Darksword Armory "14th c. Two Handed Sword"
Mar 27, 2010 18:25:03 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2010 18:25:03 GMT
The Darksword Armory "14th c. Two Handed Sword"
Why I bought it
I had recently bought an Albion Baron (a "bastard sword"/longsword), and I wanted a cheaper but durable sword to use in drills, that I'd be less afraid to damage. After comparing the specs of many models, this one's seemed to be the closest. I hesitated somewhat due to mixed reviews about Darksword Armory, but based in no small part on glowing recommandations for their swords here, I took the plunge - despite the fact that this specific sword was not reviewed here or elsewhere on the net.
In all fairness, I must thus warn you that in this review, the benchmark is an Albion Baron. You decide if that's exceedingly unfair or not. I'll try to discuss whether it is when necessary.
How I bought it
Direct from the manufacturer. The sword arrived here in France, from Canada, without problems. Email exchanges with Darksword Armory were satisfactory, they responded nicely to my nagging about "when will it arrive, I want my sword now, I'M ADDICTED !" ;D
History
I won't give a lecture about longswords or the Knights Templar here. This sword is sold as a reproduction of a 14th c. sword that would have belonged to an English Knight Templar, and is supposed to have been thrown in a river when the order was outlawed.
I don't really have reasons to question that - except the poor handling of this sword (more on that later). Somehow I think a Knight Templar would've had the bucks to buy a better sword, or enough gusto to recognise a... not optimal weapon before buying it. On the other hand, when they were outlawed the Knights Templar were not really a military order anymore, and England was far from Templar frontlines when these existed (i.e. Palestine), so it may be that the original sword, that was thrown in the river, was more a piece for show than a piece for use. If so, this reproduction's unsatisfactory handling would actually be accurate.
The problem is, this sword isn't enough of a looker to be a sword for show, either...
Specs (according to Darksword) :
Specifications
Total length: 48"
Blade length: 38.5"
Blade width at base: 2"
Weight: 4 lbs. 5 oz.
POB: 4"
But I have observed at least one important discrepancy : the overall length is 44.5", not 48".
The Thing
As I have disassembled it, I cannot take pictures of it assembled anymore. But these on the Darksword Armory website are mostly faithful, except for two details : the grip (it's smoother than in the photo), and the scabbard (it's uglier than in the photo). These photos from Darksword Armory will give you a good idea of the sword :
There are also several pictures of this sword on this German vendor's website (www.swords-and-more.com), that depict more accurately the version I recieved (even though I didn't order from them !).
And now my own pics, to show you what can't be seen on the Darksword Armory site : the innards !
The rust is from my using boiling water to disassemble the sword, it was not here in the first place !
The whole thing, with the scabbard, with grip removed.
Tang, grip, pommel and guard (1)
Tang, grip, pommel and guard (2)
Sorry if these pics are few and far between. I'll post more if needed. However, in my opinion the looks are not the important point about this sword, as you will see. However, I'll still discuss them...
Appearance :
This sword is not a looker. But here, comparison with an Albion Baron would really be unfair, given the difference in price tags. However, I can't help but comparing it with other swords in this price range, whose pics have been posted here, and that seem definitely better looking. Still, looks weren't important when I decided to buy this sword. Here are my principal observations :
The pommel is too big and massive to be beautiful. And it would really be better to lose these two prominences bearing the "templar symbols". They're really not pretty (see Darksword Armory pic above). The symbols are also poorly executed, the sword would be better off without them.
The grip is all right. It is not as pictured on the Darksword Amory site, but smoother and with a stitch in the "back" (see my third photo). This stitch is well made enough that it doesn't hamper handling, and is not really ugly, but it's not really pretty, either. But the most important problem with this grip is that it's way too short !
The guard is too blocky. Not only does it makes it not look good, it probably detracts from the handling of this sword.
The blade is all right. I'd like the fuller to have crisper lines, but for the price, it's a good blade, I think.
The scabbard is not as shown on the Darksword Armory website. It is solid, but the sword rattles in it a bit, and it doesn't look very good. I'll let that pass with no problem, given that many websites show swords with scabbards that are not in fact included in the price. And it is nice to have one thrown in here. Still, it would be better practice to warn the buyer that the scabbard (and for that matter the sword) are not exactly as shown on the manufacturer's website.
Handling :
Here, in my opinion, is the most important flaw of this sword. It doesn't handle well. It is too blade-heavy, and most importantly it feels very "dead" in hand. The balance isn't good. While the weight isn't supposed to be much higher than my Baron (4lbs 5oz versus 3lbs 11oz), it feels a great deal heavier. I have not checked the advertised weight (despite the discrepancy between advertised length and real length), but in my opinion, this is more a problem of balance, than of weight. The grip, which is too short, doesn't help, either.
Again, you might feel a comparison between this sword and an Albion is grossly unfair. In my opinion, not that much. When I bought these two swords, the Darksword was half the price of the Albion. Yet it doesn't handle half as good, in my opinion. And again, while I have no other 300$-range longsword to compare with, from what was posted here, there are $300 longswords that handle all right. This one does not, and believe me, I've tried. Oh, it can be handled and used. But it's really not pleasant to do so.
The solution would probably lie in de-beefing it. As I understand, Darksword bases their reputation on "tough as nails" swords. But toughness isn't much use if you can't use it properly in the first place. Having a less blocky sword would also help its looks.
Cutting :
This sword comes dull, and I did not sharpen it.
The verdict :
- Historical Accuracy : 2/5. Too blocky and too sluggish.
- Fit and Finish : 3/5. OK for a sword in this price range, but could still be really better.
- Handling : 1/5.
- Structural integrity : I'll pass on this one, since I didn't test its resilience. It seems solid. But I can't say anything else.
- Value for money : 1/5. From what I hear there are really better options out there.
- Overall : 2/5
Pros :
- easily disassembled. A must for me, since I plan on radically transforming this sword. But I'd rather I didn't need to.
Cons :
- inaccurate information on the vendor's website. I don't think it's ill-intentioned, they seem nice enough ; but up-to-date photos and accurate specs would really be better practices...
- not pretty enough to be a wall-hanger or a sword-for-show
- not handy enough to be a serviceable sword, even as a "beater"
The bottom line :
In my opinion, and for this particular sword, no, no, no. I wouldn't buy it again, not at this price, and probably not at half the price. I sure regret buying a sword from them that wasn't reviewed, here or elsewhere.
I could still buy other blades from Darksword, since they do seem nice, especially if these blades have been reviewed by someone else. I don't feel they're the crooks some people say they are. But it would really, really help their reputation if they were more stringent : use up-to-date photos and exact specs. In my case, my experience does encourage me to seek satisfaction elsewhere. But with other swords from them, you might be luckier, so... mileage may vary.
Why I bought it
I had recently bought an Albion Baron (a "bastard sword"/longsword), and I wanted a cheaper but durable sword to use in drills, that I'd be less afraid to damage. After comparing the specs of many models, this one's seemed to be the closest. I hesitated somewhat due to mixed reviews about Darksword Armory, but based in no small part on glowing recommandations for their swords here, I took the plunge - despite the fact that this specific sword was not reviewed here or elsewhere on the net.
In all fairness, I must thus warn you that in this review, the benchmark is an Albion Baron. You decide if that's exceedingly unfair or not. I'll try to discuss whether it is when necessary.
How I bought it
Direct from the manufacturer. The sword arrived here in France, from Canada, without problems. Email exchanges with Darksword Armory were satisfactory, they responded nicely to my nagging about "when will it arrive, I want my sword now, I'M ADDICTED !" ;D
History
I won't give a lecture about longswords or the Knights Templar here. This sword is sold as a reproduction of a 14th c. sword that would have belonged to an English Knight Templar, and is supposed to have been thrown in a river when the order was outlawed.
I don't really have reasons to question that - except the poor handling of this sword (more on that later). Somehow I think a Knight Templar would've had the bucks to buy a better sword, or enough gusto to recognise a... not optimal weapon before buying it. On the other hand, when they were outlawed the Knights Templar were not really a military order anymore, and England was far from Templar frontlines when these existed (i.e. Palestine), so it may be that the original sword, that was thrown in the river, was more a piece for show than a piece for use. If so, this reproduction's unsatisfactory handling would actually be accurate.
The problem is, this sword isn't enough of a looker to be a sword for show, either...
Specs (according to Darksword) :
Specifications
Total length: 48"
Blade length: 38.5"
Blade width at base: 2"
Weight: 4 lbs. 5 oz.
POB: 4"
But I have observed at least one important discrepancy : the overall length is 44.5", not 48".
The Thing
As I have disassembled it, I cannot take pictures of it assembled anymore. But these on the Darksword Armory website are mostly faithful, except for two details : the grip (it's smoother than in the photo), and the scabbard (it's uglier than in the photo). These photos from Darksword Armory will give you a good idea of the sword :
There are also several pictures of this sword on this German vendor's website (www.swords-and-more.com), that depict more accurately the version I recieved (even though I didn't order from them !).
And now my own pics, to show you what can't be seen on the Darksword Armory site : the innards !
The rust is from my using boiling water to disassemble the sword, it was not here in the first place !
The whole thing, with the scabbard, with grip removed.
Tang, grip, pommel and guard (1)
Tang, grip, pommel and guard (2)
Sorry if these pics are few and far between. I'll post more if needed. However, in my opinion the looks are not the important point about this sword, as you will see. However, I'll still discuss them...
Appearance :
This sword is not a looker. But here, comparison with an Albion Baron would really be unfair, given the difference in price tags. However, I can't help but comparing it with other swords in this price range, whose pics have been posted here, and that seem definitely better looking. Still, looks weren't important when I decided to buy this sword. Here are my principal observations :
The pommel is too big and massive to be beautiful. And it would really be better to lose these two prominences bearing the "templar symbols". They're really not pretty (see Darksword Armory pic above). The symbols are also poorly executed, the sword would be better off without them.
The grip is all right. It is not as pictured on the Darksword Amory site, but smoother and with a stitch in the "back" (see my third photo). This stitch is well made enough that it doesn't hamper handling, and is not really ugly, but it's not really pretty, either. But the most important problem with this grip is that it's way too short !
The guard is too blocky. Not only does it makes it not look good, it probably detracts from the handling of this sword.
The blade is all right. I'd like the fuller to have crisper lines, but for the price, it's a good blade, I think.
The scabbard is not as shown on the Darksword Armory website. It is solid, but the sword rattles in it a bit, and it doesn't look very good. I'll let that pass with no problem, given that many websites show swords with scabbards that are not in fact included in the price. And it is nice to have one thrown in here. Still, it would be better practice to warn the buyer that the scabbard (and for that matter the sword) are not exactly as shown on the manufacturer's website.
Handling :
Here, in my opinion, is the most important flaw of this sword. It doesn't handle well. It is too blade-heavy, and most importantly it feels very "dead" in hand. The balance isn't good. While the weight isn't supposed to be much higher than my Baron (4lbs 5oz versus 3lbs 11oz), it feels a great deal heavier. I have not checked the advertised weight (despite the discrepancy between advertised length and real length), but in my opinion, this is more a problem of balance, than of weight. The grip, which is too short, doesn't help, either.
Again, you might feel a comparison between this sword and an Albion is grossly unfair. In my opinion, not that much. When I bought these two swords, the Darksword was half the price of the Albion. Yet it doesn't handle half as good, in my opinion. And again, while I have no other 300$-range longsword to compare with, from what was posted here, there are $300 longswords that handle all right. This one does not, and believe me, I've tried. Oh, it can be handled and used. But it's really not pleasant to do so.
The solution would probably lie in de-beefing it. As I understand, Darksword bases their reputation on "tough as nails" swords. But toughness isn't much use if you can't use it properly in the first place. Having a less blocky sword would also help its looks.
Cutting :
This sword comes dull, and I did not sharpen it.
The verdict :
- Historical Accuracy : 2/5. Too blocky and too sluggish.
- Fit and Finish : 3/5. OK for a sword in this price range, but could still be really better.
- Handling : 1/5.
- Structural integrity : I'll pass on this one, since I didn't test its resilience. It seems solid. But I can't say anything else.
- Value for money : 1/5. From what I hear there are really better options out there.
- Overall : 2/5
Pros :
- easily disassembled. A must for me, since I plan on radically transforming this sword. But I'd rather I didn't need to.
Cons :
- inaccurate information on the vendor's website. I don't think it's ill-intentioned, they seem nice enough ; but up-to-date photos and accurate specs would really be better practices...
- not pretty enough to be a wall-hanger or a sword-for-show
- not handy enough to be a serviceable sword, even as a "beater"
The bottom line :
In my opinion, and for this particular sword, no, no, no. I wouldn't buy it again, not at this price, and probably not at half the price. I sure regret buying a sword from them that wasn't reviewed, here or elsewhere.
I could still buy other blades from Darksword, since they do seem nice, especially if these blades have been reviewed by someone else. I don't feel they're the crooks some people say they are. But it would really, really help their reputation if they were more stringent : use up-to-date photos and exact specs. In my case, my experience does encourage me to seek satisfaction elsewhere. But with other swords from them, you might be luckier, so... mileage may vary.