip and "viking" swords, I didn't think to check the length for this one. I wonder if it suffers from the plague of overly-long grips that has taken so many other "viking" replicas...
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Post by alientude on Aug 8, 2021 18:26:29 GMT
Looks like the grip is 3 7/8".
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Post by randomnobody on Aug 8, 2021 18:31:34 GMT
Looks like the grip is 3 7/8".
Well, now. That's pretty good. |
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pellius
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Post by pellius on Aug 8, 2021 18:47:17 GMT
Andy
Welcome to the forum.
The stats of your new sword look really good. So does the price.
I like the Albion version, too, but I can’t quite do twelve-hundred smackeroos and a year+ wait. Yours is very similar in overall size, claiming significant distal taper and an overall weight about 1/3lb lighter than the Albion.
Please share your impressions. You have put this model on my radar.
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Andy54Hawken
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Mine's a tale that can't be told. My freedom I hold dear.
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Post by Andy54Hawken on Aug 8, 2021 19:04:27 GMT
Andy Welcome to the forum. The stats of your new sword look really good. So does the price. I like the Albion version, too, but I can’t quite do twelve-hundred smackeroos and a year+ wait. Yours is very similar in overall size, claiming significant distal taper and an overall weight about 1/3lb lighter than the Albion. Please share your impressions. You have put this model on my radar. Thank you for the welcome pelllius. Yep I like the price...even with the sharpening service.
And while I do not expect this sword of rival something Weland the Smith made...the sword looked good in the photos and read well in the specifications.
I am looking over other people's reviews and will do my best to use the proper terms and such...when I post my thoughts on it.
Andy
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Greg E
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Post by Greg E on Aug 8, 2021 19:39:06 GMT
I too just bought this sword today. I look forward to seeing the difference between them if any. I have some Norwegian blood in me (more Swedish by far) and wanted a 'Norwegian' type sword but didn't want to pay for the Albion version. I sadly had a Michael Pikula made one that I sold years ago. This should hopefully fill the void in the collection.
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Andy54Hawken
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Mine's a tale that can't be told. My freedom I hold dear.
Posts: 115
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Post by Andy54Hawken on Aug 8, 2021 21:02:19 GMT
I too just bought this sword today. I look forward to seeing the difference between them if any. I have some Norwegian blood in me (more Swedish by far) and wanted a 'Norwegian' type sword but didn't want to pay for the Albion version. I sadly had a Michael Pikula made one that I sold years ago. This should hopefully fill the void in the collection. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this sword Greg. Andy
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2021 23:10:41 GMT
Welcome to the forum! I love this place. If someone is inaccurate amother someone is more than happy to share loads of data. I've learned so much being here. Most other social media tend to have loads of people who are never corrected on inaccurate information
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