Angus Trim Maker's Mark XIIA
Jun 21, 2008 23:56:55 GMT
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2008 23:56:55 GMT
So I decided to step into the big realm of the top three! The tripple A's! All joking aside, I've only cut one water bottle with this thing so far so I'm merely discussion fit and finish and as well as dry handling in this intial post. Stats were correct as indicated for length, width, height. Weight was not correct however. Listed weight for this Accented fuller Maker's Mark XIIA on Christian Fletcher's website is 3lbs 2 ounces. The actual product in fact weighs 2 lbs 13 ounces. I wish it were perhaps a bit heavier to have a bit more blade presence but on the other hand, this would make for a wonderful civilian arms longsword against unarmored opponnents.
Now, it did have issues as to fit and finish when it arrived. There are some minor gaps inbetween the cross guard and where the blade meets. Very minor, maybe half a milimeter. I suppose I could file down the shoulders but it isn't enough to bother me. However, I did have a serious problem with the tip of the sword. It arrived chipped and needed a good 2 1/2 hours of filling to get it back to a serviceable point. Not as big of a deal for me since I have previous experience reshaping tips with a Nicholson file. I don't know if is Fedex's fault or whose but either way, it happened. Christian Fletcher did put lots of foam padding for the tip but it still happened.
Speaking of which, if you notice in the photos, the tip is of a different polish than the rest of the sword. After I filed it I ran 600 grit over it to repolish it but I did not have time to run it over the rest of the blade for it started raining and I had to move my work inside to finish. Not a big deal. I just need to get some more 600 grit sand paper and hopefully 1000 grit sand paper to give it a good finish. For someone not experienced with a file and polishing I could have seen this being a much bigger problem. Though I would never sharpen a whole sword from edge to tip I know a bit or two about filling.
Anyway enough about that. Other than thoose two issues this blade is perfect. Light, fast, deadly, very sharp, etc. Not so much due to the sharpenness of the edge though. This is a very thin blade, especially near the tip. I don't know how to measure the thickness but it definitely does taper quite nicely from the cross guard to the tip. To sum it up, it cuts water bottles very eassily even for a total rookie like myself.
To make matters even better, it fits pefectly in my old DSA 12 century scabbard which Brian of DBK redid for me a while back. Thanks Brian! Not much in the way of rattling or such. I just can't believe that the total wieght of the Atrim sword and DSA scabbard, 4.6 pounds, is the same as the dry weight of the 1340 DSA sword without the scabbard. Nothing against Darksword. I just need a light cutting sword and not a stage blade. The original DSA sword I had was a good sword, good for stage combat but I messed it up trying to sharpen it and such. Long story, rather not get into it.
Anyway, despite the damage recieved in shipment, it is a very good sword. Also, as a bonus, Christian Fletcher threw in an Allen key to tighten the pommel nut with so I didn't need to waste time and money running to Lowes or Home Depot to try and find one. Over all, awsome work! I don't know if I would jump to buy one again in the near future due to the cost involved in getting it the way I would want with a high end grip, wooden core scabbard, and frog and belt. If you got the money though, it sure is worth it just as Shooter Mike says!
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