Darksword Armoury Samwise Sword Review
Feb 17, 2009 21:12:31 GMT
Post by septofclansinclair on Feb 17, 2009 21:12:31 GMT
(Note: This is a new format of review template that I am experimenting with – to submit review, please use the established template as provided by Paul Southren.)
Introduction:
Darksword Armoury recently produced 2 “Hobbit” swords. The first was their version of Frodo’s sword – Sting. This was a limited piece that I quite liked the look of, as did many others evidently. They sold out within a few days, except for a couple left at Arms of Valour. Obviously it was a popular piece!
I had my eye on the second Hobbit sword, advertised as the “Samwise” sword. An attractive leaf-blade with the new criss-cross wrap grip that DSA has produced, it looked slightly bigger than the Sting sword and seemed to have a longer grip. I was curious what it would be like in person – a 2-handed short sword seemed intriguing to me, especially with the leaf blade. I made the call, and settled in to wait.
Historical Overview:
N/A, as the Lord of the Rings is a fantasy series and not historically based.
Initial Impressions:
When the box arrived, I thought that at first the wrong sword had arrived. The box was much longer and heavier than I expected, by a long shot. I was all set to send Eyal, the DSA owner, a jokingly mocking email (or ship him back an old Windlass as a prank – we Canadians are full of fun and games for all), but decided to open it up to check first. Sure enough, out came the Samwise sword – much bigger than I expected!
In fact, it was really big. I sent Eyal an email commenting on that fact (Quote: “samwise must have been a biiig hobbit”), and he responded right away to explain. This sword was designed from Samwise’s sword, but ‘scaled up” so as to differentiate it from the tiny wallhanger versions. They intended to make a sword that would feel much more substantial in the hand and be an effective chopper. In this area, they succeeded – what I held in my hands was a average length, 2 handed leaf blade sword, that would have been out of the question for Bullroarer Took himself! I was curious what this unique but hefty blade would show during the couple of weeks that I took to review it…
Statistics:
Blade Length: 27 3/4"
Guard Width: 4"
Handle Length: 7 7/8"
Pommel Length: 2 1/4"
POB: 3.5"
COP: 16"
Weight: 4.2lbs
Components:[/u]
The Blade – Easily the most attractive feature, the Samwise sword has a swelling leaf blade that tapers to a nice point. The fuller is about average for a DSA – not too squiggly, not too straight – and is a nice addition. There are grind marks, but nothing too out of the ordinary, and some minor scuffs that I’m confident could be taken out with some elbow grease and 20 minutes of free time. At this price point, it’s certainly not the end of the world. Some hammer marks as well, again, that’s acceptable. I really like the leaf shape.
One downside of a leaf shape is that it moves more of the blade’s mass out towards the tip. This combined with the lack of any perceivable distal taper (I say perceivable because I am currently sans digital callipers) means there is a great deal of steel in this sword’s blade. More on that in the handling section later. Despite the lack of taper, I actually found the edges of the blade to be better shaped than older models DSA’s. They weren’t nearly as thick and seemed to me to represent a step in a direction to make the sword easier to sharpen and cut with. I tried to get a picture of the edges of an unsharpened older model DSA alongside this one, but the picture didn’t turn out.
The Guard – A very interesting design, this handguard is a round, almost clamshell shape with a slimmer section extending towards the blade. Because the sword has been scaled up, the chunky guard doesn’t look out of place here, but it would look downright weird on a smaller blade or some other swords. However, combining this with the leaf shape blade makes for a surprisingly interesting combo – the lines flow together, which I appreciate. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but as I’ve said before I gravitate towards unique looking combinations. More on the guard in the handling section.
The Pommel – Finally! I was overjoyed to see the visible peen on the first peened DSA sword I’ve held. I know I wasn’t the only one pestering them for it. The pommel shape is an interesting one, but on a sword where everything else is scaled up, it’s actually pretty conservative. So while it is a nice pommel, it doesn’t quite go with the guard and blade in the same way the guard and blade go with each other. This isn’t to say that I don’t like it, it just stands out, that’s all.
The Handle – This is the first DSA I’ve handled with the new x-wrap styled handle. The wrap is tight and not going anywhere, which is good. It does help with keeping your grip a bit better than some other styles in this price range, though the edges can dig into your hand a bit after awhile (something that I think will change with use, but gloves would certainly help). It’s a nice change of pace, and I expect that we’ll be seeing it on more swords in the future from DSA.
The Scabbard – From an exterior point of view, this is quite a nice scabbard. The wrap that it has matches the handle, though it has come loose slightly in some areas (see photo). I think that it flows well with the sword, but doesn’t fit especially tight. It is slightly better than average DSA fare, and will transport the sword well enough. I know I’m not alone in hoping that DSA continues to listen to their customers like they did with the peened tangs, and upgrades their scabbards in the near future. Even if it leads to a price increase, it’d be worth it.
Handling Characteristics:[/u]
A number of factors contribute to this swords handling. The leaf shaped blade swells farther out, bringing more of the sword’s mass towards the tip. There is no discernible distal taper, so that also contributes to the weight. And while the guard has been increased in size and weight in order to bring the POB down – to a pretty acceptable 3.5 inches – the fact that it is the guard that is heavier and not the pommel still means that more mass is forward of your hands towards the tip. It weighs 4lbs 2oz, and it feels like it. This is a hefty sword. I personally found putting the sword through its paces to be quite difficult. The weight was an issue, and the point at which the sword naturally “turns” is out past the Center of Percussion. I had a friend who is much bigger handle this sword, and he found it a bit easier but also commented on the weight. 4lbs is (from what research I’ve been able to do) not completely out of the question for a sword’s weight, but on one this short I don’t think it’s as suitable as 3lbs would be.
That being said, it isn’t completely dead in the hands. With some effort, I think I am getting used to the way it handles, and think it would demolish whatever target you put in front of it. Because of the longer handle, I found that by gripping down near the pommel I was able to make it move more the way I wanted to. Bottom line is, if you’ve handled a DSA before you know that they tend to be heavier, and this is no exception. This model was designed to be more substantial, and in that the forge succeeded. As long as you’re prepared for this and are ok with the weight, it shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Test Cutting (if applicable):[/u]
Though this will likely be the easiest DSA I’ve had to sharpen because of the better edge geometry, it’s been like -40 degrees Celsius outside… I’m not crazy, so the testing will have to wait.
Conclusions:[/u]
Pros:
- Attractive leaf blade
- Improved edge geometry
- Nice handle wrap
- Peened pommel!
- Funky guard, not everyone will like it but I do
- Very pleasing overall aesthetic – this is one attractive sword
Cons:
- Heavy at 4lbs 2oz
- Difficult handling
- Scabbards still need improving
The Bottom Line:
The DSA Samwise sword is an attractive, unique sword that’s main drawback comes from the weight. I think that a slightly slimmed down version, with the same length blade but distal taper and a smaller guard (keep the pommel the way it is), would be a very dynamic weapon. I know that DSA caters to a section of the market that likes their swords the way they are, and that’s great. I don’t think that will change. But I would like to see some of their swords done in versions that have slimmer blades and are a bit easier to handle. This is one sword that (as is) is interesting, unique and fun to play with, even if it is heavy. With some tweaks, though, it could be a real winner that would appeal to a far broader demographic.
I’d recommend this to a friend if they liked it, as long as that friend was ok with getting a workout while using it.
Introduction:
Darksword Armoury recently produced 2 “Hobbit” swords. The first was their version of Frodo’s sword – Sting. This was a limited piece that I quite liked the look of, as did many others evidently. They sold out within a few days, except for a couple left at Arms of Valour. Obviously it was a popular piece!
I had my eye on the second Hobbit sword, advertised as the “Samwise” sword. An attractive leaf-blade with the new criss-cross wrap grip that DSA has produced, it looked slightly bigger than the Sting sword and seemed to have a longer grip. I was curious what it would be like in person – a 2-handed short sword seemed intriguing to me, especially with the leaf blade. I made the call, and settled in to wait.
Historical Overview:
N/A, as the Lord of the Rings is a fantasy series and not historically based.
Initial Impressions:
When the box arrived, I thought that at first the wrong sword had arrived. The box was much longer and heavier than I expected, by a long shot. I was all set to send Eyal, the DSA owner, a jokingly mocking email (or ship him back an old Windlass as a prank – we Canadians are full of fun and games for all), but decided to open it up to check first. Sure enough, out came the Samwise sword – much bigger than I expected!
In fact, it was really big. I sent Eyal an email commenting on that fact (Quote: “samwise must have been a biiig hobbit”), and he responded right away to explain. This sword was designed from Samwise’s sword, but ‘scaled up” so as to differentiate it from the tiny wallhanger versions. They intended to make a sword that would feel much more substantial in the hand and be an effective chopper. In this area, they succeeded – what I held in my hands was a average length, 2 handed leaf blade sword, that would have been out of the question for Bullroarer Took himself! I was curious what this unique but hefty blade would show during the couple of weeks that I took to review it…
Statistics:
Blade Length: 27 3/4"
Guard Width: 4"
Handle Length: 7 7/8"
Pommel Length: 2 1/4"
POB: 3.5"
COP: 16"
Weight: 4.2lbs
Components:[/u]
The Blade – Easily the most attractive feature, the Samwise sword has a swelling leaf blade that tapers to a nice point. The fuller is about average for a DSA – not too squiggly, not too straight – and is a nice addition. There are grind marks, but nothing too out of the ordinary, and some minor scuffs that I’m confident could be taken out with some elbow grease and 20 minutes of free time. At this price point, it’s certainly not the end of the world. Some hammer marks as well, again, that’s acceptable. I really like the leaf shape.
One downside of a leaf shape is that it moves more of the blade’s mass out towards the tip. This combined with the lack of any perceivable distal taper (I say perceivable because I am currently sans digital callipers) means there is a great deal of steel in this sword’s blade. More on that in the handling section later. Despite the lack of taper, I actually found the edges of the blade to be better shaped than older models DSA’s. They weren’t nearly as thick and seemed to me to represent a step in a direction to make the sword easier to sharpen and cut with. I tried to get a picture of the edges of an unsharpened older model DSA alongside this one, but the picture didn’t turn out.
The Guard – A very interesting design, this handguard is a round, almost clamshell shape with a slimmer section extending towards the blade. Because the sword has been scaled up, the chunky guard doesn’t look out of place here, but it would look downright weird on a smaller blade or some other swords. However, combining this with the leaf shape blade makes for a surprisingly interesting combo – the lines flow together, which I appreciate. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but as I’ve said before I gravitate towards unique looking combinations. More on the guard in the handling section.
The Pommel – Finally! I was overjoyed to see the visible peen on the first peened DSA sword I’ve held. I know I wasn’t the only one pestering them for it. The pommel shape is an interesting one, but on a sword where everything else is scaled up, it’s actually pretty conservative. So while it is a nice pommel, it doesn’t quite go with the guard and blade in the same way the guard and blade go with each other. This isn’t to say that I don’t like it, it just stands out, that’s all.
The Handle – This is the first DSA I’ve handled with the new x-wrap styled handle. The wrap is tight and not going anywhere, which is good. It does help with keeping your grip a bit better than some other styles in this price range, though the edges can dig into your hand a bit after awhile (something that I think will change with use, but gloves would certainly help). It’s a nice change of pace, and I expect that we’ll be seeing it on more swords in the future from DSA.
The Scabbard – From an exterior point of view, this is quite a nice scabbard. The wrap that it has matches the handle, though it has come loose slightly in some areas (see photo). I think that it flows well with the sword, but doesn’t fit especially tight. It is slightly better than average DSA fare, and will transport the sword well enough. I know I’m not alone in hoping that DSA continues to listen to their customers like they did with the peened tangs, and upgrades their scabbards in the near future. Even if it leads to a price increase, it’d be worth it.
Handling Characteristics:[/u]
A number of factors contribute to this swords handling. The leaf shaped blade swells farther out, bringing more of the sword’s mass towards the tip. There is no discernible distal taper, so that also contributes to the weight. And while the guard has been increased in size and weight in order to bring the POB down – to a pretty acceptable 3.5 inches – the fact that it is the guard that is heavier and not the pommel still means that more mass is forward of your hands towards the tip. It weighs 4lbs 2oz, and it feels like it. This is a hefty sword. I personally found putting the sword through its paces to be quite difficult. The weight was an issue, and the point at which the sword naturally “turns” is out past the Center of Percussion. I had a friend who is much bigger handle this sword, and he found it a bit easier but also commented on the weight. 4lbs is (from what research I’ve been able to do) not completely out of the question for a sword’s weight, but on one this short I don’t think it’s as suitable as 3lbs would be.
That being said, it isn’t completely dead in the hands. With some effort, I think I am getting used to the way it handles, and think it would demolish whatever target you put in front of it. Because of the longer handle, I found that by gripping down near the pommel I was able to make it move more the way I wanted to. Bottom line is, if you’ve handled a DSA before you know that they tend to be heavier, and this is no exception. This model was designed to be more substantial, and in that the forge succeeded. As long as you’re prepared for this and are ok with the weight, it shouldn’t be much of a problem.
Test Cutting (if applicable):[/u]
Though this will likely be the easiest DSA I’ve had to sharpen because of the better edge geometry, it’s been like -40 degrees Celsius outside… I’m not crazy, so the testing will have to wait.
Conclusions:[/u]
Pros:
- Attractive leaf blade
- Improved edge geometry
- Nice handle wrap
- Peened pommel!
- Funky guard, not everyone will like it but I do
- Very pleasing overall aesthetic – this is one attractive sword
Cons:
- Heavy at 4lbs 2oz
- Difficult handling
- Scabbards still need improving
The Bottom Line:
The DSA Samwise sword is an attractive, unique sword that’s main drawback comes from the weight. I think that a slightly slimmed down version, with the same length blade but distal taper and a smaller guard (keep the pommel the way it is), would be a very dynamic weapon. I know that DSA caters to a section of the market that likes their swords the way they are, and that’s great. I don’t think that will change. But I would like to see some of their swords done in versions that have slimmer blades and are a bit easier to handle. This is one sword that (as is) is interesting, unique and fun to play with, even if it is heavy. With some tweaks, though, it could be a real winner that would appeal to a far broader demographic.
I’d recommend this to a friend if they liked it, as long as that friend was ok with getting a workout while using it.