DSA Crecy Review
Apr 25, 2009 2:11:48 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2009 2:11:48 GMT
My First review!
Introduction
The Battle of Crecy was a medieval sword offered by DSA that I had not seen before. At first I passed over it in favor of other swords such as the Oslo Viking Sword and the Saxon Sword. I hadn't even considered buying it until I saw it for sale here: darksword-armory.com/demoswords.html. At this price it was about $232 shipped instead of nearly $300, that put it in the same price range as the newer Atrim Arming Sword which I had also considered purchasing. I opted to buy the Battle of Crecy sword for the durability that comes with all swords offered by DSA. So far I have yet to regret buying this mean little beater.
Historical overview
Not qualified really to give an overview. The sword is not based on one blade really but is a melting pot of different parts that are historical. I do believe it is meant to be a sort of "transitional" sword featuring elements of a knightly sword and a viking styled blade but don't hold me to this.
Initial Impressions
Shipping took under a week, from Canada to Virginia. I was impressed at the speed of the shipping. The sword arrived in a rectangular box that wasn't like any I have received a sword in. Carrying the box into the house I almost threw it on accident. I was expecting a sword much heavier than what I felt in my hands. Ripping open the box I was pleased to find the sword wrapped up snuggly in paper and plastic. After a brief struggle to free the sword from the wrap I immediately headed for the backyard to do some dry-handling. In the hand, the sword had a noticeable presence in the hand, I confess I feared it too heavy to be practical. Once it was in motion, it flowed. The handling on this sword matched that of the 8th Century Viking I had handled briefly a few days ago. Even with the extra weight I had superb control over the motions of the blade. This is my favorite European-styled sword so far.
Statistics
Blade: About 28”
Handle: 4.5”
Overall Length: 35”
Guard Width: 8”
POB (Point of Balance): 5” from guard.
COP (Center of Percussion): 18” from guard.
Weight: 3lbs 4oz.
Components
The Blade
DSA describes the blade thus, “The sword, typified by Oakeshott as types Xa or XI, is generally considered to be the descendant of the swords found during the Viking or migration period. The earliest example of this sword was dated as early as 900 A.D. A combination of Oakeshott's and Peterson Typologies shows a chronological progression from the 10th C. example, which had narrower blade, to the "transitional Knightly sword", which incorporated elements of both Viking (i.e., Germanic) and traditional European style. “ The blade is about two inches at the base and tempers slightly to 1 and a quarter before the last 3” to the point. The fuller is well executed with slight deviation due to the inherent imperfections that come with the hand-forged process. The blade is tempered well, I managed to flex the blade several inches out of center and it sprang back true. Wish I had more pictures of this but the camera I had was on loan from a friend I could not take quite as many as I wanted. The blade-tip is good on the thrust but just as decisive on the cut or chop. Its a very utilitarian blade that would be efficient against many opponents.
The Handle
Nice black leather grip with two ring risers just beneath the guard and above the pommel. The leather grip is well done but becomes slick with sweaty hands, using gloves solves the issue. The grip is large enough to accommodate larger hands and the pommel lets you sneak a few fingers from your second hand onto the grip to perform a rough two-handed stroke. Honestly, the grip is the best I have ever had and more than what I would expect from most sub-$300 swords (put the grip of the 8th Century to shame). While cutting with the Crecy I found the slightly oval profile of the grip made it easy to determine edge-facing. Got to say I love the grip on this sword!
The Guard
The guard is essentially an 8” long carbon steel bar. There are no frills here like on the Norman or Squire. The ends are rounded but the guard overall is plain. One thing I noticed was how easy it was to wrap a finger over the guard (even with gloves) and add a bit more speed and control to a cut. The length of the guard would make it excellent for trapping an opponent's blade or use as a weapon in itself. If flourishing or “twirling” the blade one should make sure not to accidentally poke themselves in the wrists with the guard. Adjusting the grip solved the problem but it was a surprise the first time it happened. No more fancy shenanigans with this sword, just effective swordmanship. Actually, I have never once cracked myself in the head with the crossguard despite how many times I have brought he blade over or around my head; I fully figured my head would have been cracked by now but I have yet to do so.
Seems like the guard has been knocked a little bit out of position from my constant abuse. The guard does not fit flush with the blade, there is a gap between the blade and the guard on the flat of the blade but it hasn't compromised integrity significantly, I will work on the blade a little to see if I can't correct the problem. The fittings are still tight, no rattling, the guard has just shifted slightly.
The Pommel
The pommel is described as a German designed “Cocked Hat” style pommel. The slope of the hat allows for a comfortable hammer grip or handshake grip with a good range of movement. The pommel, like the guard, would be an excellent weapon for an improvised strike. It is a threaded pommel but DSA pommels seldom come loose without significant effort. They have started to peen more of their pommels recently and I do not doubt the new models will be even more durable.
The Scabbard
Its a DSA standard “freebie”. It is a wooden core wrapped in black leather with steel collar and end-cap. Fortunately this scabbard fits the Crecy to some degree (it will still fall out if tipped far enough but there isn't a metal on metal “clink” when I sheath it like on my old Oslo) and suits it though it is still on the ugly. The scabbard isn't the selling point of a DSA sword nor should the blade be judged by its scabbard.
Handling Characteristics
In guard positions you will feel the weight of this sword. At more than 3lbs it is heavier then most other “knightly” swords of similar dimensions. Once in motion, however, this sword is remarkable. Every chop, thrust, and cut is effortless and recovery is very smooth and quick. My Crecy has a PoB of about 5” from the guard and it lends considerable weight to each attack but makes recovery a breeze. Its a very maneuverable sword and I do love it. I chose this sword over the Atrim and while the Atrim is lighter I don't feel that I have sacrifice functionality or efficiency for the extra durability. Its a good little sword with plenty of weight to throw behind its blows while not being cumbersome or suffering from the dreaded “crowbar” syndrome that plagues some beaters.
Test Cutting
The sword did not come with a sharpened edge. Inspecting the edge closely it looked like the blade had either been used in steel on steel or blunted somewhat to make it safer for demonstrations. It took me more than an hour to put an edge on it using an accusharp and another twenty minutes to insure a uniform level of sharpness. Once that was done I took it outside to do some cutting.
I put the Crecy through its paces. It handled water bottles, milk jugs, and two liter soda bottles with ease. I even took it to a tree stump and managed to split the stump in two after several chops. A few tree saplings met their end beneath the Crecy's blade. I started to chop wood with the sword but a very nasty stroke left a bend in the sword. It was entirely my fault. On a downward cut the blade nicked the wood but skipped off and hammered into a wooden pallet. The sword was bent about an inch off center. At first I was kind of angry with the weapon but it was my fault. Remembering an old piece of information about ancient warriors bending their blades back true on the battlefield I tried just that. Another hour went into bending the sword to such a degree that it would again take a set, believe you me this was about as taxing as sharpening the thing to begin with! Luckily, the wooden floorboards of the porch were wide enough for me to slip the blade and use as a vice. The floorboards nearly gave before the blade did. After a good workout the sword was as good as new and ready for more punishment, if only I had a steel oil barrel on hand like Paul....
All of the pictures of this sword are after the sharpening, cutting, and bending back to true. You will notice the purely superficial damage to the sword, this is the only blade damage I have detected so far.
Conclusions
DSA again delivers a very durable little sword with handling that balances out the increased weight. The edge did not take well to sharpening but most of their swords are intend to be used as reenactment blades rather than backyard cutters. The fittings are still tight and not once have I heard a rattle from this sword. The grip is excellent for this price and I wish more budget medieval swords had grips of this quality (or at least on the 8th Century Viking). Its a simple design, not modeled after any one sword specifically yet it is very attractive and unique. Not really historical, yet, historical influences are obvious. Its a very solid, very dependable, very effective little sword (little in size, not in attitude).
Pros
- Durable blade and solid fittings
- handling is great, especially for the weight.
-Nicely done leather grip
-Attractive and rugged.
cons
- Blunter edge then normal
- Guard can get in the way if not careful
- Tad on heavier side for this style of sword.
-Gap between guard and flat of blade but not a serious issue to my knowledge.
The Bottom Line
I would easily recommend this sword. It is no Atrim but it is something else entirely. Like many DSA swords it is heavier than others of similar type but that extra weight is not due to poor design but increased durability and reliability. This is a no frills, no nonsense weapon that would have lasted for generations. I bought it for $195 before shipping and even with the extra elbow grease to sharpen it I believe it to be an outstanding value for the money.
Introduction
The Battle of Crecy was a medieval sword offered by DSA that I had not seen before. At first I passed over it in favor of other swords such as the Oslo Viking Sword and the Saxon Sword. I hadn't even considered buying it until I saw it for sale here: darksword-armory.com/demoswords.html. At this price it was about $232 shipped instead of nearly $300, that put it in the same price range as the newer Atrim Arming Sword which I had also considered purchasing. I opted to buy the Battle of Crecy sword for the durability that comes with all swords offered by DSA. So far I have yet to regret buying this mean little beater.
Historical overview
Not qualified really to give an overview. The sword is not based on one blade really but is a melting pot of different parts that are historical. I do believe it is meant to be a sort of "transitional" sword featuring elements of a knightly sword and a viking styled blade but don't hold me to this.
Initial Impressions
Shipping took under a week, from Canada to Virginia. I was impressed at the speed of the shipping. The sword arrived in a rectangular box that wasn't like any I have received a sword in. Carrying the box into the house I almost threw it on accident. I was expecting a sword much heavier than what I felt in my hands. Ripping open the box I was pleased to find the sword wrapped up snuggly in paper and plastic. After a brief struggle to free the sword from the wrap I immediately headed for the backyard to do some dry-handling. In the hand, the sword had a noticeable presence in the hand, I confess I feared it too heavy to be practical. Once it was in motion, it flowed. The handling on this sword matched that of the 8th Century Viking I had handled briefly a few days ago. Even with the extra weight I had superb control over the motions of the blade. This is my favorite European-styled sword so far.
Statistics
Blade: About 28”
Handle: 4.5”
Overall Length: 35”
Guard Width: 8”
POB (Point of Balance): 5” from guard.
COP (Center of Percussion): 18” from guard.
Weight: 3lbs 4oz.
Components
The Blade
DSA describes the blade thus, “The sword, typified by Oakeshott as types Xa or XI, is generally considered to be the descendant of the swords found during the Viking or migration period. The earliest example of this sword was dated as early as 900 A.D. A combination of Oakeshott's and Peterson Typologies shows a chronological progression from the 10th C. example, which had narrower blade, to the "transitional Knightly sword", which incorporated elements of both Viking (i.e., Germanic) and traditional European style. “ The blade is about two inches at the base and tempers slightly to 1 and a quarter before the last 3” to the point. The fuller is well executed with slight deviation due to the inherent imperfections that come with the hand-forged process. The blade is tempered well, I managed to flex the blade several inches out of center and it sprang back true. Wish I had more pictures of this but the camera I had was on loan from a friend I could not take quite as many as I wanted. The blade-tip is good on the thrust but just as decisive on the cut or chop. Its a very utilitarian blade that would be efficient against many opponents.
The Handle
Nice black leather grip with two ring risers just beneath the guard and above the pommel. The leather grip is well done but becomes slick with sweaty hands, using gloves solves the issue. The grip is large enough to accommodate larger hands and the pommel lets you sneak a few fingers from your second hand onto the grip to perform a rough two-handed stroke. Honestly, the grip is the best I have ever had and more than what I would expect from most sub-$300 swords (put the grip of the 8th Century to shame). While cutting with the Crecy I found the slightly oval profile of the grip made it easy to determine edge-facing. Got to say I love the grip on this sword!
The Guard
The guard is essentially an 8” long carbon steel bar. There are no frills here like on the Norman or Squire. The ends are rounded but the guard overall is plain. One thing I noticed was how easy it was to wrap a finger over the guard (even with gloves) and add a bit more speed and control to a cut. The length of the guard would make it excellent for trapping an opponent's blade or use as a weapon in itself. If flourishing or “twirling” the blade one should make sure not to accidentally poke themselves in the wrists with the guard. Adjusting the grip solved the problem but it was a surprise the first time it happened. No more fancy shenanigans with this sword, just effective swordmanship. Actually, I have never once cracked myself in the head with the crossguard despite how many times I have brought he blade over or around my head; I fully figured my head would have been cracked by now but I have yet to do so.
Seems like the guard has been knocked a little bit out of position from my constant abuse. The guard does not fit flush with the blade, there is a gap between the blade and the guard on the flat of the blade but it hasn't compromised integrity significantly, I will work on the blade a little to see if I can't correct the problem. The fittings are still tight, no rattling, the guard has just shifted slightly.
The Pommel
The pommel is described as a German designed “Cocked Hat” style pommel. The slope of the hat allows for a comfortable hammer grip or handshake grip with a good range of movement. The pommel, like the guard, would be an excellent weapon for an improvised strike. It is a threaded pommel but DSA pommels seldom come loose without significant effort. They have started to peen more of their pommels recently and I do not doubt the new models will be even more durable.
The Scabbard
Its a DSA standard “freebie”. It is a wooden core wrapped in black leather with steel collar and end-cap. Fortunately this scabbard fits the Crecy to some degree (it will still fall out if tipped far enough but there isn't a metal on metal “clink” when I sheath it like on my old Oslo) and suits it though it is still on the ugly. The scabbard isn't the selling point of a DSA sword nor should the blade be judged by its scabbard.
Handling Characteristics
In guard positions you will feel the weight of this sword. At more than 3lbs it is heavier then most other “knightly” swords of similar dimensions. Once in motion, however, this sword is remarkable. Every chop, thrust, and cut is effortless and recovery is very smooth and quick. My Crecy has a PoB of about 5” from the guard and it lends considerable weight to each attack but makes recovery a breeze. Its a very maneuverable sword and I do love it. I chose this sword over the Atrim and while the Atrim is lighter I don't feel that I have sacrifice functionality or efficiency for the extra durability. Its a good little sword with plenty of weight to throw behind its blows while not being cumbersome or suffering from the dreaded “crowbar” syndrome that plagues some beaters.
Test Cutting
The sword did not come with a sharpened edge. Inspecting the edge closely it looked like the blade had either been used in steel on steel or blunted somewhat to make it safer for demonstrations. It took me more than an hour to put an edge on it using an accusharp and another twenty minutes to insure a uniform level of sharpness. Once that was done I took it outside to do some cutting.
I put the Crecy through its paces. It handled water bottles, milk jugs, and two liter soda bottles with ease. I even took it to a tree stump and managed to split the stump in two after several chops. A few tree saplings met their end beneath the Crecy's blade. I started to chop wood with the sword but a very nasty stroke left a bend in the sword. It was entirely my fault. On a downward cut the blade nicked the wood but skipped off and hammered into a wooden pallet. The sword was bent about an inch off center. At first I was kind of angry with the weapon but it was my fault. Remembering an old piece of information about ancient warriors bending their blades back true on the battlefield I tried just that. Another hour went into bending the sword to such a degree that it would again take a set, believe you me this was about as taxing as sharpening the thing to begin with! Luckily, the wooden floorboards of the porch were wide enough for me to slip the blade and use as a vice. The floorboards nearly gave before the blade did. After a good workout the sword was as good as new and ready for more punishment, if only I had a steel oil barrel on hand like Paul....
All of the pictures of this sword are after the sharpening, cutting, and bending back to true. You will notice the purely superficial damage to the sword, this is the only blade damage I have detected so far.
Conclusions
DSA again delivers a very durable little sword with handling that balances out the increased weight. The edge did not take well to sharpening but most of their swords are intend to be used as reenactment blades rather than backyard cutters. The fittings are still tight and not once have I heard a rattle from this sword. The grip is excellent for this price and I wish more budget medieval swords had grips of this quality (or at least on the 8th Century Viking). Its a simple design, not modeled after any one sword specifically yet it is very attractive and unique. Not really historical, yet, historical influences are obvious. Its a very solid, very dependable, very effective little sword (little in size, not in attitude).
Pros
- Durable blade and solid fittings
- handling is great, especially for the weight.
-Nicely done leather grip
-Attractive and rugged.
cons
- Blunter edge then normal
- Guard can get in the way if not careful
- Tad on heavier side for this style of sword.
-Gap between guard and flat of blade but not a serious issue to my knowledge.
The Bottom Line
I would easily recommend this sword. It is no Atrim but it is something else entirely. Like many DSA swords it is heavier than others of similar type but that extra weight is not due to poor design but increased durability and reliability. This is a no frills, no nonsense weapon that would have lasted for generations. I bought it for $195 before shipping and even with the extra elbow grease to sharpen it I believe it to be an outstanding value for the money.