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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 1:29:06 GMT
Hello. I just received my first sword last week. I read up on this site before purchasing, and made my purchase accordingly. I spent approximately $300 with a recommended sword builder on this site on what I believed would be a genuine cutting tool/weapon. I was very impressed when I opened up the box and after handling it. It came fully sharpened and ready to go. My question is regarding the type of use that "battle ready" swords should be expected to endure.
I had seen all the youtube videos of people "testing" their swords, so of course I had to go outside and give it a shot myself. I was having a blast chopping up fruit, water bottles, milk jugs, cans, 2x4s, etc. After about an hour total of using my new sword, I made a couple swings straight down onto an aluminum coke can that was sitting on a wood block and to my dismay upon impact the grip piece failed and the blade made a quarter turn inside the grip. At this point the grip piece, as well as the "trim" piece below it were loose and rotating freely (and independent of each other) on the tang. It appears there was a type of glue between all these pieces that was essentially the integrity of the handle, and one of these joints failed causing the other joints to immediately fail and the handle to fall apart in my hand. Of course the pieces were all still held onto the tang so luckily nothing went flying.
Was I asking too much of my sword? Please pardon my obvious noobage, and don't go too hard on me if I was being stupid....
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 1:34:21 GMT
Yes, that was Extream usedge, now what type of sword did you get, I am asuming it is a Euro sword?? is the pommel peend or has a nut?
..........SanMarc.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 1:41:08 GMT
It's a Gladius style weapon and it has a nut.
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Post by shadowhowler on Feb 1, 2010 1:56:54 GMT
Greetings... You may see people cutting into 2x4's sometimes... but typicly thats to test thre extreme end of a sword durability, and is considered sword abuse. Sometimes people will do that in a review because, when you use your swords to cut, its likely that you may accidently cut into your cutting stand... and the reviewer is trying to guage what will happen to your sword when you do. Cutting into alluminum cans is also sword abuse for sure... cutting DOWNWARD into the hard, ridged part of the can is begging to destroy your sword... tho in such an instance I would expect the edge to fail and be damaged, not the grip. Overall, I would say you maybe went too extreme with your cutting activities and jack up your sword... and I hope that you will stick to better cutting medium next time... plastic bottles, mats, pool noodles... maybe the occusaional watermellon or pumpkin. Stay away from bashing your sword into metal or 2x4's.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 1:59:23 GMT
It does sound a bit excessive, 2 by 4's are not a good idea with any sword. I am glad no one got hurt. Please keep in mind that there are a lot of misguided people swinging swords on you tube, in my opinion. Many who do know what they are doing as well. Lots of material here on safe cutting. Cheers.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 2:12:37 GMT
I daresay if the sword was built properly the blade should not be able to turn in the handle, unless the handle has split apart already. You said the grip piece "failed". Did it split apart? If the wood was still a single piece at that point, either the tang is very thin, or the wood isn't built to a tight tolerance, or it's made of too soft a wood. Sword abuse or no, it's disappointing. If glue is "essential to the integrity of the blade", the integrity of the blade isn't much. As long as the wood is in one piece, there is no reason a sword should fail in that way. For that matter, if it was well made, the blade should fail before the handle.
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SlayerofDarkness
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Post by SlayerofDarkness on Feb 1, 2010 2:16:30 GMT
I would agree that the explained usage was extreme, as well as dangerous. I'm glad that you're safe. Which sword did this happen with? It would help to know exactly what the grip is like so we can imagine how it failed. Sorry to hear of your mishap... I wish you all the best cutting in the future! ;D -Slayer
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Post by shadowhowler on Feb 1, 2010 2:27:20 GMT
For that matter, if it was well made, the blade should fail before the handle. My thoughts exactly... for what he described, I would expect the edge to fail, not the grip.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 2:29:34 GMT
Thanks for the gentle responses......I was actually very impressed with the sword's ability to hold an edge, as I did take a couple (Ill-advised, as I know realize....) downward swings into hard objects and the edge had no visual deformation at all besides becoming dull as expected. I did buy this sword as a beater so I was not very concerned with what I was sinking it into, as I just wanted to see what it could do. I too was surprised that the handle failed before the blade showed any sort of damage.
The grip appears to be made of bone, and it's hollow and has no real contact with the tang. This is what allowed the tang/blade to rotate inside the grip. There are wood pieces above and below the bone grip which clamp the bone upon tightening the nut, holding it in place with some glue apparently between the bone and wood on either side. This was the point of failure as mentioned. There is a hairline crack in the bone as well, not surprising given that it is under compression by design, however it did NOT split apart.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 2:46:18 GMT
I'm with Slayer here, I kinda want to know what model it was.
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Post by shadowhowler on Feb 1, 2010 3:05:08 GMT
I'm with Slayer here, I kinda want to know what model it was. Indeed. The hallow grip sounds like what Hanwei does with its rapiers/small swords... except theirs are some kinda plastic. Either way, hallow grip = bad.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 3:31:36 GMT
Ok, if you have a Gladius, then Rickwilly is your man, He can tell you how to repair the sword and what to expect from it cutting wise, they are stabbers rather than cutters.....SanMarc.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 3:42:30 GMT
they are stabbers rather than cutters This I knew, however at the same time I was still under the impression that they are more than adequate cutters despite the primary purpose being stabbing. In a case such as this, what sort of response should I expect from the manufacturer?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 3:45:01 GMT
I would say slashers rather than true cutters as the tang is not suited to that, Bottles yes, hacking sheilds and so forth, no...SanMarc.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 4:20:48 GMT
I see how cutting 2x4's could be abusive, but how could aluminum cans be abusive? A year or so ago I cut some not very sharp machete, they were much easier than water bottles.
I also have a 40-something dollar gladius I bought from KOA a long time ago, I didn't really know much about swords then and me and my friend would throw large pieces of wood at each other and try to stick it on the end, stab/hit trees with it, even bash a cinder block wall to see how big of a mark it could make. After being used off and on like this for a number of months, the grip cracked and can now rotate, and I recently found the tang is slightly bent... Needless to say when I later found this was bad for a sword I was somewhat surprised.
Other than cutting the lumber, I don't think you did anything excessive with your sword.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 4:25:19 GMT
X3, put the can up right, then cut streight down, you will hurt the macheta, the cans harden rim is what he cut....SanMarc.
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Post by YlliwCir on Feb 1, 2010 4:28:48 GMT
Andrew, while it looks like you pushed the envelope a bit, having the grip fail like that sounds off to me. Having only glue holding it in place seems inadequate in my opinion. Here's what I did with a gladius without a failure. Abuse I know but an example of what one can take. As for a fix, I'd try filling the hollow grip with a hardening wood filler and fitting it on the tang to dry real good. If that don't work I'd look for a better fitting grip.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 4:35:58 GMT
What sword was it?
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 4:42:56 GMT
WHAT. MODEL. OF. SWORD. WAS. IT???
Seriously, it'll be much easier for us to understand what happened if you let us know what sword it was. If this was a VA Actium or something you've probably had a lemon and the grip failure is suspicious (though you really abused your sword, man, no company will replace that after what you did), but if you did this with a Depeeka or something similar I have no concerns whatsoever about what happened. If it's that case you were (kind of) asking for it. Sorry. I don't mean to be harsh, but it'll be much clearer if you let us know what sword you used. Your not gonna badmouth the company over one blade, man. Let us know.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2010 5:15:16 GMT
Ya I have to admit I am itching to know what sword it was. Please share.
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